How to get better at. 13 Proven Steps to Excel in Basketball: Master Your Skills on the Court

How can you improve your basketball game. What are the key skills to focus on for basketball success. Which training methods are most effective for basketball players. How does agility impact performance in basketball. Why is reading the game crucial for basketball excellence. What role does team chemistry play in basketball success. How can you enhance your offensive and defensive efficiency in basketball.

Mastering Agility: The Foundation of Basketball Excellence

Agility is a cornerstone of basketball prowess, distinct from raw speed. It’s the ability to change direction swiftly without losing momentum – a skill that separates good players from great ones. Agile players can navigate the court with finesse, creating opportunities on both offense and defense.

To enhance your agility:

• Practice ladder drills
• Incorporate cone exercises
• Engage in plyometric training
• Work on quick-step routines

Can agility be improved with ball-handling drills? Absolutely. Combining agility exercises with dribbling practice not only enhances your movement but also your ball control, making you a more formidable player on the court.

Elevating Your Speed: The Game-Changer in Basketball

Speed in basketball is multifaceted, encompassing both movement with and without the ball. A player’s speed can dictate the game’s pace and create mismatches against slower opponents. To truly excel, you must cultivate both types of speed.

To boost your basketball speed:

1. Incorporate sprint training into your routine
2. Practice dribbling at high speeds
3. Work on explosive starts and stops
4. Improve your cardiovascular endurance

Is speed more important than strength in basketball? While both are crucial, speed often gives players an edge, allowing them to beat defenders, get open for shots, and recover quickly on defense. However, the ideal approach is to develop a balance of speed and strength for optimal performance.

Developing Court Vision: The Art of Reading the Game on Offense

Exceptional players like LeBron James and Steve Nash are renowned for their ability to read the game on offense. This skill goes beyond physical attributes, delving into the mental aspect of basketball. It involves anticipating teammates’ movements, identifying defensive weaknesses, and making split-second decisions that can change the course of a game.

To improve your offensive reading skills:

• Study game footage of elite passers
• Practice no-look passes with teammates
• Develop peripheral vision through specific drills
• Play other sports that require spatial awareness

How does height factor into reading the game on offense? While height can provide a vantage point for surveying the court, it’s not a prerequisite. Many shorter players excel at court vision through experience, basketball IQ, and dedicated practice. The key is to focus on developing your awareness and decision-making skills regardless of your physical stature.

Defensive Instincts: Mastering the Art of Reading the Game on Defense

Reading the game on defense is a less common but equally crucial skill. It involves anticipating offensive plays, understanding player tendencies, and making timely decisions to disrupt the opposition. Players who excel in this area become defensive anchors for their teams, capable of game-changing steals, blocks, and defensive rotations.

To enhance your defensive reading abilities:

• Study offensive patterns and play calls
• Practice anticipating passes in scrimmages
• Work on your reaction time
• Develop communication skills with teammates

Does defensive reading require more mental focus than offensive reading? In many ways, yes. Defensive reading often involves reacting to multiple offensive options simultaneously, requiring intense concentration and quick decision-making. It’s a skill that can be developed through dedicated practice and game experience.

Building Team Chemistry: The Glue of Championship Teams

While often viewed as a team attribute, chemistry begins with individual efforts. It’s the collective synergy that emerges when players understand each other’s strengths, tendencies, and roles. Great chemistry can elevate a team’s performance beyond the sum of its individual talents.

To contribute to team chemistry:

1. Communicate clearly on and off the court
2. Be open to feedback from coaches and teammates
3. Participate in team-building activities
4. Learn and adapt to your teammates’ playing styles

How long does it take to develop strong team chemistry? The timeline varies, but consistent effort and open communication can accelerate the process. Some teams click almost instantly, while others may take a season or more to find their groove. The key is patience and a commitment to working together towards a common goal.

Optimizing Offensive Efficiency: Becoming a Scoring Threat

Offensive efficiency is about maximizing your impact on the scoring end of the court. It encompasses a range of skills from shooting and passing to off-ball movement and screen setting. By honing these areas, you become a more versatile and valuable offensive player.

