Ready to start achieving your dreams and become the best version of yourself? This article will show you exactly what you need to do.
We all aspire to achieve our dreams and to live our best lives. But wanting that and actually doing it are two very different things.
We hear a lot of chatter about how important it is to become our best selves and thrive in our lives. Yet, we don’t always hear people discuss the steps to actually getting there.
If you’re ready to take life to the next level, here’s how to become your best self and achieve your dreams:
Set a Big Goal
A dream is just a dream … but a dream with an action plan is a goal.
Think of what it is you want out of life. Identify that dream, then turn it into an achievable goal by creating a plan to reach it.
Whether it’s a personal goal or a career goal, the steps are the same.
It starts by pinpointing your dream. The next step is to break that down into mini-goals. Rather than tackling one big issue, break it down into baby steps that you can work on one at a time.
Many people find it helpful to create a calendar for each of those micro-goals. By doing so, it’s easier to keep yourself on track and monitor your progress each step of the way.
If you really want to be your best self, everything you do should contribute to a micro-goal and help you reach your dream!
Find Your Motivation
Without motivation, even a small goal can be hard to reach. So if you want to live your dream life, find what motivates you and use that to propel you forward.
Some people find motivation in working out. Some people are motivated by rewards, such as taking a day off or enjoying a cocktail at the end of a long day. Others find motivation through inspiration, such as listening to podcasts, attending seminars, or listening to music.
In some cases, something as simple as keeping a journal of your progress may be all the motivation you need.
Find a source of motivation and embrace it. The more motivated you become, the more likely you are to stick to your action plan.
Learn Time Management Skills
You’re not your best self when you’re stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, or playing catch-up. If you want to live your best life, you need to learn how to maximize your time.
Is time management your Achilles heel? If so, you’ll need to develop and improve upon those skills.
Start by monitoring your day-to-day tasks with a time tracker. Knowing how you spend your time is key to discovering where you’re wasting it.
Once you know where you’re wasting time, make a conscious effort to restrict the amount of time you spend on those activities. For some people, it’s social media. For others, it’s watching TV. For some of us, it’s a two-hour commute every day.
It’s also important to learn how to delegate tasks. The more you can take off your plate, the more time you’ll free up for other things.
Challenge Yourself
Another way to become a better person is to challenge yourself to do and learn new things. If you never try anything new, you’ll never know what you’re capable of!
So get outside your comfort zone. Take risks. Meet new people and make new friends. Try your hand at new hobbies. Network and grow your career.
People who are constantly growing and improving themselves have one thing in common: they’re not afraid to fail. Put that fear on the backburner and force yourself to take a risk. You never know where it could lead you!
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is a critical part of maintaining good mental health. Without a little downtime to enjoy the things you love, you’ll never be happy or be in a position to reach your dreams.
Take time to meditate, practice yoga, exercise, journal, or sleep. Carve out some time to pamper yourself, relax, read, or binge-watch TV. Whatever makes you happy and helps you to relax, do it.
You should be at the top of your priority list. DO NOT make the mistake of letting your own needs fall by the wayside because you’re busy at work or have too many chores to do around the house. Create a balance between the things you have to do and the things you actually want to do.
Believe in Yourself
If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
Be optimistic. Have faith in yourself and know that you can achieve any dream if you try. Adopt a positive outlook on life and it will be much easier to find motivation and ultimately reach your goals.
It’s also important to surround yourself with positive people that provide encouragement. It’s time to cut out the friends that do nothing but complain and bring you down. It’s time to find a new job if your current boss makes your life miserable. It’s time to find a new significant other if the one you have discourages you from chasing your dreams.
There are endless opportunities out there. You just need to know how to tune out negativity, ignore the naysayers, and fill your life with positive people that make you want to do better.
Have Fun!
The happiest people are those that can find joy, humor, and pleasure in every little thing they do.
“Laughter is the best medicine” is a well-known phrase because there’s actually truth to it and science behind it. Laughing increases the production of serotonin and endorphins in the brain, both which reduce the effects of stress and make you feel happier from the inside out.
Just keep this in mind:
A productive life cannot be a 24/7 party. We all have to work and take care of responsibilities. The trick is to reward yourself as you reach mini-goals and take steps toward that big, distant dream.
Conclusion
Ready to become your best self and achieve your dreams? Here’s what you need to do:
- Set a goal.
- Find motivation.
- Learn to manage your time.
- Challenge yourself to do new things.
- Take self-care seriously.
- Believe in yourself.
- Learn how to have fun along the way.
If you put these practices into place, you’ll be amazed at how quickly and how effortlessly it is to become your absolute best, happiest, most fulfilled self.
Author Bio:
Blake has been managing Prime Place KSU for six years. He loves Kansas and never misses a Chiefs game.