Life is a constant stream of change, and as time flows, we should evolve along with it, should always striving to embrace the opportunity to become a better version of ourselves.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably pondered about becoming a better version of yourself.
Well, good news: the path to personal growth doesn’t have to be complicated.
In fact, I’ve discovered four simple steps that have helped me transform my life in meaningful ways. Let’s dive in and explore these steps together.
Step 1: Set Clear Goals
Picture this: You’re on a road trip without a map or a destination in mind. You’ll likely end up lost and frustrated.
Similarly, setting clear goals is like charting a map for your personal growth journey.
Define what you want to achieve, whether it’s landing that dream job, improving your fitness, or nurturing your relationships.
For instance, let’s say you want to improve your health. Instead of vaguely saying, “I want to get fit,” set a specific goal like, “I will jog for 30 minutes every morning and reduce sugary snacks to twice a week.”
This clarity will guide your actions and keep you motivated.
Step 2: Continuous Learning
Imagine life as a never-ending classroom, where each experience is an opportunity to learn.
Whether it’s picking up a new skill, reading a book, or simply reflecting on your day, continuous learning keeps your mind sharp and your perspective fresh.
Consider this: You’re learning to play the guitar. At first, your fingers fumble, and the chords sound off.
But with practice and patience, your skills improve.
Embrace this process in all areas of life, and soon you’ll realize how much growth comes from simply being open to learning.
Step 3: Embrace Failure as a Friend
Let’s face it, we all stumble sometimes.
But instead of letting failure discourage you, see it as a stepping stone.
Think about learning to ride a bike.
Did you master it without a few falls? Each stumble taught you balance and resilience.
In the same way, don’t let setbacks define you.
Use them to learn, adapt, and grow. Remember, failure is a sign that you’re pushing your boundaries and trying new things.
Step 4: Practice Self-Compassion
Think about how you treat your closest friend when they’re going through a tough time. Chances are, you offer them understanding, kindness, and encouragement.
Now, why not treat yourself the same way?
Being kind to yourself, especially during setbacks, is essential for personal growth. Imagine you’re struggling with a project at work.
Instead of berating yourself for not getting it right, take a moment to acknowledge your effort and remind yourself that mistakes happen.
This self-compassion not only boosts your self-esteem but also fuels your determination to keep improving.
Conclusion:
Becoming a better version of yourself is a journey worth taking, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
By setting clear goals, embracing continuous learning, seeing failure as an opportunity, and practicing self-compassion, you’re well on your way to meaningful personal growth.
Just remember, this journey is uniquely yours.
Celebrate every small victory, learn from every stumble, and watch yourself blossom into the incredible person you’re meant to be.
These tips will help you maintain your wellness routine when on the road.
Travel is a tree that bears many fruits. Under the right circumstances, it can be good for your business, your store of experiences, your relationships, your soul… One thing travel isn’t always good for, however, is your body, which can suffer at the hands of jet lag, dehydration and bad airport food, to name just a few of the many health-related challenges travelers face every day.
Here’s the bright side: Many business travelers know that wellness can be elusive when they’re on the road, so they’re committed to being healthier in spite of the many obstacles they face.
So finds new research published this week by travel-management platform CWT. Based on a survey of more than 2,700 frequent business travelers from around the globe, it found that 42 percent of them work hard to adhere to their health and wellness routines when they’re traveling. Likewise, 38 percent of business travelers say they eat healthier while on the road, and 26 percent that they work out more when they travel. Only 7 percent say they do not maintain their health and wellness routines when they’re away from home.
“Maintaining healthy habits while traveling is nearing the top of the priority list for travelers around the world,” Niklas Andréen, CWT’s chief traveler experience officer, said in a statement.
Just because being healthy on the road is important to travelers, however, doesn’t mean that it’s easy for them. In fact, sometimes it’s downright hard. Here are five tips that will make it just a little bit easier:
1. Drink up (water, that is)
The first and most important rule of healthy travel is to stay hydrated — especially when you’re flying. “Staying hydrated is always important, traveling or not. However, it should be the first thing on your mind when you travel, especially if you’re on an airplane, because the humidity inside the cabin is lower than normal. Your body will also be acclimating to a new climate, and between finding your way around and enjoying your trip drinking water can be easily forgotten,” nutritionist Elizabeth Rider notes in a post on her blog, in which she recommends finding a convenience store at your destination and purchasing at least 60 ounces of water for each day that you’re traveling. “Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and loads of other issues. It can also cause hunger, so bottoms up!”