To improve your offensive efficiency:

• Practice a variety of shooting drills daily
• Work on your ball-handling skills
• Develop a repertoire of moves to create space
• Improve your footwork for better positioning

Should you focus on becoming a specialist or an all-around offensive player? While specialization can make you a go-to player in certain situations, developing a well-rounded offensive game makes you more adaptable and harder to defend. The best approach often depends on your natural strengths and your team’s needs.

Enhancing Defensive Efficiency: Becoming a Lockdown Defender

Defensive efficiency is often overlooked but can be a game-changer. It’s about more than just effort; it requires technique, anticipation, and mental toughness. Players who excel on defense become invaluable assets to their teams, capable of shutting down opposing stars and changing the momentum of games.

To boost your defensive efficiency:

1. Improve your lateral quickness
2. Practice proper defensive stances and footwork
3. Work on your strength and conditioning
4. Develop your ability to contest shots without fouling

Is it possible to be an elite defender without being physically imposing? Absolutely. While size and strength can be advantages, many of the best defenders rely on technique, positioning, and basketball IQ. Players of all physical types can become exceptional defenders through dedicated practice and a strong understanding of defensive principles.

Building Endurance: The Key to Consistent Performance

Endurance is crucial in basketball, allowing players to maintain high performance levels throughout a game. It’s not just about playing extended minutes; it’s about playing those minutes at peak effectiveness. Players with great endurance can impact the game in its crucial closing moments when others might be fatigued.

To improve your basketball endurance:

• Incorporate interval training into your workouts
• Practice game-like scenarios at full intensity
• Focus on proper nutrition and hydration
• Gradually increase the duration of your training sessions

How does mental endurance factor into basketball performance? Mental endurance is just as important as physical endurance in basketball. It allows players to stay focused, make good decisions, and execute under pressure, even in the final minutes of a close game. Developing mental toughness through mindfulness practices and high-pressure drills can significantly enhance your overall endurance on the court.

Perfecting Your Shooting Technique: The Art of Scoring

Shooting is often considered the most fundamental skill in basketball. A player with a reliable shot becomes a constant threat on the court, opening up opportunities for themselves and their teammates. Perfecting your shooting technique requires dedication, repetition, and attention to detail.

Key elements to focus on when improving your shot:

1. Proper form and alignment
2. Consistent release point
3. Follow-through
4. Shot selection and decision-making

Is it better to practice shooting alone or with defenders? Both types of practice are valuable. Solo shooting allows you to focus on form and muscle memory, while practicing against defenders helps simulate game situations. Ideally, your training should include a mix of both to develop a well-rounded shooting ability that translates to real game scenarios.

Mastering Ball-Handling: The Foundation of Offensive Control

Exceptional ball-handling skills give players a significant advantage on the court. It allows for better control of the game’s pace, creates scoring opportunities, and helps in navigating tight defensive pressure. Whether you’re a point guard or a center, improving your ball-handling can elevate your overall game.

Effective drills to enhance ball-handling:

• Two-ball dribbling exercises
• Dribbling through cones at varying speeds
• Practicing crossovers and between-the-legs moves
• Ball-handling while moving through defensive pressure

How often should you practice ball-handling drills? Consistency is key in developing superior ball-handling skills. Aim to incorporate ball-handling drills into your daily routine, even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes. Regular practice helps build muscle memory and confidence, making complex dribbling moves feel natural during games.

Developing Basketball IQ: The Mental Game

Basketball IQ refers to a player’s ability to understand and read the game at a high level. It encompasses decision-making, situational awareness, and strategic thinking. Players with high basketball IQ often make their teammates better and can impact the game even when they’re not scoring.

Ways to improve your basketball IQ:

1. Watch and analyze professional games
2. Study different offensive and defensive systems
3. Practice making quick decisions in scrimmages
4. Learn from coaches and experienced players

Can basketball IQ be developed, or is it innate? While some players may have a natural feel for the game, basketball IQ can definitely be developed and improved over time. It requires a commitment to learning, observation, and application of knowledge gained both on and off the court. The more you immerse yourself in understanding the intricacies of the game, the more your basketball IQ will grow.

