Evaluate your life to elevate your life
We check in at work all the time. Team leader meetings, one-on-one time with managers, and quarterly reviews.
Do you take the time to check in with yourself? October 19 is Evaluate Your Life Day, reminding us to reflect on our lives with the aim of becoming better versions of ourselves. Here are five ways to make sure your day-to-day aligns with who you want to be and how you want to live.
Schedule a meeting with yourself to go through these personal growth opportunities.
1. Decide the type of person you want to be – and go for it!
In his best-selling book, Atomic Habits, author James Clear advises to first “decide the type of person you want to be” and then “prove it to yourself with small wins.”
Focus on the mindset and the process.
For example, if you want to write more, identify as a writer. If you want to get in better shape, identify as the type of person who exercises every day. Think to yourself: What would a writer do? What would someone who exercises every day do?
In the latter example, you would likely: (1) Decide on the type of exercise to do; (2) Plan it out (when, how long, how often); (3) Lay out exercise clothes the night before; (4) Set an alarm or a reminder; and then (5) Exercise.
Sometimes a simple mindset shift, such as “I am someone who exercises every day!” makes all the difference.
Take time to write down the type of person you want to be – and plan to achieve small wins that relate to that identity.
2. Improve your daily habits
Real change happens in tiny, incremental steps. Think through what you do daily and then ask yourself: Do my daily habits support my priorities in life and my goals for the year ahead?
If not, map out three daily habits you would like to improve upon or implement. Each one can be small, such as reviewing your goals at the start of each day or reading for 10 minutes before bed.
Next, choose just one daily habit to start. Write it down and making space to incorporate it into your life.
Build on with other habits when you’re ready. The best part … small actions lead to big results.
3. Interrupt negative thoughts
Making an intentional effort to shift our thoughts when they get out of line is key to our overall happiness. Thoughts are powerful. If left unchecked, they can send us into a downward spiral.
Start now by trying to be more mindful of your thoughts. When you feel defeated, shift focus to the progress you’ve made or something you’re grateful for. By doing so, you are essentially blocking negative and toxic emotions – filling the space with positive thoughts instead.
4. Learn something new every day
Are you learning and taking on new things that move you forward in life? Remember – personal development is a lifelong pursuit.
Start by acknowledging what you already know. Then, identify areas of interest and seek out ways to learn. No matter what you decide to go after, the opportunities to stretch your skills and challenge your views are limitless.
At GE Appliances, we support employee development. We offer tuition reimbursement, and ongoing training through Develop U. You can also browse books, podcasts, and videos to dive into your topic of choice.
5. Spend time with your favorite people
Stronger connections with those who matter most to you will elevate your life in ways that cannot be matched. Relationships require time and effort. It’s a simple formula: when someone matters to you, spend time with them – whether it’s on the phone, via FaceTime, or in person!