Albert Einstein said, “once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” 

September is Self Improvement Month and what better time to identify different areas of self-improvement than now? A large number of people spend a lot of time at home due to remote work or being stay-at-home parents, so we’ve identified a few ways people can work on their self-improvement goals in the comfort of their own home.

Professional Improvement 

The pandemic brought a whole new meaning to working from home. With options limited, many are finding themselves spending more time under their roof – oftentimes, more than they bargained for. With that being said, there are ways you can maximize your time at home when it comes to self-improvement.

• Establish healthy boundaries. When you have separation of church and state — meaning you can compartmentalize work and home life from one another — you have the opportunity to truly focus on areas of your life that need more TLC, including professional development. While it’s recommended to create a reliable workstation at home, it’s also important to diversify your workplace environment and can do so by utilizing the common areas around your community like the business center, conference rooms, outdoor lounge areas, and the clubhouse, as well as nearby coffee shops. 
• Challenge communication skills. Working from home creates areas of self-improvement that might not have been identified when working in the office, even including communication. Being remote, people are challenged to communicate more creatively with others to ensure nothing gets missed or overlooked. By creating these opportunities to connect, people have the opportunity to improve interpersonal communication skills more effectively and efficiently. 
• Improving self-confidence. Although your team members might be just a video call away, people who work from home are naturally not around peers as often compared to being in an office. In-office culture allows employees to work together and get through challenges together – when you’re at home, you might not have that luxury as often given it’s from a distance. This challenges you to be more confident in your decision making, rather than relying on others.
• Network virtually. To avoid becoming stagnant or feeling lonely, it’s recommended to continue networking with others around you, even if it’s virtually. It’s always encouraged to grab coffee or lunch to help break up the day but if meeting in-person is not an option, meeting via Zoom or Skype helps you feel more connected compared to limiting it to email or phone calls. From networking, you can also meet new people and develop relationships that could help you in the future.

Personal Improvement 

Oftentimes, people feel like they could do more when it comes to self-improvement but it’s important to not be overly critical – the first step to achieve your self-improvement goals is by showing yourself more compassion and grace. At the end of the day, we’re only human so it’s important to not put as much pressure on yourself, but by making simple adjustments within your daily routine, you’ll find yourself growing and improving every day. 

• Self-talk and affirmations. To spread positivity around you, you must start with yourself first. By being at home, it’s easy to get caught up in negative and critical thoughts so to avoid this, tell yourself how great you are. Write down affirmations on sticky notes and place them around your home to spread optimism and positivity. 
• Increase self-care. Although massages and facials are great for your self-care, doing things that thoroughly make you feel good is also a great way to boost your self-care routine. Carve out 10-15 minutes a day to read a book, go on a walk, listen to music, meditate, or eat a healthy snack – whatever fills your cup up, do more of it! 
• Express gratitude. Incorporating gratitude is a self-improvement idea you’ve probably heard a hundred times, but there’s a reason for that! Cultivating gratitude not only helps your overall attitude, but it also can help decrease stress and improve sleep. Every day, it’s encouraged to write down one thing you’re grateful for – whether it’s learning a new skill, a special person in your life, or the simple moments of life.
• Practice random acts of kindness. P.B. Bell residents are constantly surrounded by others, giving them a number of opportunities to practice random acts of kindness. Whether it’s simply holding the door for someone, paying a compliment to a stranger, or slipping a $5 Starbucks gift card under a neighbor’s door, practicing kindness to others is a personal improvement tactic that seems to always work well! 

We’re always looking for new self-improvement ideas so be sure to let us know if you think of something additional by tagging us on social at @pbbellapts!