I’ve been told the secret to success, any success, lies in your habits, routines & the things you do every single day. It doesn’t matter what you’re after in life or what your definition of success is, it never happens over night.
Every changes always begins with that first step. You don’t always have ti now what that second or third step should be either. The first step is the one that will get you started.
Challenging yourself is one of the most important aspects of self-growth. Without challenge & change, there can be no progress or improvement. We often talk about things that we want out of life, things we dream about & that’s where it ends - with us just talking about it. We’re not always willing to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones to actually make things happen. Change & challenge, doing things that scare us might seem difficult but it doesn’t have to be. This list of small things you can do every single day to help you grow, overcome fear & step out of your comfort zone.
Journal
You can write as little as just one line a day. It’s a simple & easy way to start. As you get use to writing about your day, feelings & emotions, try to explore journaling a bit deeper by using journaling prompts.
Read Books From Authors/Genres You Normally Wouldn’t
Most of us tend to reach for the same kinds of books, watch the same types of movies. Switching things up can help keep things fresh & interesting.
Go Out For Dinner or Coffee By Yourself
For most of us, this is something that’s a little bit out of our comfort zone but as we make an effort to constantly face those tiny fears we become braver each time.
Stop Complaining
Try going without complaining for as long as you can. Remember that your life is an echo.
Detox From All Things Digital, For At Least One Hour A Day
Put away your phone, tablet & laptop for at least an hour each day & practice some quality self-care or focus on doing something productive.
Reach Out To A Friends You Haven’t Spoken To In A While
This is a small challenge because we often put this off time & time again & the next thing we know it’s been months or years since we caught up with that one friend.
Set Small Daily Goals For Yourself
Small goals equals progress. You’re more likely to accomplish your ‘big’ goals if you split them into smaller, less intimidating ones. If your goal is to get healthy for example, start by swapping your soda or juice for water, going for a 20 minute walk or having at least one very health meal a day, to start.
Prep & Cook All Of Your Meals
No vending machines, no packaged foods, no frozen or microwavable meals.
Learn A New Word Every Day
Writing it down & keeping track of each word will help you remember it.
Find One Thing/Clothing Item You No Longer Need Or Use & Get Rid Of It
Donate or recycle. If you find yourself or your home surrounded by a lot of clutter, find just one thing to get rid of at a time with be less overwhelming than having a huge big clean out.
Be More Mindful
Practice mindfulness every day & try to release your ‘bad’ thoughts without judgement.
Print Out Those Photos
How many photos do you have stored on your phone & computer that you have meant to print out & put in an album but just never got round to it? To make this easier, try to split it into small bunches & work on the smaller bunches rather than a huge bunch at a time.
Mediate For At Least 10 Minutes A Day
It’s worth trying apps like Calm or Headspace.
Never Stop Learning
Remember that you can grow & learn new things until the day you die.
Be Kinder To Yourself & Others
Be kind even when sometimes you don’t feel like it. Don’t allow your negative thoughts & emotions control you.
Practice A Little Self-Care
Remember that self-care is not just about bubble baths & face masks.
Stay Inspired Everyday
Motivation is something that has to come from within but surrounding yourself with inspiring things, books, affirmation cards & people can help you stay inspired.
Do Something Creative
You might not think of yourself as a creative person but the truth is that we’ll all creative beings & can incorporate creativity into our lives in many different ways.
Face Your Small Fears
Do something that you often find intimidating.
Edit Your Life, Frequently
Stop doing thins that make you unhappy, don’t hangout with people who bring you down or drain your engird.
Work On Building Good Habits, One At A Time
The best way to stop a ‘bad’ habit is to replace it with a good/positive one. Don’t try to change everything at once - you’ll feel overwhelmed. Focus on one habit at a time.
Practice More Self-Compassion
For most of us, this habit is hard to learn as we tend to be hard on ourselves. You have to learn to celebrate your small victories & accomplishments so that you can stay inspired. At the same time, you have to remember that taking a break, being unproductive or having a little cry sometimes is okay too.
Judge Less
Constant judgement is unhealthy & can easily make you feel miserable.
Build Your Confidence
Learning new things, stepping out of your comfort zone on a regular basis, finding a passion in your life - these are all things that will help you build up your confidence.
Say ‘No' More Often
Don’t commit to doing things you don’t feel like doing just because you want to be ‘nice’ to someone else.
Master Your Emotions By ‘Brain Dumping’
No need to worry about tradition writing standards when doing this. Just grab a piece of paper or a notebook & dump every single thing that is on your mind at the present moment. Doing this on a regular basis will help you properly recognise & label your emotions.
Being Patient
Nothing is a waste of time when you allow yourself to be mindful & present.
Learn To Let Go
Let go of the things that are beyond your control, things that do not serve you or those small, often truly insignificant things that sometimes make you upset.
Embrace Change
When life forces you to change, don’t resist it.
Be Resilient
No matter how many time you fail, keep trying & remember that as long as you’re fighting, you can consider yourself a winner.
Do you make an effort to continue your self-growth by challenging yourself on a regular basis? What are some of your favourite ways of stepping out of your comfort zone?
B x
