The idea of “self-improvement” sometimes has a bit of a bad reputation. A lot of people associate it with long self-help books. Or gruelling regimes towards ripped abs. Or 4-hour meditation sessions. And whilst there’s nothing wrong with any of these types of “self-improvement”, the picture doesn’t have to look that way. Instead, it can simply mean becoming aware of where you are, whether you’re happy with it and how you could make changes to improve this standing. It doesn’t have to be extreme, even if it may push you outside of your comfort zone and make you slightly uncomfortable from time to time!
Since September is Self-Improvement month and we’re all about helping you to create a more fulfilling and connected life here at Halcyon Naturals, it seemed only right to dive into what self-improvement can really mean to each of us!
According to Roger Williams University, there are five dimensions of wellness: Educational, spiritual, physical, emotional and, finally, social.
We think that these five dimensions are therefore a great place to start when it comes to self-improvement. With each of them, it’s important to first assess how happy you are with that aspect of your life. If you think there’s room for improvement (spoiler alert: there usually is!), you can then begin to map out steps towards wellness in each area.
Physical Self-Improvement
Physical self-improvement is probably the one that we’re most well acquainted with in the modern world. However, it doesn’t have to be about meeting certain beauty standards, going on a diet or having guns of steel!
Instead, it could simply look like working out to make your body feel good. That means finding an exercise regime that works for you. Whether that’s weight lifting or running, pole exercise classes or simply walking, there’s bound to be something out there that will get your blood pumping and make you smile at the same time. It’s also important to find a time of day when working out feels best, to ensure that you enjoy your exercise as much as possible.
Of course, looking after your body doesn’t just mean exercising. Fuelling yourself is also important! Eat foods that truly nourish you and that you enjoy, to feel fulfilled. Plus, don’t forget to get your full 8 hours of shut-eye. We are the only mammals that willingly delay sleep. So, getting your sleep schedule in order can be a brilliant form of physical self-improvement. Don’t neglect it!
Educational self-improvement
Learning shouldn’t stop when you finish school. While we’re definitely not saying that you have to study algebra or poetry today, it can be really stimulating to find the joy in learning again!
There are tonnes of resources online, whatever topic you’re interested in. Search up podcasts, YouTube videos and articles on a particular topic to get your brain working. You could even invest in a platform like Udemy or SkillShare for video lessons, as one brilliant form of educational self-improvement.
Even just reading or listening to an audiobook ticks this box, as long as you are learning something new or feel mentally stimulated.
Spiritual self-improvement
Just like self-improvement, spirituality looks different to everyone. So this is perhaps the least prescriptive of all the categories!
If you practice a religion, reading a holy text, praying or worshipping in some way could be how you improve yourself spirituality. However, it may look more like meditation, yoga or thinking about life and your place within the world.
Our Release collection a brilliant addition to any spiritual self-improvement work. It is made up of a collection of pure essential oil blends crafted to help you get a fresh perspective on life. Blended with warm notes like camphor and cedarwood, alongside refreshing hints of peppermint and rosemary, they’re ideal for moments of reflection.
Social self-improvement
Everyone has different social tolerance levels. Extroverts love socialising and find it energising.
Introverts often find it draining. Some people are a mix of the two!
That’s why we think social self-improvement is all about balance and finding the perfect blend between al
one-time and socialising for you. If you feel like you need more time with people, get out more, join clubs, visit your family or just go to public spaces. On the other hand, if you want more “me time”, get better at saying “no” to events, commit to a certain amount of time you will spend at home each week and detox your social media channels of profiles that don’t make you feel good.
Our scent for this month is our Relate Signature. Crafted to help you build stronger, more understanding and meaningful relationships with the people you love, the Relate Signature scent is a carefully crafted blend of spearmint, rose geranium and patchouli essential oils. This makes it the perfect companion for social self-improvement. We offer it as a candle, room mist or diffuser.
Emotional self-improvement
Emotional self-improvement often looks like finding a self-care routine that works for you. It means exploring what relieves your stress, makes you happy and allows you to feel most rested and then committing to doing those actions at regular intervals!
From baths to long walks, and from Netflix binges to fancy cups of coffee, your self-care is valid. Work to incorporate more of it into your schedule to improve your overall wellness.
To reiterate: Everybody’s journey to wellness looks different. By keeping these five key dimensions of wellness in mind though, your work with self-improvement will gain structure. Try to focus on them as you set goals, to ensure you’re working towards the best, most rounded version of you.
What’s one action that you want to take this month as an act of self-improvement? We’d love to hear about it in the comments to get the conversation going.