Travel writer Shivani Vora also sings water’s praises. “This simple tip helps with everything from dehydration to constipation to overcoming jet lag,” she says in an article for the New York Times. “Since you’re likely to get busier as the day goes on and may forget to drink, try starting your day by drinking 16 ounces.”
2. Premeditate your meals
If you leave your diet to chance while you’re traveling, you’re almost guaranteed to fall off the wagon. If healthy eating is important to you, you should plan as many of your meals as possible — just like you would at home.
Start with road snacks, which you should prepare ahead of time and pack in your luggage, advises Vora. “Since healthy food can be scarce and expensive when you’re away from home, it’s a good idea to pack your own,” she says. “Take a portable, collapsible cooler, and fill it with healthy … meals.”
If that sounds impractical, at least pack a few snacks. “You don’t have to bring your entire pantry, just grab a piece of fruit that keeps well (apple, banana, orange), some almond butter, your own healthy trail mix and/or a good-quality, low-sugar bar,” Rider advises. “These types of healthy snacks will tide you over in a pinch and can prevent you from needing that pastry at the airport.”
Before you get to your destination, Rider continues, research restaurants and their menus so you know ahead of time where you can go for a healthy meal. Also, locate a grocery near your hotel. “Find the nearest market or grocery store to grab some fruit or fresh food,” she says. “Dining out is a wonderful part of the travel experience, but try to have one meal a day from the grocery store. Think whole/real foods like fruits, veggies, nuts and salads.”
Planning should even encompass room service, author Harley Pasternak says in a blog post for fitness-tracker company Fitbit. “Regardless of where in the world you might be visiting, many hotels offer a North American-style breakfast,” Pasternak writes. “In some cases, you can order your breakfast the night before — doing this will ensure that you’re making smarter decisions, and it also acts as a wake-up call. Generally, options like scrambled eggs, or an omelet with veggies and a side of fruit, are available no matter where you are in the world.”
3. Keep it moving
If diet is one side of the healthy-travel equation, exercise is the other. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to get the blood pumping while you’re on the road, according to Vora. For example, she says, try walking up a flight of stairs two steps at a time for a total of 20 repetitions. Or, when you use the toilet, add 10 extra reps of sitting down and standing up — which might feel silly, but will nonetheless make you feel the burn. If you have free time between meetings, she also recommends doing “active sightseeing.”
“A growing number of destinations around the world have bike-share programs that visitors can take advantage of. Bikes are a fantastic way to explore a city … Rely on these two-wheelers as your primary mode of transport and ride yours to drop-off locations that are near sights you want to visit,” advises Vora, who also suggests taking walking tours. “Almost every city around the world offers a range of walking tours, whether you’re interested in history, culture, drinking, food or architecture … You can also look at guidebooks or travel sites for suggested walking tours, and pick a different one for each day.”
Stretching can be just as important as exercise, according to UT Health Austin, a health-care practice that’s administered by the University of Texas at Austin. “Sitting in the same position for hours on end … on the plane stiffens your joints and muscles and can lead to all sorts of aches and pains during your trip,” it says in a post on its blog. “Try to get up and take a walk or stretch out your arms, legs, neck and back at least once every hour to increase blood flow and to feel more refreshed. It’s easy to sneak in some neck and shoulder rolls, back twists and leg stretches while you’re sitting [or] waiting in line.”
4. Choose a healthy hotel
The right accommodations can make a big difference in travelers’ ability to exercise and eat well. For that reason, Rider recommends short-term rentals over hotels when possible “Consider renting a condo or apartment with a kitchen instead of staying at a hotel,” she says. Preparing a few of your own meals in a kitchen, especially breakfast, will help you stay on track.”
Of course, plenty of hotels offer in-room kitchens and kitchenettes. And most have amenities that can help you adhere to your fitness routine. CWT’s survey, for example, found that 49 percent of business travelers use hotels’ fitness centers to maintain their wellness routines, that 40 percent of them use hotels’ swimming pools and that 27 percent of them use in-room fitness equipment that hotels supply. Looking for properties that offer these and other wellness features — a lap pool, a yoga studio, group fitness classes, a spa and/or in-room Peloton bikes, just to name a few — ensures you’ll have ample and convenient access to fitness activities.
5. Get your Zs
At home and on the road, the final piece of the health puzzle is sleep, according to lifestyle blogger Diane Nassy.
“Sleep is essential to our health and well-being,” Nassy writes in a blog post for car-rental company Alamo. “Research has revealed that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as the common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick. So, getting proper sleep is very important before and during your travels.”