Strength and Conditioning: Building the Physical Foundation

A solid strength and conditioning program is essential for any basketball player looking to improve their game. It not only enhances physical performance but also helps prevent injuries and increases on-court endurance. A well-designed program should focus on basketball-specific movements and energy systems.

Key components of a basketball strength and conditioning program:

• Plyometric exercises for explosive power
• Core strengthening for stability and balance
• Resistance training for overall strength
• Cardiovascular conditioning for endurance

Should basketball players focus more on weightlifting or bodyweight exercises? A balanced approach is often best. Weightlifting can help build strength and power, while bodyweight exercises can improve functional movements specific to basketball. The ideal program incorporates both, tailored to the individual player’s needs and the demands of their position on the court.

Nutrition for Basketball: Fueling Peak Performance

Proper nutrition is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of basketball performance. What you eat directly impacts your energy levels, recovery time, and overall health. A well-balanced diet can give you the edge you need to perform at your best during practices and games.

Essential nutritional considerations for basketball players:

1. Adequate carbohydrate intake for energy
2. Lean proteins for muscle recovery and growth
3. Healthy fats for hormone balance and joint health
4. Proper hydration before, during, and after activities

How does meal timing affect basketball performance? Timing your meals and snacks can significantly impact your energy levels on the court. Eating a balanced meal 2-3 hours before a game or practice can provide sustained energy, while a light snack 30-60 minutes before can offer a quick boost. Post-game nutrition is equally important for recovery, ideally consumed within 30 minutes of finishing play.

Mental Preparation: The Psychological Edge in Basketball

The mental aspect of basketball is just as important as the physical. Players who can maintain focus, manage stress, and stay confident under pressure often outperform those who struggle with the psychological demands of the game. Developing mental toughness and a positive mindset can be the difference between good and great players.

Strategies for improving mental preparation:

• Practice visualization techniques
• Develop pre-game routines for consistency
• Learn and apply stress management techniques
• Work with a sports psychologist or mental performance coach

How can players overcome performance anxiety in big games? Performance anxiety is common, even among professional players. Techniques such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, and focusing on the process rather than the outcome can help manage anxiety. Regular exposure to high-pressure situations in practice can also build confidence and resilience for game-time performance.

How to Get Better at Basketball

It is natural for us to want to know how to get better at basketball. After all, this is the sport that we all love and enjoy. Every basketball player should want to improve their skills so that they can compete at a higher level at one point or another in their lives. 

Basketball is one of the most competitive sports globally, and basketball players are one of the most competitive sets of athletes in the world. This article is geared towards providing you with details to help you become a better basketball player on both offense and defense. We also have lots of basketball tips for beginners.

What Should You Do to Get Better at Basketball?

There are many aspects of basketball to work on. Because there are many aspects of basketball, there are many different things that can be done to improve your overall basketball skills. Let’s take a look at different aspects that the game can be broken down into and how you can work on improving each of these aspects individually or as a group.

Agility

When we say agility, we are not talking about your speed. Agility has a lot to do with a person’s ability to change direction quickly without losing momentum. In basketball, some of the most productive players on offense and defense are players that can change their direction without losing the momentum of the motion.

There are  that players can perform to improve their agility with and without the ball. If you can improve your agility, you get one step closer to improving your overall game.

Speed

Speed in basketball can be further broken down into different groups such as speed without the ball and speed with the ball. Players should aim to improve the speed that they play with because the faster you are, the faster the game’s pace can be.

You are a liability to your team if you are not as fast as the players you are on the court with. Improving one’s speeds can significantly improve one’s game.

Reading the game on offense

Often times you hear commentators or basketball analysts mention that some players are exceptional at reading the game on offense, and because of this they are excellent passers. Players like Steve Nash, LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, and Rajon Rondo are recent players that have been said to be exceptional readers of the game.
These players are able to read the game because of different factors such as their height, their involvement in other sports, and because they are not only players but they are also students of the game.

