When it comes to self-improvement, it is too easy to find advice online or get tips from people you know. The question is always if you could put them into practice. For my part, I should say that it’s always a challenge to follow the advice I give other people on how they can improve their lives. But of course, I make an effort and really try hard to do so every single day.

Here’s a list of my favorite self-improvement tips that you can freely use to make positive changes in your life:

Always try to have a good start.
Get up early and have breakfast. Eating full breakfast will give you enough energy to last the day. If you have time, it is recommended also that you do a bit of exercise. And if you are living with other people, the morning meal is a good opportunity to be with everyone else. This is an excellent way to start the day, and can even help open the lines of communication within the household.

Write down whatever it is you need to accomplish in the day.
It is always good to create of list of the things you have to do on a particular day. As you finish a task, tick it off the list, so you would later on see your progress. This is a good way to get organized and will tremendously help you become more efficient and effective. Looking at your list and the tasks you have finished will also give you a great sense of satisfaction and motivation for a new day.

Give yourself a break and time to have fun.
Spending too much time at your desk and in front of the computer can cause you to feel discomfort in your body. Thus, you’ve got to make sure you take a break every once in a while to reenergize. Plan your weekend and do fun activities with friends and loved ones.

Be generous.
Being generous doesn’t mean you have to give away money. You can be generous with your help, advice, and smile! Being pleasant to people is a good habit as you are not just making yourself feel better, but you’re also giving other people a good reason to smile and feel good. Plus, whatever kindness you give others will surely come back to you in the future.

Practice acceptance of the things you cannot change.
We all have a tendency to try to change or fix things when something bad happens. There is nothing wrong with this, but there are times when a problem cannot be fixed. If you are left with little money, for instance, getting depressed about it doesn’t make any sense because it won’t change anything! Instead, accept the fact that you don’t have enough money, and just find a way to get by on that amount. Life becomes easier if you know how to accept everything it comes with.

Break your patterns.
If you live each day just the same way, life could get boring. Why not try to do something different every single day? If you always drive to work, why not try taking the bus just once? This will not only help broaden your life experience, but it may also lead to you discovering different opportunities for yourself. Doing new things every now and then will also give you something to look forward to each day.

Never procrastinate.
There is no way you can manage time…because time is larger than life itself. The only thing you can do is manage the things you have to do every minute, every hour and every day. By doing your tasks on time, you allow yourself to have more spare time, which you can spend with your loved ones.

Overcome your fears.
Fear is a natural emotion, and we all have something we are afraid of or to do. But this doesn’t mean that you can never overcome your own fears. Can you imagine how fulfilling it could be if you managed to do something you never dared do? Facing your fears and overcoming them will give a big boost to your confidence. It will also teach you how to develop courage, which will prove to be very useful in your life and career planning.

Author's Bio: 

Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.