Ideas for Self-Improvement in 2021

It’s a brand new year and each one of us gets a clean slate. 

2020 was totally far from what we expected it to be, but that doesn't mean 2021 has to follow suit. 

A couple of uncertainties still give us wary feelings, but 2020 has taught us to adapt and make the most of what we have—even though it wasn’t exactly voluntary. Now that we’ve gotten used to the new normal, there’s virtually nothing we can’t do. 

And if you’re looking for inspiration on how you can further improve yourself this year, browse through the ideas below to help get you started.

Firm Up Boundaries or Add New Ones

Last year as most of us stayed home, even for work, it was tough not having space that’s purely just for you and your time to rest. 

To some extent, work no longer started and ended during its designated schedule and would sometimes spill over your offline hours. For those staying with family members or loved ones, there was simply no concept of personal space being in a house full of people.

It was definitely a tough year for boundaries, but it could be changed this year. You’ve gone through months of it and you’ve surely figured out ways to save some time and space for yourself, despite all constraints. 

The only thing you need to do is firm up your boundaries. 

This isn’t just limited to space; this could also mean setting up healthy boundaries for yourself in your relationships with your loved ones, family, and friends. If you feel the need to establish boundaries or more-clearly define existing ones, be determined enough to do so. 

Revisit and Evaluate Goals 

Another idea for self-improvement in 2021 is to have new goals, or revisiting old ones. 

After a long year and a lot of time spent inside, you must have had some serious thoughts about what you want out of your own life. Goals like getting your dream job or starting your own business might be a couple of thoughts that have crossed your mind. 

But the thing about goals is that they don’t necessarily have to be huge ones. It could be as simple as finishing a 30-day workout, or perhaps saving up a certain amount of money before the year ends. 

What’s important about having a goal is that it pushes you to do more and explore your own capabilities of achieving it. It doesn’t leave you standing in the same place you were years ago and feeling stagnant. 

Bolster Strengths and Improve On Weaknesses 

People often say that when a new year begins, you have to work on your weaknesses and transform them into strengths. 

Although this is feasible, it may not be  suitable for all of us. Some people prefer solidifying their strengths and keeping their weaknesses at bay; for some, it’s the other way around. In this case, it’s up to you. 

If you find that your weaknesses keep you stagnant and unproductive, it may be best to work on them first. Don’t try to go from 0 to 100 though, try to take it a few steps at a time.  Baby steps.  While weaknesses are valid, you can still work on them. 

Your strengths shouldn’t go unnoticed. Improve or touch up on them every once in a while so they become your strongholds. Constantly firming up your strengths will make it less likely for you to lose your touch. 

Handle Finances Better

Online shopping hit an all-time high last year and packages were delivered one after the other. If you didn’t succumb to this expensive trend, good for you! But if you did, this year could be the year that you handle your finances better. 

Understandably, expecting to receive a package during the pandemic was probably one of the few things many of us had to look forward to! After all, there’s nothing like the anticipation and excitement of that package you have been waiting for to finally arrive.

However, shopping does have its own monetary implications. Unless you’re crazy rich and money will continue to flow after every purchase, then go crazy. But if not, limit your spendings to a certain amount or just delete your e-commerce apps altogether.

Remember, there is still a lot of uncertainty out there, so it's best to have more money than necessary on hand. 

Learn New Skills 

Learning a new skill is a great way for self-improvement.

Perhaps you’ve wanted to learn how to cook or speak a new language. Whatever skill you’ve been putting off learning can be where you start a new journey towards self-improvement.

Mind you, learning a skill can be challenging. It might take you a few hours or even a few weeks before you perfect it, but trust the process and just enjoy what you’re doing. Don’t push yourself too hard or be too hard on yourself as you learn.

What’s important is you want to do it and you’re willing to commit to learning it until you become good at it.