Self improvement - ideas

[Hugo]

Do you incorporate time for self improvement into your daily or weekly schedule? What types of activities do you do to improve your body or your mind?

I have begun creating a self improvement regimen for my teenage son and daughter because I think its important to instil these habits at an age where they might become life long.

One of the elements is a "documentary a day". Simply put I have told them I expect them to watch on average one documentary per day. It can be about any subject matter of their choosing.

I expect this to last about a year and I don't expect them to sustain this over the long term but the goal is that I want them to look upon television and streaming as not just entertainment but also as an opportunity to educate yourself.

Do you have any tips for self improvement that are tried and tested?

[Sandstorm]

Less arguing on the Internet.

[Margin__Walker]

I'd probably start with discussing critical thinking and the importance of interrogating their sources before letting them loose on the internet with an instruction to consume a lot of documentaries.

It's a good point though, I've definitely neglected most skill development and knowledge acquisition activities since starting a family. Made a conscious activity to address this at the start of lockdown by starting to learn to play an instrument and reading more which I've found rewarding.

[Sandstorm]

Teenagers should read a book before watching any documentaries.

[sorCrer]

Teenagers should read a book.

Corrected.

[Un Pilier]

Yes, reading. Provided they are not reading unmitigated crap it has to be helpful. Absorbing information, interpreting and re-imagining it for one-self is far more powerful than passively watching someone else’s interpretation imo. Having said that, documentaries are faster, bite size, more accessible, perhaps, and waaay better than nothing.

[Tichtheid]

It's a good point though, I've definitely neglected most skill development and knowledge acquisition activities since starting a family. Made a conscious activity to address this at the start of lockdown by starting to learn to play an instrument and reading more which I've found rewarding.

What instrument, if you don't mind me asking?

I've played guitar for a looooong time, and piano for a while, but I started on violin a couple of weeks ago, an altogether new challenge

[assfly]

I recently started meditating, once the rest of the family are in bed. Just 10 minutes, using an app called Calm. Made an immediate difference to my stress levels and sleeping.

And running 3-4 times a week which has a huge impact on my wellbeing.

[Margin__Walker]

It's a good point though, I've definitely neglected most skill development and knowledge acquisition activities since starting a family. Made a conscious activity to address this at the start of lockdown by starting to learn to play an instrument and reading more which I've found rewarding.

What instrument, if you don't mind me asking?

I've played guitar for a looooong time, and piano for a while, but I started on violin a couple of weeks ago, an altogether new challenge

Guitar. Something I tried and quickly gave up on as a teenager.

Working from home full time definitely helps as I have it next to my desk and pick up for 15 minutes here and there during the day. As does youtube, which wasn't when I first tried to learn

[Tichtheid]

Guitar. Something I tried and quickly gave up on as a teenager.

Working from home full time definitely helps as I have it next to my desk and pick up for 15 minutes here and there during the day. As does youtube, which wasn't when I first tried to learn

Great stuff. There are some really good guitar teachers on youtube, and loads of, errr, not so good.

[Slick]

It's a good point though, I've definitely neglected most skill development and knowledge acquisition activities since starting a family. Made a conscious activity to address this at the start of lockdown by starting to learn to play an instrument and reading more which I've found rewarding.

What instrument, if you don't mind me asking?

I've played guitar for a looooong time, and piano for a while, but I started on violin a couple of weeks ago, an altogether new challenge

Guitar. Something I tried and quickly gave up on as a teenager.

Working from home full time definitely helps as I have it next to my desk and pick up for 15 minutes here and there during the day. As does youtube, which wasn't when I first tried to learn

Started doing the same with that Justin Sandercoe on YouTube, really enjoying it.

Also, meditation. Been using Insight Timer once a day and notice a very pleasant change

[Sandstorm]

I recently started meditating, once the rest of the family are in bed. Just 10 minutes, using an app called Calm. Made an immediate difference to my stress levels and sleeping.

And running 3-4 times a week which has a huge impact on my wellbeing.

It's the running that's helping, not the bloody Hippy navel gazing.

[Tichtheid]

What instrument, if you don't mind me asking?

I've played guitar for a looooong time, and piano for a while, but I started on violin a couple of weeks ago, an altogether new challenge

Guitar. Something I tried and quickly gave up on as a teenager.

Working from home full time definitely helps as I have it next to my desk and pick up for 15 minutes here and there during the day. As does youtube, which wasn't when I first tried to learn

Started doing the same with that Justin Sandercoe on YouTube, really enjoying it.

Also, meditation. Been using Insight Timer once a day and notice a very pleasant change

Justin Sandercoe is one of the ones I meant as being really good. Mark Knopfler gave him a thumbs up as a teacher, and whatever one thinks of Dire Straits or his solo output, Knopfler is a killer guitarist.


I'm going to give Tai Chi a go