Self-Help & Improvement

Instructions Step 1: Know the definition Know what the X factor is — that elusive star quality that’s difficult to define because it’s a little different in everyone who possesses it. Step 2: Be original Be original. You don’t get the X factor by copying other people’s style. Step 3: Make others feel special Make …

Instructions Step 1: Find something to love Form an emotional bond with a person, object, or cause. Dote on your desire until your attachment becomes a dangerously unhealthy obsession and the fear of losing what you love consumes you completely. Step 2: Guard your interests Jealously guard your desire — by any means necessary. Use …

Instructions Step 1: Do not make decisions Do not make any decisions when you are upset. TIP: Make sure you are calm and thinking clearly before you begin. Step 2: Focus Write down your options on the piece of paper. Focus on which options are in your best interest. Step 3: Write Write down the …

Instructions Step 1: Get the job done Identify tasks that need to get done. Use the appropriate tools for every job you take on. TIP: Remember: a manly man’s hands and brain are often his most effective tools. Step 2: Build your body Hit the gym regularly — a manly man’s body should be fit …

Instructions Step 1: Take on a dirty job Take on a difficult task on someone else’s behalf — a dirty job is the perfect opportunity to get true grit. And remember: worry about the job at hand, not other people’s feelings. TIP: Try to make some money from the job — getting true grit doesn’t …

Instructions Step 1: Look for unused objects Ask yourself how often you have used an object over the past few months when deciding whether to discard it. This is a better measure of whether you need it than the potential value of the object. TIP: If you haven’t used it in the past year, or …

Instructions Step 1: Gain confidence Assess your positive qualities to boost self-confidence. Whether at work or school, in crowded parties or in the bedroom, knowing your strengths helps you keep a positive attitude. TIP: Listen to motivational lectures to foster self-assurance. Step 2: Imagine talking to a person Imagine confidently talking to another person, practicing …

Instructions Step 1: Read Read a lot, and on a wide range of topics. Find books at the library or articles on the internet. Step 2: Focus Focus on whatever you’re studying and don’t try to multitask. Watching TV at the same time or worrying about other things will interfere with knowledge absorption. Step 3: …

Instructions Step 1: Take inventory Take an emotional inventory and examine your personal habits, attitudes, and excuses for your behavior. Most people are their own worst enemies. Step 2: Know your limits Know your limits and evaluate the responsibilities and pressures that threaten them. Pace yourself and give yourself emotional “time-outs.” TIP: Eating habits are …

Instructions Step 1: Put things in perspective Put things in perspective. Do you really think everyone in the room is worrying about you? They’re all way too busy thinking about themselves. Remember, you wouldn’t worry so much what people thought of you if you knew how little they did! Step 2: Think realistically Evaluate your …

Instructions Step 1: Realize intelligence is malleable Realize that intelligence is malleable. Research indicates that simply knowing it’s possible to raise your I.Q. makes you more likely to succeed in doing so. Step 2: Take a nap Sneak in a midday siesta. The brain recharges while you sleep, making you much sharper in the afternoon. …

Instructions Step 1: Think Prioritize. Think about what’s most important to you. Step 2: Write goals Write your goals down on paper or in a special folder on your personal computer. Read them everyday, often. TIP: Post your goals in a location where you can review them easily, like your refrigerator or your bathroom mirror. …

Instructions Step 1: Don’t suppress it Don’t suppress your anger. Numerous studies have linked keeping anger bottled up with the development of health problems. This is especially true in marriage — one study found that couples who stew in silence instead of having air-clearing fights nearly double their chances of early death. Step 2: Channel …

Instructions Step 1: Increase your confidence Increase your self confidence. When you learn that you can control a horse that weights 1000 pounds, you will increasingly take control of other aspects of your life. Step 2: Improve your interpersonal skills Improve your interpersonal skills. Horses offer unconditional love to their riders. This serves as a …

Instructions Step 1: Define the problem Define the problem and consider the criteria. Determine concrete goals and objectives. Step 2: Jot pros and cons Jot down the pros and cons on a piece of paper and evaluate them. Don’t be as influenced by the number of pros or cons on either side of the list …

Instructions Step 1: Do the opposite React to a sudden emergency by resisting the urge to panic, exhibiting calm by acting as if you felt that way. Even if you don’t, you can sometimes change your emotions by artificially altering your behavioral response. Step 2: Breathe right Control your breathing and by doing so, your …

Instructions Step 1: Identify fears Identify your fears and write them down on a piece of paper. Step 2: Evaluate your thinking Change the way you think about a fear by understanding what causes the anxiety. Identify which parts of the fear cause the most to the least anxiety. Step 3: Plan Make a plan …

