𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 – 𝐁𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 – 𝐁𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

1. Don’t delay

Thinking about running that marathon? Register today. Eager to pursue that degree? Start preparing your application.

The first step to doing anything worthwhile is beginning. And while it can be quite challenging to make that initial leap, you won't get anywhere without kicking off the process.

2. Prioritize what matters to you – not others

You’ll never feel fulfilled if you live trying to meet someone else’s expectations. Instead, channel your effort and energy toward what matters to you.

That may be your family, travel, or reading a good book regularly. Only you can determine what’s most important to your happiness and sense of purpose in life.

Spend time around people encouraging positive self-talk and making you feel good about yourself.

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff

Unexpected events will undoubtedly arise as you go through life. You’ll make errors and embarrass yourself. That’s okay. Learn from your mistakes and setbacks, and be grateful for your progress.

4. Accept help from others

Your pride can hold you back from accepting praise and evolving. Try to work against this and accept help rather than denying it.

There’s no need to travel the road to find your best self alone. BetterUp coaches are here to help keep you accountable and provide the perspective you need to carry on when the going gets tough.

5. Take a break from social media

Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and even Linkedin are deeply embedded in our lives. But even as social media keeps us connected and informed, it can lead to comparison and self-doubt.

If scrolling your feeds leaves you feeling down, and not uplifted, try to establish boundaries. And if you feel inadequate as you browse social media, remember people tend to post their highlights, not low moments.

6. Celebrate small victories

The little things matter.

Celebrating even small wins will motivate you to keep going until you reach your final goal. If you’re focusing on one big goal, try splitting it into steps so that you’re seeing progress. Don’t forget to reward yourself as you hit benchmarks and milestones!

7. Exercise daily

Exercise brings a wealth of positive effects to your everyday life:

According to a study from 2017, exercise creates better blood flow to the hippocampus region of your brain, a region crucial for your memory. This translates into better working memory and focus. You’ll be more productive and efficient.

• Physical activity also clears your mind and delivers oxygen to your tissues that helps your organs work more efficiently, giving you more physical energy.

• And, of course, exercise makes a big difference to your long-term health, helping prevent chronic health conditions such as type diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your best self is a healthy self.

8. Speak up for yourself

Your opinion is important. Stand up and speak up. It may be nerve-wracking, but the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel.

9. Embrace failure

In order to experience growth,

you’ll need to get out of your comfort zone.

Without risks, you’ll never develop new skills, discover new interests and passions, or experience personal growth.

Failure can be the best teacher if you take the time to reflect and do the work to learn from it.

10. Stop looking for short-cuts

These don’t exist when it comes to self-improvement. It takes patience and hard work, Period.

3 extra tips to be the best version of yourself

As you strive toward authenticity and being the best possible version of yourself, it’s wise to remember the following:

1. Your values

Whether it’s family, trust, loyalty, hard work, or kindness, what you value is at the core of what defines you. Your personal values define how you view the world and others in it.

2. Your strengths

Everyone has hard and soft skills and can accomplish a ton. Focus on developing your strengths – these will help you overcome hurdles.

3. The importance of self-compassion

You may feel like traveling in a completely different direction than others, especially if you’re not where you want to be. Take a moment to appreciate what your mind and body do for you. You’ll get there.