Reading the game on defense

Being able to read the game on defense is not as common as it is for the offense. It may not be as easy either. Reading the game has a lot to do with anticipating your opponent’s next move or next two moves while at the same time thinking of good counter moves of your own.

Players that are able to read the game properly on defense are assets to their team because they can help on the weak side or come up with blocks and steals. Reading the game on defense will help you know when to shoot the passing lane or when to bring a double team.

Chemistry

You may be asking, how can you improve chemistry if chemistry is a team thing and not an individual thing. Yes, chemistry has a lot to do with the team, but the individuals that make up the team need to put in the effort to work with each other for chemistry to form.
Chemistry does take time, and it does depend a lot on the players playing styles, but if the players are more committed to getting it done, the process is a lot smoother.

Offensive efficiency

You can improve your offensive efficiency by working on smaller aspects of offenses such as shooting, passing, offensive rebounding, setting screens, and so on. If you practice different drills to improve yourself in these areas, then your offensive efficiency will become better, and you will be able to contribute more to your team.

If you are playing just for fun, you can work on improving your shooting, dribbling, and movements without the ball so that you can be a more significant offensive threat whenever you step on the court.

Defensive Efficiency

Defensive efficiency has a lot to do with effort. Frequently, players that are great at offense are not willing to show the same level of commitment on the floor’s defensive end. Defense does take a lot of energy, but so does offense.

It should not be put on the back burner. You can work on improving your strength and conditioning to guard other players easier. You should also work on your ability to communicate while on the basketball court so that the defense can be more cohesive.

Endurance

A player’s endurance has a lot to do with their training routine. Some players cannot play extended minutes on the floor, so no matter how great they are when they’re on the floor, it does not matter because if they are not on the floor too often. You can work on improving your endurance by doing various exercises that are quite simple. Do not be lazy.

You should not find excuses as to why you can’t work on your endurance because it is crucial. Get up, workout, go jogging, pretty much do whatever it takes because, in the end, it will be in your best interest.

Physical conditioning

Your physical conditioning, primarily your strength and durability, is critical in basketball. Take LeBron James, for example. LeBron James has been in the NBA for longer than most current players, but he still looks fresh and ready to go.
He takes care of his health and he works out when he should. Take care of your body, and your body will take care of you.

Mental Conditioning

Your mental conditioning is almost as important as your physical conditioning. You need to be mentally tough. Some would say have the Mamba mentality or the Jordan killer instinct. We want to say is that if you are in a mental state to be competitive, no matter what, you have a better chance of improving your game and being successful whenever you touch the court.

Equipment selection

Selecting the right equipment for basketball is extremely important. When we say equipment, we are talking about protective gear and your socks and shoes. Try not to buy things just because they are famous or because they look good.

Different basketball shoes are built with different features that specifically cater to different types of players. For example, low-cut shoes may be tailored more towards smaller players that need to move a lot faster than big men while mid cuts and hightops shoes are more suited for players that play on the block more often than others.

The right equipment choice should be made based on your body type and your playing style. When you choose the right equipment for your game, it elevates the level at which you play and protects your current injuries and prevents you from getting more. Check out our basketball gear reviews here.

How Many Hours a Day Should You Practice Basketball?

This question is very tricky to answer. There is no set amount of time that one should give for practicing basketball. There are a few factors to consider when you think about the amount of time required to practice. Let’s take a look at some things that we need to consider before we determine how many hours we want the practice. 

One of the first things that we need to consider is the level that we are in terms of talent and skills in relation to the level at which we play and then compare that to the level we want to get to in terms of talent and skill. 

For example, if you are a varsity student just learning to play basketball, and you want to become a college athlete, your dedication to improving your skill levels should be way higher than a guy that has been playing at the community park for ten years and is only doing it for fun.