Instructions Step 1: Keep a positive perspective Keep a positive outlook. Focus on all of the wonderful things in your life such as family, friends, and your accomplishments. TIP: Do not base your happiness on how much money you make. Wealth does not bring happiness. Mo’ money, mo’ problems. Step 2: Write what you are …

Instructions Step 1: Supersize it Build as broad a social network as you can to help stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s; a study has indicated that people who actively engage with a large group of friends are more likely to retain cognitive function as they age. TIP: Playing online puzzles and strategy games may …

Instructions Step 1: Love Love yourself. Set and reach goals, step out of your comfort zone, learn, and build your self confidence. The more you are motivated to learn, the more skills you are likely to pick up. Step 2: Learn Learn how to do home repairs such as painting, carpentry, or fixing a leaky …

Instructions Step 1: Set a limit on worrying Set a time limit on worrying. For five minutes, focus hard on your fears and the worst possible outcomes you can imagine. Then, stop and move on. Step 2: Visualize Motivate yourself by visualizing completing the desired action and imagining the positive feelings of relief and accomplishment …

Instructions Step 1: Separate yourself Get away from distractions and people to clear your head. You should feel safe enough to relax or sleep. Step 2: Focus on the subject Focus inwardly on what you want to change, whether a personal problem, an injury, or stress relief. Let your thoughts wander. Step 3: Breathe deeply …

Instructions Step 1: Be an optimist Expect things to work out. Optimists have reason to be cheery: studies have shown optimists are more successful and healthier than pessimists. Step 2: Look at the bright side Instead of focusing on the negative, try to find something positive in every negative situation. This will train your brain …

Instructions Step 1: Realize why you’re cursing Realize why you’re swearing: it’s often just a lazy way of expressing rage or frustration. Learn other anger management coping skills and you may not be so tempted to curse so much. Step 2: Hear how unattractive it is Pay attention the next time someone else lets a …

Instructions Step 1: Simplify your life Simplify your life. Overcome your desire to possess and consume materialistic things. You will have less to stress about. Step 2: Take deep breaths Take deep breaths to relax during times of frustration to restore a calm and collected feeling. Step 3: Meditate daily Meditate daily to keep your …

Instructions Step 1: Accept life Accept life on its imperfect terms, and let go of the expectation that you can influence all outcomes. Let go of your illusory ideals and need for control over events and people. Step 2: Practice awareness Practice awareness of how you’re feeling, even writing things down. By viewing your written …

Instructions Step 1: Embrace your strengths Welcome the strengths you possess. The right hemisphere of the brain, which directs music, art, perception, emotions, and other forms of abstract thinking, is dominant in lefties. TIP: Famous lefties include Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Babe Ruth, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Mark Twain. Step 2: Hone your adaptibility Sharpen …

Instructions Step 1: Confront dissatisfaction Confront the discontentedness you experience from the imperfect world around you. Step 2: Stop criticizing Deny yourself the option of criticizing others and let go of grudges you hold for your perception of being held back. Thinking can control feeling, not always the other way around. Step 3: Force yourself …

Instructions Step 1: Believe in change In order to change you are going to have to believe that you are not a pessimist by nature and that you can train yourself to think differently. Step 2: Counter negativity Become aware of negative, “I can’t” feelings. Whenever you have a negative thought, immediately replace it with …

Instructions Step 1: Select tools and space Select writing tools you’re comfortable using, whether it’s a pen and notebook or a computer, and find a quiet space to write. Step 2: Commit to journaling Commit to journaling for 20 minutes at least four days each week to honestly lay out your thoughts and feelings without …

Instructions Step 1: Accept responsibility Accept and believe that your thoughts are up to you, that you are already in control. You must take responsibility for what occurs to you and understand the patterns. Step 2: Talk to yourself Talk to yourself aloud, as if you were another person. Counsel yourself, tracing thought origins like …

Instructions Step 1: Pick a category Decide on a record to break. Choose an event that already exists, or make one up. Be sure your goal is a measurable achievement. Step 2: Register your idea Go to guinnessworldrecords.com and click ‘set a record.’ Fill in your contact information, submit a description of your proposed record, …

Instructions Step 1: Read as much as you can Read as much as you can to encounter words that you don’t already know. Step 2: Look up the definitions unfamiliar words Use a dictionary to look up the definitions of the unfamiliar words that you come across in your reading. TIP: Remember a word can …

