4 Self-Improvement Challenges You Can Start Today

September 8, 2021

There are many things that make self-improvement tough. It requires motivation and discipline, both of which can be in short supply sometimes. It can also feel overwhelming. After all, where on earth do you start in revamping your career or your finances? Just taking a first step can make a big difference. Below you’ll find four easy first steps you can take today.

Debt

If you don’t have outstanding debt, then you are in the minority. Most people are carrying some form of debt besides a mortgage, such as credit card debt. Today, take one step to try to reduce your interest rate or make your debt easier to pay off. Maybe that’s setting up an automatic withdrawal. Maybe it’s calling your credit card company and asking for a lower interest rate. If you have multiple student loans, take a few minutes to use a student loan consolidation calculator to find out if you can save money by consolidating them with a private lender. You’ll definitely have an easier time paying them off with just one payment to make instead of several.

Career

Are you feeling frustrated or unappreciated in your current job, but you can’t seem to find the time to do anything about it? Today, update your resume and send it to a company you are interested in or a recruiter. If you are considering changing fields, look at the top ranking careers worth going back to school for, and see if you must obtain any licenses or certifications or retrain in some way.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is more than just a buzzword. It’s a deceptively simple practice that helps ground you in the here and now. You can practice mindfulness this very minute or as soon as you finish this article. Just take a couple of minutes to sit still and notice what is happening around you with your five senses. What do you hear? How does the air smell? Pay attention to your breathing. Taking little moments like this throughout the day to just stop, even if it is only for a minute, can help you stay calm and centered.

Goals

Goals can be tricky in that many don’t know how to make a plan to reach a goal, or they are so overwhelmed by the everyday that having goals seems laughable. There are a lot of sources online and offline that can teach you how to articulate specific, measurable goals and work toward them, but here is a quick exercise you can do today. Take 10 minutes to write down the things you want to have more of or that you value most in your life.

Maybe you’ve written down spending time with your family, reading books and cycling. Now think about how much of your life you spend doing each of these things. What else is occupying your time? You still have to go to work, but what can you eliminate that keeps you away from filling your days with the things you love the most? This preliminary exercise can help you start thinking about what you really want and how what you do each day is connected to the overall arc of your life.

eos Shea Better Body Lotion- Vanilla Cashmere, 24-Hour Moisture Skin Care, Lightweight & Non-Greasy, Made with Natural Shea, Vegan, 16 fl oz

(39709)

$9.97 (as of May 24, 2025 05:27 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Cell Phone, 128GB AI Smartphone, Unlocked Android, AI Camera, Fast Processor, ProScaler Display, Long Battery Life, 2025, Navy (Renewed)

(2)

$548.00 (as of May 23, 2025 17:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

New 2025 ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential - Energy Star Certified programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat - Works with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant

(187)

$129.99 (as of May 23, 2025 17:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

SAMPEEL Summer Dresses Maxi Dress Vacation Beach Sundresses 2025 with Pockets

(205)

$19.99 (as of May 23, 2025 17:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID; Midnight

(457)

$893.90 (as of May 23, 2025 17:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

EcoNour Patented Design for Car Windshield Sun Shade | Blocks 99% Heat and Keep Interior Cool | Fits Cars, SUV, Truck | Automotive Sun Screen,Visor and Summer Vehicle Accessories | Medium (64x32)

(114460)

$12.99 (as of May 24, 2025 05:27 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

USANOOKS Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Grey - 12 Pcs (12.5"x12.5") - High Performance - 1200 Washes, Ultra Absorbent Microfiber Towel Weave Grime & Liquid for Streak-Free Mirror Shine - Car Washing Cloth

(14118)

$7.98 (as of May 24, 2025 05:27 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Crocs Kids' Classic Clog

(190788)

$34.50 (as of May 24, 2025 05:27 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Premier Protein Shake, Chocolate, 30g Protein 1g Sugar 24 Vitamins Minerals Nutrients to Support Immune Health, 11.5 fl oz (Pack of 12)

(237131)

$31.98 (as of May 24, 2025 05:27 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Solar Fan Hat Wide Brim Solar Fan Hat Outdoor Sun Hats for Men Women Fishing Hat with Removable & USB Charging Fan

(24)

$27.98 (as of May 23, 2025 17:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)