After you have decided where you are and where you want to get to, you can begin to chart the course to help you get there. After you’ve outlined the course, then you will now need to determine how many hours of your day you need to dedicate to accomplishing your training goals. 

Let’s take a look at the things that we need to consider when charting our course. We need to consider the types of training that we need to do, such as shooting drills, agility drills, dribbling drills, rebounding drills, defensive drills, and so on. 

We also need to think of the intensity at which these drills will be performed. After you figured all of this out, you should now think of the other priorities that we need to focus on, such as our jobs, school, family, or any other priorities. We now need to consider how we can incorporate our training into these daily activities. 

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they only need to dedicate hours out of their day for training, and then they will do the other things in their lives. We believe that the best way to improve your game to a high level is to incorporate basketball in most aspects of your life. 

If you go to school or work at a desk, some exercises can be performed while you are at your desk to improve your strength. During your downtime, when you are relaxing, if you used to watch movies or listen to music, you can replace them with basketball videos to learn while relaxing.  

You can also read or listen to books with useful information about basketball training so that you can learn during your downtime. There’s nothing wrong with dedicating hours out of your day to training as there are some aspects that you need to do in their own designated time, such as on-court practice.

With all that said, we are sure you can understand why each person will have a different amount of time that they can or should be practicing basketball. Analyze your life and then make a timetable so that you can improve your game on your own time.

How to Improve Your Basketball Skills?

Basketball Shooting Tips and Drills

Being able to shoot the basketball is one of the most coveted skills in the game. The fact of the matter is, if you can’t score, you can’t win. Basketball is not a game that can end in a draw. There are only winners and losers, and you must be able to score for you to win.

Being able to shoot the ball requires a lot of training, and there are many different types of drills and activities that can be done to improve your shooting skills. Players that show more dedication to their craft are normally players that are able to shoot the ball better.

Yes, you do have some players that are naturally able to shoot the ball, but still require practice to become a high-level score. Multiple types of shorts can be performed in basketball, so there are multiple types of drills for players to use the practice. Let’s take a look at some tips that can help you if you would like to know how to get better at basketball shooting.

1. Work on your hand-eye coordination

Being able to knock down shots effectively, relies on your ability to coordinate your hands with where your eyes are looking.

2. Work on your arm muscles

The stronger you are, the easier it will be for you to shoot the ball with ease.

3. Work on your on the spot jump

The higher you jump when you are shooting the ball makes it harder for your shot to be blocked.

Here is a YouTube video what’s lots of different basketball tips for shooting.

Basketball Dribbling Tips and Drills

Being able to dribble a basketball has become an important element in every player’s game regardless of the position you are asked to play. The most effective teams over the last decade are teams with multiple players that can handle the ball and control the team’s offense.
Let’s take a look at the Golden State championship team. Golden State had at least four players in their starting lineup that could control the ball and control the flow of the game.

Here are a few tips that can help you if you would like to know how to get better at basketball dribbling.

1. Practice
This may seem like a given and not really a tip. It is, it really is. Many players expect that they will improve their dribbling over time by playing every day with their friends, but it does not work like this. Just like every other aspect of the game, you must practice your craft to improve at it.

2. Improve your arm strength

Your arms are the most critical parts of your body when it comes on to dribbling the basketball. Over time throughout games, your arms will lose their strength, and the better conditioned your arms are, you will be able to control the ball for a longer period.

This video is one that has lots of drills that can help you to work on improving your dribbling.

Basketball Passing Tips and Drills

Being able to pass the basketball from any position is very important. Normally guards and wing players are the focal points of practice when it comes on to passing. However, all five positions on the court or all five players on the court should be able to pass the ball.

There is only one basketball on the court, and basketball is a team game. It cannot work if the team cannot pass. here are some tips to help you with your passing.

1. Learn to look.
Do not practice just to pass the ball because you see your teammate at a particular position. Remember that a solid cannot pass through a solid and if your opponent’s reach for the ball, it can be intercepted. Make sure that you look to see a clear passing lane before you attempt to pass.

