11 Tiny but Mighty Ways to Grow (As a Person)

Ever since humans first roamed the earth, we have been evolving. We evolve at different rates – with some of us changing daily and others experiencing changes every few years.

Our skin changes. Our hair changes. Our personality changes. But while those change happen automatically without us even thinking about it – it takes active effort to grow as a person.

What do we mean by ‘growing’? We mean consciously improving our habits, actions, behaviours and attitudes so that – ultimately – we can live a better life, as the best version of ourselves.

Put simply, growing means that we take active steps to improve our lives. We can grow physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. We evolve based on the choices we make and it’s important to change so that owe can live a happier life.

Below, we’ve listed 11 tiny but mighty steps that you can consciously take to help you grow as a person.

1. Take a Break

Everyone loves to have down time where we just do nothing. Doing nothing is important for our mental and physical health.

We need to take time away from being busy and just relax. Rest can mean different things to different people. For some it’s a walk on the beach. For others it’s watching their favourite TV show and for some it’s taking the time to go to the gym or participate in team sports.

You need to choose what works for you. When you’re well rested, you’re in a better position to take other steps to better yourself.

2. Read More Books

If you can think of it, chances are that there’s a book on it.

Maybe you want to learn a new recipe and improve your cooking so buy a cook book and read the recipes so you can improve in this area. On the other hand, you may want to escape reality so a fictional book could be right for you.

Or you’re curious about history and what’s going on in the world, in which case reading non-fiction books such as biographies or memoirs is right for you

Whatever type of book interests you, reading will help you expand your knowledge and you’ll have more to talk about when you socialise with work colleagues, friends or family members. Reading makes you a more interesting person and will improve the interactions you have with others.

3. Start a Gratitude Journal

The best way to attract more positivity into your life is to practice gratitude.

Think of all the things that you are grateful for. It doesn’t have to be major. It could just be little, like being thankful for the weather a particular day or for your friends.

As you get into the habit of practicing gratitude you’ll find more things to be grateful for and that will help you attract more into your life. A gratitude journal can help you pay attention to the little things and increase positivity. When you increase positivity, you will attract more of it which will give you more to be grateful for. It is a cycle of positivity. Your self-esteem will improve and you will be much happier which will help reduce your stress levels.

4. Meditate

Just like taking a break can help clear your mind and recharge your batteries, meditating can improve your mental health, with it being attributed to lower depression and anxiety rates.

When you meditate, you will be more aware of your thought patterns so you’ll have the skills to identify bad habits that are negatively impacting your life.

Meditation improves your mental health and promotes emotional health. By taking the time to clear your mind you have the time to process information and what seems difficult will actually be much easier than it first seemed on the surface.

It will also help you with your concentration. Improved concentration will assist with your work performance because you’ll perform much better than if you didn’t meditate. You don’t even need to meditate for long. Just five to ten minutes a day can reap significant benefits.

5. Learn a Language

Despite what you may think, it’s never too late to learn a new language. Learning a new language will help you see things in a new light and open up new opportunities so you can live a better life.

In addition to new opportunities emerging, you will also discover how other cultures work and it will be easier to travel.

Along with being able to travel, more career options will be open to you with more employers nowadays looking for talent who can speak multiple languages.

In today’s world we are more connected than ever before and yet at the same time we are very disconnected.

That will change when you learn a new language because you can communicate with more people in different communities. That can increase your social network, which in turn will make you happier and more fulfilled.

6. Write in a Journal

It can help to get your thoughts out on paper. When you write them down, you are becoming more aware of your thoughts and releasing them out into the world. It can reduce any mental anguish that you feel.

The important thing is that when you write in a journal, you shouldn’t filter yourself. It should be free flowing based on what you actually think.

Writing a journal can help you track your thoughts so you can monitor where you are in life and you’ll have the ability to see areas where you have grown and improved.

That will assist with you reaching goals and milestones in life. When you achieve goals you will be more confident than if you weren’t progressing.

7. Eat Healthy Foods

You are what you eat. Healthy food can have a huge impact on your mental state. Fresh food gives you energy and you’ll be more motivated to be active than if you weren’t eating healthily. There is a few beliefs systems which think eating healthy impacts your cells, by having clearer cells you have clearer thought patterns.

If you don’t have the time to prepare healthy foods, there are plenty of meal kit subscriptions or home catering services that you can utilise.

Healthy food lowers your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia which will help you live longer.

It will also improve your immune system so you will be less likely to suffer sickness like those who don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet.

8. Exercise More

One of the best things that people can do for their mental wellbeing that will improve and help them grow as a person is to exercise. My mum used to know me better then I knew myself, she would say regularly “have you exercised”, or “go and exercise” especially if she noticed me in a melancholy state. She used to say, “it resets your hormones, and for you to it important you need to regularly keep up the practice”.

Exercise can be like meditation because when you’re exercising you have to get into a zone.

Think of it this way. If you’re running the hardest part is actually getting started but you can trick yourself by saying you’re just going to run another 200 to 300 metres and that may get you an extra 3-4kms of running. The effect is that you’ve improved your mental strength and wellbeing.

If running isn’t your thing, then you can participate in a home exercise routine from the comfort of your own home or join a sports club. It’s important to find a type of exercise that you like so you stick with it. As you exercise your mental health will improve.

Physical activity can help you with your everyday activities and it can strengthen your bones and muscles so you won’t suffer ailments in your later life like if you didn’t regularly exercise. You will also manage your weight more effectively.

9. Be Kind to Others

You get out of life what you put in – so your life will drastically improve if you are kind to other people.

It’s not hard to be kind and in addition to improving your life it will improve the lives of those around you. It could simply be that you let someone go before you in a queue or that you offer an ear to someone who is going through a difficult time.

10. Spend More Time Outside

Vitamin D is one of the best things for our health, and the best source of Vitamin D is the sun so take the time to spend more time outside.

Rather than having lunch at your computer, have it outside or go for a walk outside instead of going to the gym.

Research has found that getting back to nature can improve our mental health. It has also been proven to lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, slow your heart rate and improve your mood. It doesn’t matter where you spend the time – anywhere outside will see you enjoy the same benefits.

11. Create a List of Goals

If you want direction in life, you need to set yourself goals. They don’t have to be major goals but they do need to be measurable.

Measurable goals include things like deciding you want to run an extra 15 minutes or you want to do one kind deed for someone each day. As you achieve each goal you can modify and add to the list.

EACH OF THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU GROW AS A PERSON AND HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR LIFE.

The important thing is that personal growth is individual, and you shouldn’t measure yourself against other people.

Only measure yourself against yourself.