Instructions Step 1: Eat well Eat well in the morning to raise your supply of sugar, carbohydrates, and proteins, which sharpen focus and energy during the day. Make sure it’s healthy stuff. TIP: Studies show that colorings, sweeteners, and preservatives compromise attention and concentration. Step 2: Meditate regularly Meditate regularly to improve attention. Studies indicate …

Instructions Step 1: Be a fool for love Don’t be embarrassed if you’re a fool for love: People fall in love an average of six times in their lifetime. And most of us are hiding a secret passion: 68 percent of men and 59 percent of women have been romantically involved with someone their significant …

Instructions Step 1: Hit the gym Hit the gym. Exercise releases the feel-good hormones called endorphins, which can turn a bad day around in no time. TIP: Eating fish can also release endorphins and elevate your mood, thanks to Omega-3 fatty acids. Step 2: Watch a favorite movie Watch your favorite movie or listen to …

Instructions Step 1: Increase your sex appeal Increase your sex appeal by finding the funny side of situations; research indicates that a good sense of humor makes a person more sexually attractive. And be sure to poke fun at yourself: Self-deprecating humor is the most seductive kind of all. TIP: Women especially find a good …

Instructions Step 1: Find a private, quiet place Find a quiet, relaxing place, free from potential interruptions. Step 2: Use words to feel positive Prepare a word or a one-sentence mantra to repeat to yourself to signal your positive, specific intention to enjoy the moment and your life. Step 3: Breathe in and out slowly …

Instructions Step 1: Limit the time Keep track of the amount of time you spend in front of the TV by tracking it on a sheet of paper, and then limit your television time. Step 2: Turn it off Turn off the television while eating meals and engage in conversation instead. TIP: Remove televisions from …

Instructions Step 1: Assume this is as good as it gets Assume you’ll never be richer. Research shows you’re more apt to be content with what you have if you’re not wishing and hoping and praying to get more. The more you buy into the idea that more money will make you happy, the less …

Instructions Step 1: Work on self-confidence Believe in yourself! People tend to take advantage of those who lack confidence, or have difficulty showing it. Step 2: Stand up straight Straighten your back and keep your head up at all times. Research indicates that people with good posture look and feel more confident than those who …

Instructions Step 1: Sleep on it. Over the years, researchers have found that the REM sleep cycle boosts our creativity and problem-solving abilities, providing us with innovative ideas or the answers to vexing dilemmas when we awaken. TIP: Keep a pen and paper by the bed so you can write down your nocturnal insights if …

Instructions Step 1: Learn to say No Let’s face it: We all have friends we’ve outgrown and favors we do for lack of backbone. Learn when to put your needs before others. Step 2: Make appointments with yourself When you’re planning your week or month, block chunks of free time for yourself, then honor them …

Instructions : Consult a doctor before using essential oils if you’re pregnant or nursing. Step 1: Learn how to use oils Learn the various ways you can use essential oils. Put several drops on a tissue, cotton balls, or a handkerchief; add them to a pot of simmering water, a humidifier, or a diffuser; or …

Instructions Step 1: Boost your self-esteem Determine why you’re so uncomfortable around people. If it’s due to something you can fix—your teeth, your education level, your body—take action to feel better about yourself. Go to a dentist, take a night class, start to exercise. Step 2: Practice conversation skills Practice your conversation skills by chatting …

Instructions Step 1: Get more sleep Get more sleep. Studies show that people who get 7 to 9 hours of shuteye every night are happier and healthier. Step 2: Be kind Commit random acts of kindness. Those who do report feeling more content than those who don’t. TIP: Helping the neighbors and being active in …

Instructions Step 1: Have sex at 7 a.m. Have sex around 7 a.m., when testosterone levels are highest, making you friskier and more sensitive to touch. Step 2: Water the plants in the morning Water your garden in the early morning, or else the daytime heat will evaporate it before your plants get their fill. …

Instructions Step 1: Write a list of fears Write down your biggest fears. Step 2: Think of solutions Think of actions you can take to reduce specific fears. If you get panicky when you have to make a presentation at work, sign up for a public speaking seminar, and so on. TIP: Tackle your biggest …

Instructions Step 1: Learn breathing exercises Learn to calm yourself through deep breathing. Being able to control your breathing when you’re in the anxiety-provoking moment, like on a ladder, will help fend off the physical aspects of fear, like nausea and heart palpitations. Step 2: Distract yourself Find ways to distract yourself when you are …

Instructions Step 1: Write it out Write down exactly what you’re afraid of and why. Research shows that putting your fears in writing can be empowering, giving you more confidence and helping you realize that some things you’re worried about are plain ridiculous. Step 2: Have a mantra Pick an encouraging mantra like ‘’I can …