Easy to Implement Daily Self-Improvement Practices
AFF Newsletter on Substack #36
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Easy to Implement Daily Self-Improvement Practices
Below are some proven practices that you can easily implement into your life daily to help improve it.
We are all looking to better ourselves, in some aspect of our life. Whether it's our health, finances, relationships, kicking an addiction, or something else. We're always looking for ways to get ourselves back on track or take us to the next level.
If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while then you’ll know that I don’t normally do these kinds of articles but I always find them useful when I read them myself.
I love having a simple blueprint laid out for me to use as a reminder or guide if my life starts to feel unmanageable and I need to regain control.
I love having these things outlined for me when I’m trying to achieve greater things in my life. I love experimenting with different practices to see what fits best into my routine, adding and subtracting things that work and don’t work.
I love cultivating these practices and making them my own.
Some of the practices outlined below may not be groundbreaking but they are proven to help those who implement them into their daily life.
I hope you find them useful and can draw strength from some, or all, of them as you use them in your day-to-day life.
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Honesty (with self & others)
Being honest is something people should make the cornerstone of their identity. The importance of honesty with oneself and with others is paramount to leading a peaceful, more productive life.
Without truth and honesty, you’ll end up living a life of lies and deceit. Both of which will weigh heavy on you. You’ll not be living true to yourself and you’ll find that you turn feelings of guilt around your lies inwardly, which will ultimately cause you pain.
The life of an alcoholic is based on fear and lies. I’ve touched upon fears and drinking before but the lies we tell ourselves, and others, are just as bad.
Until you get truly honest, you will constantly be on edge. Constantly looking over your shoulder. Constantly wondering when you'll get caught out.
You'll start to develop shame, guilt and self-hatred - all feelings that will destroy your inner peace. You'll start to forget who you really are because you'll end up forgetting what lies you've told and to whom.
Being honest with both yourself and others will transform your life.
It'll make your goals more achievable. It’ll provide for better interactions with friends and family. It’ll bring you more peace. It’ll stop distracting you from the life you want.
It'll set you free.
Gratitude (simple or complex)
This one is more talked about than the previous practice but is no less important.
Having overcome alcohol addiction and regained control of my life, practising gratitude helps keep me grounded and reminds me that not everything is all doom and gloom. Being that alcohol led me into the darkness, I must focus my attention on the light.
As mentioned, practising gratitude is essential and something I am now doing regularly.
In my experience, gratitude can be expressed in multiple ways using different techniques.
For example, you can apply the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method to your gratitude practice. It can be used in all aspects of your life but I find that for gratitude, it works well.
This simplistic approach to gratitude is a perfect starting point for when you are feeling down or when you feel you've got nothing going for you and can then be built upon.
If you’re having a rough time, why not try to snap out of your negative mindset by practising some simple gratitude:
I'm grateful that I have my legs.
I'm grateful that I have my sight.
I'm grateful that I have my hands.
I'm grateful that I have my hearing.
Whatever applies to your life.
Once you have begun practising simple gratitude daily, whether this is something you say verbally to yourself or write down, you can then progress onto more specific gratitude or complex things to be grateful for.
You can utilise this practice alongside meditation or whilst you are enjoying your favourite coffee. The beauty is that this can be done anywhere at any time and is unlikely to take too long for you to do.
And is worth it.
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Reading (daily reflections and Substack)
One practice I’ve added into my daily life recently that I feel has been extremely beneficial to my self-improvement is reading some daily reflections in the morning.
After I’ve walked the dog and the house is still quiet I have been using this time to read different resources offering some daily reflections.
I will outline the resources I use so you can take a look for yourself and see whether they might be helpful for you.
The beauty of this little routine is that it doesn’t take particularly long and will provide you with a lot to think about as you go about your day.
The Stoic
It may sound cliche but I’ve been reading quotes from Stoic philosophers. I’ve enjoyed this addition to my reading practices as I feel the quotes I’ve read have brought about a different level of calmness to my thoughts.
This is today’s quote from Epictetus, which fits nicely with the theme of improvement:
“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things. Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself. For, it is difficult to both keep your faculty of choice in a state conformable to nature, and at the same time acquire external things. But while you are careful about the one, you must of necessity neglect the other.”
Everything AA
As I’ve previously mentioned, I will always recommend AA to people who are looking to kick the booze and recently I stumbled upon an app that I feel people in recovery would benefit from, whether you like AA or not.
The daily reflections section of the app is great as it offers you two different readings, both of which are usually packed with some useful gems.
