Cris Welsh • Oct 03, 2022

How to Improve Yourself

Perhaps you want to learn new things, replace bad habits, become more productive, find emotional balance, or improve your relationships? 

Whatever it is, we’ve put together this guide to help. It features 20 practical self-improvement ideas that you can use to develop yourself.


But remember, developing yourself takes time and dedication, so be kind to yourself.

It’s not easy to rewire our habits, change our perceptions, and learn new things. We also need to find the courage to step into the emotional discomfort that arises when we move beyond our comfort zones.


1. Take an Online Course

Taking an online course is a great way to learn new skills, expand your mindset, and improve yourself.  Whether you want to learn digital marketing, photography, or programming, there are so many amazing free online courses. 


2. Learn a Language

Learning a new language is a great way to work on yourself, explore a different culture, and change your way of looking at the world. Plus, learning a new language can open up new travel possibilities and introduce you to many new potential friends.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also get the perfect opportunity to practice valuable life skills, such as patience, perseverance, dedication, and hard work. 


3. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

Just like languages, music can open you up to a whole new world. Learning an instrument can be a fantastic way to join a dedicated community, find a healthy method of emotional expression, and develop a life-long passion.

So, if you’ve always wanted to play a musical instrument, there’s no time like the present! Plus, there are tons of free tutorials online to get you started.


4. Start a Business

Starting a business can provide many of the same benefits of learning a language or instrument. However, there’s a bonus benefit: you can also make money.

There are many different types of businesses you can start such as freelancing, consulting, and teaching online.


5. Read More

Do you wish you spent less time on social media, YouTube, or Netflix? Reading is a great alternative. Many of the most successful people in the world value reading as a way to improve themselves every day.


6. Stick to an Exercise Routine

There’s a reason why successful people exercise regularly. It boosts our immune systems, gives us more energy, and can regulate our hormones and emotions, which helps us stay focused and motivated.. If you want to begin exercising regularly, consider downloading an exercise app, working out with a friend, or setting a daily goal, no matter how small.


7. Eat Healthier

With so many unhealthy options out there, it can be challenging to eat healthily.

However, our diets have a massive impact on our happiness, wellbeing, and success. What we consume can heal us or hurt us.  There’s an Indian ayurveda proverb that says, “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”

When trying to change a bad habit, start small, and focus on consistency. For example, you could start by eating at least three types of fresh fruit and vegetables every day.


8. Watch and Listen to Positive Media

The saying, “you are what you eat,” also applies to everything we consume, such as the things we listen to and watch. Every podcast, movie, and social media post that we consume impacts our mental and emotional states.  In fact, a new study has proven that social media causes negative effects on wellbeing, and increases feelings of depression and loneliness.

Eek. Consider your media habits. Is there anything that you regularly consume that could be harming your mental or emotional health?


9. Learn to Rest Deeply

These days, there’s so much to do: Work, study, read books, watch TV, listen to podcasts, catch up on social media, message friends, run errands, clean, travel, shop, cook, exercise…

It never stops, right?

Here’s the thing: Sometimes, we just need to do nothing – literally, “no-thing.” The writer and meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein wrote, “Don’t just do something, sit there!” So, try to sit quietly, watch the sunset, and spend time in nature with your wonderful self.  Just be.

This can feel incredibly uncomfortable at first. However, learning to be with yourself without distractions is an essential part of meaningful self-development.


10. Start Meditating

According to some reputable scientific studies, meditation can help to:

  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Promote emotional health
  • Enhance self-awareness
  • Lengthen attention span
  • Reduce age-related memory loss
  • Generate kindness
  • Help fight addictions
  • Improve sleep
  • Control pain

Sold? Awesome! 

There are countless meditation teachers out there, such as Tara Brach and Joseph Goldstein. You could also check out meditation apps, such as Headspace.


11. Plan Your Goals Then Schedule Time to Work on Them

French writer and pioneering aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  In other words, turn your wishes into goals by creating a plan and scheduling time to work on them. To-do list apps can help.


12. Start Journaling

Journaling provides many health benefits. Research shows that expressing your thoughts and feelings in this way can:

  • Decrease the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, and other health conditions
  • Improve cognitive functioning
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Counteract many of the negative effects of stress

It’s also a great way to stay focused on your goals and increase your feelings of gratitude and happiness.


13. Start a 30-Day Challenge

The software engineer Matt Cutts said, “If you really want something badly enough, you can do anything for 30 days.” So, is there something you’ve always wanted to learn or do? 

Whether it’s starting a business, writing a novel, or exercising every day for 30 days, give it a go. The results may surprise you.


14. Confront Your Fear of Failure

Everyone fears failure to some degree. But as the Businessman George Addair once said, “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”

If you want to improve yourself, consider working on overcoming the fear of failure.

To get started, try Noah Kagan’s coffee challenge. This entrepreneur suggests that you walk into a coffee shop and ask for 10% off – for no reason – then wait for a reaction. 

Kagan says, “If you go ahead and ask for 10% off coffee, I guarantee that you will learn something about yourself that will surprise you.”


