How To Improve Your Life In 30 Days
1. Drink 8 glasses of water
Let’s begin your self-improvement journey with a simple yet super powerful habit — Hydration.
Drinking enough water can improve concentration and energy levels, do wonders for your mood, and much more.
See what it feels like to hit that sweet goal of drinking 8 glasses of water per day, and if you like how you feel at the end of the day, then keep up this habit for the remaining days of the challenge.
2. Plan out your to-do list for the day
Write down plans for the day on paper with a to-do list.
Write down the challenging things like ‘do a 30-minute workout,’ but at the same time, include your simple goals like ‘morning coffee by the window.’
The more specific you can be with your list, the more focused you’ll be while tackling each of the tasks.
This simple habit is incredible to keep yourself focused on what you have to do and dedicate time for every area of your life.
3. Do a random act of kindness
There’s nothing like being kind naturally, but sometimes there’s just that satisfaction about doing this with full intention.
For the third day of this challenge, do an act of kindness with the intent of brightening up someone’s day.
Give a balloon to a kid, leave a generous tip, compliment a stranger, or even offer to help out a colleague.
Those small acts can create ripples of positivity and take your contentment to another level.
4. Listen to a podcast for 20 minutes
If you already listen to podcasts, then this is going to be fun for you. Hit play on an episode of your favourite podcast or start a new one!
If you don’t listen to podcasts, then you should; it is super inspiring.
By day 4, spend at least 20 minutes listening to a podcast and get the feeling for connection that comes with it.
This can be your go-to way to curb loneliness and enjoy being alone (without really being alone, I guess?).
My current favorites:
‘On My Mind’ by Ava Jules
‘Mary’s Cup Of Tea’ by Mary Jelkovsky
‘Growing With The Flow’ by Nayna Florence
5. Draw something (even if you’re not so good at it)
I am not an artist in any manner, but drawing is so therapeutic that there is nothing else in my hobby list that replaces it.
Find an inspiring art on Pinterest which resonates to you. Try to recreate it in your journal. Add colors of your choice and make it yours.
Do not try for perfectionism. This is just for your eyes and the child that lives inside you.
6. Read one chapter of a self-help book
Choose some self-help book that has been lying idle on your shelves and read and finish one chapter of it.
Underline the key points, apply the lessons you learn from it and finish the whole book by the end of this challenge.
7. Text someone ‘I love you’
There are people in your life whom you care about so deeply, but how many times have you said that you love them?
You might consider this idea to bring some discomfort to you, make you feel a little vulnerable, or you may think that they will not be bothered much.
But all these don’t matter because you are required to say only a single ‘I love you’ because you are required to practice gratitude and remember your abilities to love.
Text someone from your set ‘I love you’ and include a sweet emoji after that. Can be your parents, a sibling, or your bestie (an evergreen option).
8. Hug yourself for a minute
Got a minute to spare for some self-love? I think you do.
Take some deep breaths to ground yourself, visualize some positive energy running through your veins, and then set a timer for a minute.
Now, hug your arms around you and feel like you’re hugging yourself.
Do not think much. Just let the feelings of love ooze out from your heart until it gets full.
Let a big smile over your face and absorb all nourishing emotions coming out from this little experience.
READ ALSO: 15 Best places in Europe for a perfect family trip
READ ALSO: Top 15 best things to do in Seattle (2024)
9. Praise someone
You can praise him on his smile, style, or even on his behavior.
I have learned that I would much rather hear compliments about my nature or hard work than about my looks.
Still, though, a compliment is a compliment.
Whatever you choose to do, be sure you mean what you are saying. Authentic compliments are encouraging to both the giver and the receiver.
10. One-minute mindfulness breaks
Set a timer for one minute at random times throughout the day.
When it rings, stop and just watch your thoughts and feelings as if nothing’s wrong and don’t judge them. Let them float in your mind like clouds in the sky.
11. Electronics-free meal
I have included three activities in this challenge that will encourage you to put down your devices.
Here is the first and the easiest one — Eat a meal without any electronic distraction.
No mobile phone, no television, no computer screen.
Eat slowly, and focus on your food (the way you’re always meant to but don’t).
12. Try a new workout
No one likes working out at first. It is something you must learn to slowly become accustomed to.
On day 12, drag yourself into trying a new workout and see if you can turn this into a habit.
Could be a power walk, a 20-minute cardio from YouTube, or dancing to your favorite Taylor Swift songs!
13. Engage a hobby you like
Hobbies are just not just about how you fill your free time.
They offer you an outlet to let out suppressed creativity and let loose of tension and engage your inner child.
Pick up something you like doing and spend quality time engaging your senses in it.
