Becoming your “best self” doesn’t mean striving for perfection; it’s about understanding your goals and making steady progress towards them. Instead of chasing wellness trends, try to focus on what matters most to you.
Below, we’ll offer practical tips to help you focus on small changes that fit your life and get you started.
Define What Your “Best Self” Means
You need a clear picture of what your best self looks like before you can work towards it. Avoid mimicking someone else’s lifestyle and aim to align your habits with your values. They could be health or social connections, like old friends.
Then, identify one or two areas of your life you’d most like to improve. If you want to see your friends more, don’t hesitate to reach out and organise a get-together. To track your progress over time, you could use the UK’s wellbeing framework, which measures life satisfaction, happiness, anxiety levels, and feelings of life being “worthwhile.” They can act as a quarterly check-in to help you see whether your changes are making a difference.
Break Down Goals Into Trackable Actions
Big targets can feel overwhelming and be difficult to stick to. Taking small steps, like walking for 20 minutes during your lunch break three times a week, is more likely to become a habit than vague goals like “getting in shape.”
Add prompts to help you take action when needed, removing decision-making in the moment and making your habit more automatic. Take an honest look at your progress every week, and don’t hesitate to adjust your approach if it’s not working. Getting feedback from a friend can give you confidence in your techniques and the motivation to continue.
Move for Mood and Energy
Exercise has benefits beyond muscle strength and cardiovascular health. It can lift your mood and increase your resilience to stress. The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (such as walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (like running) each week, plus strength exercises on two or more days.
If you’re new to exercise, start with small activities and build up gradually. Make it enjoyable by choosing things you will enjoy, whether it’s a park run or a dance class. Managing your weight can be an important part of physical health, so weight loss injections can be a practical option to support progress alongside a healthy diet and regular activity.
Protect Sleep as Your Daily Reset
High-quality sleep is the foundation of your physical and mental health, supporting memory, mood regulation, immune function and recovery from exercise. Adults usually need between seven and nine hours a night.
Try to keep a consistent sleep-wake schedule, even at weekends. Reduce blue-light exposure from screens in the hour before bed, and create a wind-down routine through a warm shower or reading a book.