2. Learn to read the game.
Basketball is a very dynamic game. All the pieces on the court move all the time. Anticipate where your teammates will be, when they will be there to determine when and how to make the pass.

This video has many passing drills that are quite helpful for any player. Work on these drills so that you can improve your passing skills.

Basketball Rebounding Tips and Drills

Rebounding is a crucial element in any basketball game. Over 80% of the time, the team that rebounds the most in a game will win. Rebounding comes naturally to some players, while other players can improve the skill through practice and hard work.
Rebounding has a lot to do with a player’s willingness to exert effort in this area. Here are some tips to help you with your rebounding.

1. A lot of rebounding has to do with anticipation

You can measure the ball’s trajectory with a quick glimpse at the ball, and your knowledge of the rim’s location can help you determine the general area in which the ball will rebound. After you anticipate where the ball will go, make efforts to get there and position yourself before your opponent.

2. Work on your overall strength

Rebounding is an aspect of basketball that requires a lot of contact and strength. If you are stronger than your opponent, you can efficiently box them out and overpower them to get a rebound.

3. Rebounding has a lot to do with the positioning.

Whenever a shot is taken, always try to get between your opponent and the rim and then push them back. This gives you the best position from which to grab any possible rebounds from a shot.

Here is a video that shows you how to rebound efficiently. Remember to practice rebounding on your own or with your teammates to contribute more to your team.

Basketball Assist Tips and Drills

Dishing out dimes is and as never been very popular as it relates to highlights in basketball. This is a shame because teams with the most assist in a game win basketball games over 90% of the time. Yes, we know James Harden blah blah blah.

James Harden is an exception to the rule, and I’m sure you can agree this type of basketball leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Getting assists intertwine with being able to pass the ball, so work on your passing. Here are a few tips to help you with increasing your assistant.

1. Make good passes.

Passing the ball is one thing, but making passes that can be converted into baskets is another. Make sure that your teammates get the ball in their shot pockets where they feel comfortable making shots or passing the ball for a layup make sure you pass it where they are teammates can catch it properly to finish.

2. Learn how to break down the defense.
Work on your dribbling skills to break down defenders and dish out those dimes appropriately.

Here is a video from YouTube that can help you with improving your assist total. Work on these drills, and you will notice your game elevating.

Basketball Defense Tips and Drills

Defense is 50% of basketball. Defense is a broad category under which many smaller categories fall. Being able to defend properly as an individual contributes to the holistic defense of your team.

Many players stand out in the NBA as defenders such as Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Rudy Gobert, Javale McGee, and so on. These players have made a name for themselves on the defensive end of the court over the years.
You can follow these tips if you would like to know how to get better at basketball defense.

1. Effort

Remember to give the same amount of effort or more as you do on offense to the defensive cause. If you can stop your opponents from scoring, that makes your job to win the game a lot easier.

2. Talk

Remember that you cannot see everything on the court, and neither can your teammates. Let them know what you can see, and they should let you know what they can see so that the team can move as a unit and not just individuals running around. The team that defends as a team is a lot more difficult to beat than a team that defends as individuals.

3. Run back.
Do not try to cherry-pick.Get back to the defensive zone so that you can contribute. If you are not there then you cannot help.

Basketball Offense Tips and Drills

Offense is the other 50% of basketball. Some may say it is the most important 50% of the game. You must win basketball games, or you lose. There is no midway. If you want to be a winner, you need to execute on offense. Being able to execute on offense starts in training.
Pay attention to what your coaches say work on your craft, and you will be a better offensive player. Follow these steps to improve your offensive game as an individual.

1. Do not take your natural abilities for granted, practice. Remember to practice so that you can improve on the things that you are good at and get better at the things you aren’t. Even though you may be good at something, remember you can always become great.

2.  Watch Tapes. 
Basketball is not a new sport, so many of the things that you do are not new. There are tapes available for many of the greatest that have ever played the game. Take advantage of this. Watch tapes so that you can improve the moves you have learned and learn new ones that you did not know.

Here is a video that you can use to work on expanding your offensive repertoire.