15. Observe Your Emotional Reactions

Our emotions can often overwhelm us and make us behave in ways we’d rather not. That’s why learning to observe your emotions and managing your behavior is a vital part of improving yourself. Doc Lew Childre, an author and the founder of the Heartmath Institute, said, “Learning to ‘just say no’ to emotional reactions isn’t repression. Saying ‘no’ means not engaging the frustration, anger, judgment, or blame. Without engagement, you won’t have anything to repress.” Try sitting for a few minutes each day and just observe how you feel. You could be surprised by what you discover.


16. Develop a Way to Express Yourself

Chris Martin, the singer-songwriter and frontman of the band Coldplay, said, “You’ve got to express yourself in life, and it’s better out than in. What you reveal, you heal.”

How can you express yourself in a healthy way? There are so many ways to express your emotions, such as art, music, writing, and sports. Start developing a healthy outlet.


17. Work with a Licensed Therapist

Let’s face it: Everybody struggles with their emotions sometimes.

And these days, it’s very common for people to work with a therapist to improve themselves. Many successful, respected people like J.K. Rowling, Emma Stone, and Michael Phelps all promote therapy’s benefits.

Working with a licensed therapist is one of the best ways to improve yourself. These trained professionals can provide guidance and support when it comes to navigating your emotions.


18. Identify Ways to Grow Relationships

What relationship habits could you improve? Perhaps you could spend more time with people you care about or listen to them more than you speak? 

The journalist Doug Larson once said, “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have rather talked.”

Once you’ve identified a way to improve your relationship skills, start practicing.


19. Create Ways to Meet New People

One of the best ways to improve yourself is to meet new people. 

Not only will this give you a chance to practice your social skills, but you’ll also be exposed to new ways of looking at the world. As the entrepreneur and speaker Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

Find ways to meet new people that are likely to lift you up and inspire you. For example, if you want to improve your fitness, consider joining a local gym class or yoga studio.


20. Set Your Boundaries

Another great way to work on yourself is to set boundaries in your relationships. Our boundaries (or lack of boundaries) shape our relationships – and as a result, our lives.

The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins said, “Your personal boundaries protect the inner core of your identity and your right to choices.”

Is there something someone always does that you wish they didn’t? How could you compassionately deal with this issue?


“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated,” said author and psychologist, Brené Brown. “This is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behavior or a choice.”


At Eaton Chiropractic we look at your body and your life as a whole. If you have a friend, family member or coworker who is looking to truly elevate their health have them give the team a call at 770-429-9733 for an initial consultation done at our expense. We are in network with all insurance, including Medicare and Kaiser.



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By Cris Welsh 19 Aug, 2023
Yoga is an ideal activity for the elderly population. One area where yoga can be particularly beneficial is in fall prevention. Yoga can improve balance and fall prevention in elderly peopleYoga can improve balance and fall prevention in elderly people. Falls are a major concern for the elderly population. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among adults aged 65 and older. Falls can also lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, and even death. This is where yoga comes in. Here are 5 yoga poses that can improve balance and prevent falls of the elderly. Yoga can help prevent falls in the elderly by improving balance, strength, flexibility, and overall physical fitness. Balance is a key component of fall prevention. Yoga improves strength and flexibility, which can help to prevent falls by making it easier for seniors to get up from a seated position or to catch themselves if they begin to fall. In addition to physical benefits, yoga also has mental and emotional benefits that can help to prevent falls. It helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which can lead to an increased risk of falls. Yoga also helps to improve focus and concentration, which can help seniors to better navigate their environment and avoid hazards. Yoga asanas for better balance and fall prevention 1. Mountain pose (Tadasana) Stand with your feet and heels together. As you inhale, draw in your abdominals and exhale to relax your shoulders down and back. Take deep breaths while actively engaging your whole body. This will help the elderly in maintaining their posture. 2. Chair Pose (Utkatasana) Begin with your feet and heels together. Join palms in a Namaste gesture and lift up your arms. Bend your knees and slowly sit back like you would on a chair. Maintain your pelvis parallel to the floor and bend your knees at a 90 degree angle. Keep your back absolutely straight. 3. Tree pose (Vrikshasana) Begin with your feet and heels together. Lift your left leg and place the foot at the inner thigh of your right leg. If this is not possible, you can also place it at the ankle or calf. Join palms in a Namaste and lift up your arms. Repeat for the other leg as well. 4. Thunderbolt pose (Vajrasana) Gently get into a kneeling position on any soft surface. Sit your hip on your heels and arrange the big toes next to each other. Place your palms on your knees, straighten your back and look forward. Hold this position for 2-3 minutes. 5. One foot pose (Eka Padasana) Begin with your feet and heels together. Bend forward until you are parallel to the floor. Slowly lift your right leg up straight behind you. Your right leg, pelvis, upper body and arms should all form a straight line. Focus your gaze on a point at the floor to maintain balance Yoga can help seniors to live a more active and independent life. If you are an older adult, or know someone who is, consider incorporating yoga into their daily routine to help improve their overall well-being and reduce their risk of falls. At Eaton Chiropractic we look at your body and your life as a whole. If you have a friend, family member or coworker who is looking to truly elevate their health have them give the team a call at 770-429-9733 for an initial consultation done at our expense. We are in network with all insurance, including Medicare and Kaiser
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