A lot of the ‘Big Book’ is filled with talk of God or a ‘Higher Power’ but if that’s not your thing, you will almost certainly find some quotes within the text that’ll hit home.
This is today’s daily reflection from the app:
“Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job – wife or no wife – we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.” - Big Book page 98.
“Before coming to A.A., I always had excuses for taking a drink: "She said . . . ," "He said . . . ," "I got fired yesterday," "I got a great job today." No area of my life could be good if I drank again. In sobriety, my life gets better each day. I must always remember not to drink, to trust God, and to stay active in A.A. Am I putting anything before my sobriety, God, and A.A. today?” - from the book Daily Reflections.
These are just two examples of daily reflections I read.
After I’ve read these and got on with the chunk of my day’s work, I read a chapter from the book I am currently reading followed by a couple of emails from my favourite Substack writers.
Substack
There are a few writers on Substack whose work I read daily. Here are a few newsletters I recommend you check out:
The World Within and The Writer’s Path by
I read both of these newsletters daily, whether it’s the latest email or one from the archive. I enjoy Viam’s writing and he touches upon subjects that interest me.
I would highly recommend you check out his work.
Although not daily, I love reading Marc’s letters to his son. Not only is he creative in his delivery but his passion and the heartfelt nature of the messages shine through.
Other notable newsletters I read daily, or when they are available, are:
The Maize by
Dharmaholic by
Please check out the newly relaunched Birth of Clarity newsletter here:
Writing
While I enjoy reading other people’s work, I much prefer writing. For me, writing each day has given me a better understanding of myself and my capabilities.
Whether it’s writing down what I am grateful for, working on my book, getting the thoughts out of my head and onto paper or writing this and the Birth of Clarity newsletter, the act of writing has helped me.
Writing is a great tool for self-improvement. It provides you with visible markers from which you can track your improvements, your weaknesses and your state of mind.
When I look back at things I wrote last year, I notice the difference in my thoughts, my writing style, where was at in my life’s journey, my influences and my motivations.
I can see the progress I’ve made as a father and in my recovery.
Give it a try with something simple, like, writing down how you thought your day went. You can elaborate on that topic as much as you want.
Funnily enough, as I write this, a message has just popped up saying that this post is too long for email. So on that note, I will share a few more self-improvement practices - in less detail - that I believe are easy to implement into your daily routine.
A lot of these things are common sense but it is worth reminding yourself of the importance they can play in your self-development.
Showering and good hygiene
It might seem obvious but showering daily - I’m not a cold shower expert so I won’t preach about that - is a perfect way to cleanse yourself. Personally, showering represents more than just washing. It is a total cleansing process. Washing away the dirt of the day, both physically and mentally.
Going to bed early
This is a big one and probably should’ve had its own section above.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to get an early night’s sleep, especially seeing as one of the best self-improvement tools I have in my toolbelt is waking up early.
The reason that waking up early isn’t a separate practice is that I believe going to bed earlier is the key to waking up early and having a productive day.
It’s easy to suggest getting up early but if you’re not going to sleep at a respectable time, you’re not going to be able to function at the level you require to significantly improve yourself.
Try going to bed at 10 pm and waking up at 5 am. Try doing this for a while and see if you notice an improvement in your daily productivity.
Meditating
I was reluctant to put this on the list, not because I don’t think it is beneficial, but because it is something that has become a cliche in self-improvement.
But like many things considered a cliche, they usually work. And meditating certainly does work at improving oneself.
Much like exercise and eating healthy food, both of which are a must-add to your daily routine, meditating provides a solid base from which you can grow.
Getting out in nature
I am a big proponent of everyone being out in nature more.
I’ve been spending more time in nature daily, whether that’s walking the dog, going to the beach, having a swim in the sea or playing sports outdoors with my son.
The power of being in nature, especially for people in recovery, is something that often gets overlooked but which is extremely beneficial.
Being of service
Doing good deeds is something everyone should add to their daily life, especially when it's done without seeking anything in return.
A good deed without anyone knowing or without self-seeking motives will provide you with so much inner peace and satisfaction.
This new aspect of your life will empower you in all other areas because of the positivity you're bringing into your life.
These are just some of the easy-to-implement self-improvement practices you can incorporate into your daily routines. If you have any more, or you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions, then please get in touch:
I hope you enjoyed this free edition of the AFF Newsletter on Substack.
Take care of yourself and your family,
AFF
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Great write-up and I appreciate the mention.
Thanks for the mention, Roscoe! And such supportive practices in here!