How to update your self-improvement plan

There’s no time like now for getting rid of the old stuff – physical and personal – you’re still carrying around.

Start small on goals

Let’s focus first on the environment.

Challenge: Clinging to things you’ll never need, use or wear.

Solution: Give them to charity: There’s always someone worse off than you can use them.

Getting rid of old clothes – no matter how much you love them – will help you live in the body you have now, not the body you wish you had. Not only that, there’s an excellent chance that your old duds are no longer in fashion.

And finally, it frees up space to bring new things into your life.

Challenge: House/office is a mess.

Solution: Create three piles: File, act or toss. (This is also a great way to get ready for your trip to your tax preparer.)

You don’t have to do it all at once. Set a small goal for yourself – 15 or 30 minutes a day until you’re done – if the task seems overwhelming. And if 15 minutes is too long, go for 5 minutes. Set a timer. When it goes off, reassess — can you keep going? If so, set it for another 5 minutes and go!

Getting your environment in order will help keep it clean, and make it feel more open, airy, peaceful and inviting.

Now that you’ve got a handle on the outside, let’s move on to the inside.

Challenge: You’re stuck.

Solution 1: Create a simple goal-setting timeline. Draw a line on a piece of paper. On one end, put where you are now. On the other, write where you want to be, with a completion date.

Put in action steps that move you forward, with specific deadlines.

Hint: Be sure your goals are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Your coach can help you figure that out.

Solution 2: Dispute the indisputable.

Write down all the things you “know” about yourself. Most of them are easily recognized by words like “never,” “always,” “can’t,” “don’t” or “shouldn’t,” among others.

Here are some examples of “truths” that need to be re-examined:

• “I can’t do math.”
• “I could never go to college.”
• “I shouldn’t speak up because people will hate me.”
• “I’m too old to change jobs/careers.”

Look at each of these “truths,” in light of your experience, and see if they are accurate. Those “facts” may not be relevant anymore, if they ever were.

If they’re not, cross them off your list – and liberate yourself! Don’t be bound by outdated notions of who and what you are.

Challenge: You feel stale.

Solution 1: Figure out what’s missing in your life.

To help you figure that out, use this amazing exercise. Find a place and a time where you will not be interrupted for at least 10 minutes. Mute your phone, turn off the TV, lock the dog in the bathroom and tell your family that you are not to be interrupted until you rejoin them.

Spend the first few minutes doing deep-breathing exercises. Relax deeply into a meditative state. Once you’re there, ask yourself, “What’s missing from my life?”

Nearly 100 percent of the time, the first thing that comes up is “it,” your major issue. The second thing that comes up will probably be your head, arguing about the first thing that came up. Trust your first gut feeling.

If you can accept that first impression, then it’s time to start figuring out a way to get what you want, using the same type of goal-setting structure mentioned before.

Solution 2: Do something you’ve never done before.

This can be as easy as reading a book or as complex as learning to skydive. The choice is yours. 

For some hints, think back to your childhood. What did you always say you wanted to do when you grew up? As an adult, what do you regret not doing when you were a kid? Then go for it!

Solution 3: Do things out of order, outside of your normal routine.

Mix it up. For example, take a shower before you have your coffee in the morning, or vice versa. If you usually take your walk at night, walk in the morning instead.

You’ll be much more mindful of what you do (living in and enjoying the moment), and it’s been shown to be an effective way to wake up your creativity.

What will you tackle first? Please add in the comments below.