You may like cooking, gardening, journaling, story writing, or even walking outdoors.
14. Reflect over your day before bed
Reflect in bed to make it an even more mindful and productive time of the day.
Do it in your head or write it down in your journal. Reflect on what you have accomplished, the problems you encountered, and what you are thankful for.
The better you reflect on your day before bed, the less likely you will be to make those mistakes again tomorrow.
You can sleep without worries and wake up refreshed and charged.
15. Prepare a new healthy recipe
Most people fear this point, but let’s face the facts: healthy food is the one and only shortcut to your health.
Try out a new healthy recipe, whatever it is for the day – it could be a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or evening snack.
You don’t have to do the whole works (if you want to, fine).
Perhaps create a colorful salad, a nourishing soup, a delicious smoothie, or a flavorful stir-fry?
16. Clear up one space in your home
Clear out one area in your home like a drawer, closet, or countertop.
Clutter can be concrete chaos to your lifestyle as well as mental chaos. You should clean out clutter from time to time.
17. Recite a positive affirmation
Positive affirmations are strong statements that just keep reinforcing your self-belief and refilling your optimism tank.
Select one positive affirmation for day 15. Something like, “I am capable of achieving my goals” or “I deserve love and happiness.”
Now there’s a catch: you should be able to relate 100% to your chosen affirmation. No surface-level nonsense.
Rehearse your chosen affirmation all day, repeating it in your head to keep yourself up and motivated.
18. Starting to kick off the day
Do a little light exercise or yoga in the morning to raise energy and calm the mind.
Recommended exercise: Any workout by Grow with Jo on YouTube, a brisk walk outside, or a little bit of yoga.
19. Get outdoors and explore nature
Spend time outside in nature.
Go for a walk in the park or sit back in your backyard and enjoy the sceneries and sounds of nature around you.
Mother Nature’s healing tendencies will improve your moods drastically.
20. Digital Detox for a given time period
Disconnect from electronic devices for a given period and give yourself an all-needed digital detox.
Might be for some hours or the entire day.
You may spend it outdoors along with your members of your family or enjoy the moment yourself.
21. Gratitude shower
In the process of a shower, pay attention to the warmth of water touching your body and refreshing oneself while taking a shower.
In your mind, during silence, thank your body for every thing it can do for you and thank every other part of life which you enjoy.
22. Mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes
Spend time breathing quietly and observe your thoughts without judgment.
This way, you will become more aware, reduce tension, and even inner calming.
23. Sort out inbox
Sort through the inbox to clear up the email system.
Check all unread emails, delete ones you don’t need, and unsubscribe from the newsletters you don’t read.
If you like, categorize the rest of the emails in folders.
24. Identify time wasters
We have some sort of activities in our routine that wastes our precious time without even noticing it.
To get to the step of this 30-day self-improvement challenge, follow down all the things that are stealing your time.
Awareness would be the first step to reducing time waste and becoming productive later on.
25. Follow morning routine
Wake up way before your schedule demands it, prepare a list of the morning habits you want to check off, and follow a customized morning routine as created for you.
Tick each habit off and revel in the feel of having had a great start to the day.
26. Eat mindfully
Eat slowly, pay attention to all the flavors, textures, and sensations, and fully appreciate each bite .
Eat mindfully. Knowledge on how to enhance your connection with food will slowly get you the health of your dreams.
27. Take some time to do nothing
It pains people to imagine anything as entitled as doing nothing. To those with more significant missions for self-enhancement, this is the most intolerable thing.
Being idle is an art in the midst of the hectic and productivity-obsessed world. Sometimes, it is what your mind needs from you.
Therefore, take a few minutes of your busy schedule to do absolutely nothing.
Sit idly on your couch, sit quietly on the floor, or hang on the grass while sitting in your backyard.
As you embrace this loneliness, allow yourself not to commit the crime of guilt.
28. Refrain yourself from negative talk
Begin this day by saying out loud to yourself, “Today, I won’t speak of anyone or myself.”
Be mindful of your conversations with others and pay attention to whether you do it to yourself in your head too.
This one mindset shift will challenge you to give up your bad nature and clear up those positivity channels.
29. Write a positive short story
Grab a note book or your laptop and write short little story with some good morale in it.
You can do something based on the animal kingdom like having a princess who is stuck in a castle or just have yourself as the main character.
Think of nothing much, just let your words flow. It’s not going to get into any kind of competition so you are free to write it simple or as complex as you would want to.
30. Have a no-phone day
End the final day of your 30-day self-improvement challenge without a phone, too, and give yourself a break from the earpiece and distractions.
Do something meaningful with free time that reconnects you with yourself and with the world around.
