The school year is ramping up and schedules are filling in. In the coming months, even the most laid back student may feel stressed or overwhelmed and search for ways to improve their life.
In the moment, that task may seem daunting, but in reality it’s simple. Self-improvement can be found in the little habits and practices that form your life.
“You will never change your life until you change what you do daily,” said Darren Hardy, New York Times bestselling author. “The secret of your success is found in your everyday routine.” As a developer of award-winning success training programs, Hardy has spent his career advising individuals on personal growth.
Take Hardy’s advice and find success in your everyday routine. Challenge yourself to pick up these self-improvement practices and take note of the ways your semester improves.
Start the Day Right
The first few minutes of your day can be the most impactful. Beginning each day with positivity is a great way to ensure you’re ready to tackle the challenges it may bring.
Whether you choose to meditate, say affirmations, or journal your thoughts, schedule your first 15 minutes of the day for a quiet moment.
Georgia State has resources to help you in this journey. The Counseling Center hosts weekly meditations on their Instagram page, @BeWellPanthers, as well as fitness walks and other initiatives. Take advantage of the full event calendar, which has a mix of online and in-person events to participate in.
Build a New Habit
It really is the little things that build into bigger practices in your life. When it comes down to it, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. If you don’t know your goals and work towards them each day, you may look back at your life and wish you did more.
Take time for reflection, and determine one goal you have for yourself. Then, come up with one daily practice that can help you achieve it.
An example could be a goal of improving your health, with the habit of walking outside for 30 minutes each day. Once you build that time into your schedule and complete it, it will become normal.
Another option would be to build a habit of bringing lunch from home instead of going out to eat, with the goal of saving the money you would’ve spent. It’s a simple investment of time that has positive outcomes long term.
Seek Supplemental Instruction
Did you know Georgia State offers supplemental instruction through online tutoring for difficult courses? These weekly peer-led sessions are an interactive way to seek help from other students who have already taken your courses and succeeded in them.
You don’t need to feel lost to seek help either! Adding in tutoring events or group study sessions can be helpful no matter your confidence level in a course. In fact, doing so creates a habit of weekly review that is useful in the long run.
Decompress in Healthy Ways
After a long day, stepping away from work should be a way to relax and decompress. Many people use this time to check social media and other apps on their phones instead of using the time to pursue actual rest.
“Passive screen time is like eating sugar but for your brain. It ‘tastes’ good, and you want it now, but you’re not actually feeding yourself. You’re not giving your brain any nutrition,” says Maris Loeffler, MA Family and Marriage Therapist, member of the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Cognitive Enhancement pillar.
Instead of screen time, seek a hobby or activity that supports cognitive enhancement and makes you happy. Whether it be reading a book, calling friends, or dancing to music, don’t be afraid to take control of your free time and improve your life.