3 Ways to Get Better at Basketball

1. Watch videos and read books.

Watching videos and reading books about basketball drills and moves can help you to learn new moves and show you how to improve the ones you already have. 

2. Work on your physical conditioning.

Basketball is a very physical sport, so the stronger, faster, and more agile you are than the better you will be. To become stronger, faster and more agile, you must work on your physical conditioning by exercising and eating properly.

3, Practice.
Remember that with practice comes improvement. Practice as much as you can and as intense as you can so that your skills can develop.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Get Better at Basketball

To become better at basketball, remember that you do not know everything, listen to your coaches and practice new skills to continuously develop. If you want to become better at basketball, remember to dedicate time and effort to doing exercises to improve basketball skills. Until next time ballers, keep practicing, keep growing, and keep getting better!

Did you find this helpful? Then also check out other basketball FAQ articles here.

> How to Box Out in Basketball

> How to Defend Ball Screens in Basketball

> How to Do a Layup Correctly?

5 Simple Ways to Get Better at ANYTHING Fast!Pick the Brain

I want it and I want it now!  We say this to ourselves every single time we demand instant gratification, quick results, or fast progress at something- even though we may sound like children.  There are some ways to actually speed up the way we learn and improve at something however.  Ironically, many of the ways to get better at something fast involve not focusing so much on results, but instead focusing on the process of getting better. 

1. Practice. A lot.

This one might be common sense, but the number one way to get better at something is to practice.  Even if its hard, even if its boring, even if its not fun, if you want to get better at something you need practice.  Through the dedication to practicing and learning, you will develop skill and experience that will make you better at what you are doing.  Whether it’s math, saving money, speed reading, or playing tennis, practicing will help make you better.

2. Read books or articles from experts.

Experts exist in practically every field imaginable.  Many experts get big book contracts to write: articles, blogs, books, and they even do interviews directly passing on the skills and knowledge they learned while mastering an area of expertise;  people are willing to pay big money to learn these lessons straight from an expert who has already been through it.  Books, articles, videos, and speeches from others who are already amazing at what you are trying to learn will make your life easier, motivate you along the way, and help you make your practice more valuable.

3. Practice smarter, not harder (focus on process over production)

As you learn more about the ways that other successful people practice and get better at something, you can try to apply the same techniques to your own practice.  For example: if you are working on developing your public speaking skills and a famous speaker recommends- in an article- to join toastmasters or give speeches each month at a get together, you can implement this practice and increase the speed at which you learn.  Its not always just about working harder, but sometimes we have to learn to work smarter as well.

An easy trap to fall into when trying to get better at something is to focus only on results.  As we focus more on our results over actual improvement, we begin to build pressure on ourselves.  Each time we fall short or fail to meet our expectations, we are hard on ourselves and we can stifle our motivation and drive.  By choosing to focus on the practice and on doing the things we need to do to get better instead of focusing on results, we can lift some of the weight off of our shoulders and really enjoy what we are doing.  By focusing on the process over the product, we can learn to love the journey of getting better. 

4. Set goals.

By setting measurable and precise goals we can better motivate ourselves and measure ourselves against our own goals rather than against other people.  When we compare ourselves against others, we can often be left feeling inadequate or unsatisfied, but when we look at how we’re doing today versus 1 year ago, it becomes much clearer how far we have come along the way.  Additionally, goals help us stay motivated and focused on the things we need to do each day in order to get better. If we set a goal to write an article every day, eventually we are going to write a lot of articles and get much better. 

5. Evaluate and take notes.

Whenever you are practicing, reading, or setting goals, take notes of the process along the way as you learn important new details; you can make notes each time you learn something new, that you can review at a later time.  As you learn new things, you will inevitably begin to focus on new details and you will start to forget older revelations.  By regularly evaluating your progress, results, and the ways in which you are actively seeking to improve, you can make adjustments as needed and cement the things that are working well.