Nassy recommends packing a travel pillow and earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to help you sleep on the plane. In your hotel room, meanwhile, eliminating light can help, according to Rider. “Just like when you’re at home, a dark sleep space with no extra light will help you get better rest,” she says. “Turn the alarm clock light off or unplug it, and use a towel under the door if light is pouring in from the hallway. Eye masks look funny, but if all else fails use one. Any light in your sleep space can disrupt your good night’s sleep.”
you tell me that he really hurt you
hurt you, oh, so bad
you wonder how he could desert you
god, he made you mad
were you nothing but a victim
did you never have a choice
it takes two to tango
didn’t you wear familiar clothes
the ones you wear so well
didn’t you blush just like a rose
on your way to hell
were you nothing but a victim
did you never have a choice
it takes two to tango
were you nothing but a victim
did you never have a choice
it takes two to tango
weren’t you once head over heels
weren’t you, oh, so sure
if she’s to blame for how you feel
who will be the cure
were you nothing but a victim
did you never have a choice
oh, it takes two to tango
hey, now, even if your arm was twisted
what happened to your voice
oh, it takes two to tango
If you think your work should speak for itself, why are so many famous artists unknown until their death? If you want to be known in this lifetime as a master at your craft, you’ll need to learn how to manage up.
Every manager, including the CEO, wants to be managed. This became quite evident to me when I was facilitating an executive retreat. The CEO kept telling his people what he needed and most of the people in the room couldn’t process what he was saying until I intervened.
You’re probably good at letting others know how great your people are or how wonderful your company is to work for. But now’s the time to bump it up a notch and do some work on you.
I said, “If you take away only one thing from our session, let it be that the CEO has told you that he wants to be managed. Now go manage him!”
Managing up isn’t about brown-nosing, nor is it about becoming the boss’s favorite. It’s about learning how to work within the confines of an organization to get what you need while helping your boss and the organization meet their objectives. It’s about using influence and acting with integrity and purpose.
It may seem unnatural to manage those above you in business. But mastering this skill is exactly what you need to do to excel in any organization. Managing up is a skill that can be developed through practice.
Here’s some advice on how to manage up.
Be authentic.
One of the keys to managing up is to not make it apparent you’re doing so. The only way to do this is to be authentic. If a recommendation doesn’t feel right for you, tweak it until it feels like something you can wear daily. Challenge yourself to improve every day and before you know it, you’ll be effortlessly managing up.
Master the game of office politics.
Office politics is one game that’s played in every organization. Before you begin writing your letter of resignation, it’s important to understand that politics isn’t just about manipulation. It’s about using power effectively.
Have you ever noticed that the people who get promoted usually aren’t the smartest people in the company? They’re the ones who have strong relationships throughout the organization. They have power.
Power is the ability to get things done through other people. They understand the unwritten rules of the workplace, which allows them to quietly maneuver through the organization to obtain scarce resources, get approval of prized projects and receive salary increases, even when salary freezes are in place. Once you learn these unwritten rules, you too will be able to propel your career forward.
Begin by being observant, listening closely and watching the way people who seem to always get what they ask for interact with their bosses and those at the top. When you understand the behavior in your own organization, you’ll be better equipped to create and execute the game plan you’ll need to succeed.
You may not like what you see. If that’s the case, you’ll need to determine if the organization is one you can remain with for years to come.
Toot your own horn, so you can be heard in a sea of cubicles.
It’s almost impossible to get noticed in today’s workplace, especially when your job is to make sure others are recognized and rewarded for their efforts. There’s a reason why, on every flight, the flight attendant tells the passengers that in the event of loss of cabin pressure, you must put your own oxygen mask on first.
You can’t help others if you’re no longer in a position of power or worse, no longer in the company’s employ.
Given the constant changes in corporate life — buyouts, downsizing, bankruptcies — you must excel at keeping more than just your boss informed of your successes, as there’s no guarantee your boss will be there tomorrow. This isn’t so easy in today’s world of texts, emails and voicemails all fighting for attention. Not to mention the plethora of meetings your boss is attending.
That’s why your sound needs to be memorable. I recently took a group of leaders through my Tooting Your Own Horn exercise. I asked everyone to share something exciting about themselves most people didn’t know. The results were amazing. People stood proudly and talked about skills they’d mastered and awards they’d received, including Olympic medals.
Are you your organization’s best kept secret and if so, what are you going to do about that? Casually weave notable stories into your everyday conversations. Don’t have any stories? Vow to make today the day you do something that’s worthy of being noticed. Become a person of interest so you have something to strategically brag about.
The ability to effectively develop strong relationships with those next to you and above you is a skill that’ll not only allow you to have a seat at the table, but also to be heard.