By using these 5 simple tips you can increase your productivity, learn faster, and incorporate new information better.  It may feel counterintuitive to set goals when you could be practicing instead, but you must learn to focus on how to get better more than you focus on just getting better.

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Shane Sorensen is a life coach, nurse, blogger, and the owner of www.MakeYourBestSelf.com.  If you would like to learn more you can visit his website, or email him at [email protected]

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ERIN FALCONER!

Erin shows overscheduled, overwhelmed women how to do less so that they can achieve more. Traditional productivity books—written by men—barely touch the tangle of cultural pressures that women feel when facing down a to-do list. How to Get Sh*t Done will teach you how to zero in on the three areas of your life where you want to excel, and then it will show you how to off-load, outsource, or just stop giving a damn about the rest.

16 Easy Habits to Improve Your Life

Improving your life doesn’t have to be about making one big gesture. Instead, it’s something you can constantly work on—and it typically comes down to the small things you do every day.

I understand that no one has all the time in the world to think about self-improvement and personal development when there’s work and family and bills to pay, so let’s start with just 30 minutes a week.

Yup, that’s all—now I bet you’re listening.

What I’m asking is that you try one (or two, or five, or all) of these activities and see if they help you become a better “you,” whether that means increasing your confidence, reducing your stress, creating deeper relationships, or becoming a healthier individual.

1. Achieve Mindfulness

I’m sure you’re so sick of hearing that you should “totally try meditation,” especially from your (recently) yoga-crazed mother. But mindfulness is a lot more realistic to achieve than the kind of meditation you hear about because it doesn’t require years of practice and a yoga mat. And, it only takes 30 minutes (or less!) sitting right at your desk.

Wanna give it a shot? Here’s exactly how to do it.

2. Develop a Consistent Morning Routine

Muse Career Coach Adrian J. Hopkins suggests that the key to having a productive day, and saving yourself time in the morning, is “breaking down every task into small steps, then scheduling everything by starting from the end of the day and working backward.” This means you know exactly what activity you’ll do when from the moment you wake up.

Sounds a bit overwhelming, yes, but the reason it works is because you don’t waste any time trying to decide on things—spending 10 minutes picking out an outfit, spending 15 minutes deciding if you want to go on a run. This way, you limit yourself to small minute increments so that you’ll always be out the house exactly on time.

3. Develop a Consistent Bedtime Routine

A happy, healthy morning starts with a killer bedtime routine. There’s no perfect answer for making your own, but the important thing is to make one and stick to it.

For example, every evening I shower, make my lunch for the next day, and spend 10 or so minutes doing something that relaxes me in bed, whether that’s scrolling through social media, reading 15 pages of a book, or talking to my parents on the phone. It’s not always like this, but the consistency helps me fall asleep better and feel prepared to conquer the day ahead.

Muse writer Kat Moon has five great bedtime routines you should definitely try—each will only take you five minutes.

4. Re-Do Your Bedroom for a Better Night’s Sleep

Especially when you’re busy or stressed, it can be hard to get your best sleep every night, even with an awesome routine. Instead, try creating a space where you’ll always feel good going to bed by trying out these seven quick DIY projects.

5. Find an Energizing Midday Activity That’s Good for You

You probably saw it coming, but just as important as setting a schedule for your mornings and evenings is also having an activity that is guaranteed to bring you out of the worst midday slumps.

Muse writer Lily Herman suggests developing these five habits, or, if you’re a coffee addict, consider these better alternatives to help you recharge.

6. Make Your Lunch (and Dinner)

Making your meals every day not only guarantees you have control over your health, but it’s also cheaper and a great way to learn a new skill or experiment with your cooking abilities.

Plus, you get to boast to co-workers when they ask where you got the food. And for some brag-worthy recipes, check out these 52 lunches, or, for the lazy, these quick office snack ideas.

7. Then Eat it Away From Your Desk

Muse writer Kat Boogaard learned many valuable lessons after bravely eating lunch away from her desk. For one thing, taking a break is just good for you. But, she also realized the importance of practicing work-life balance all day, rather than just after work was over. By giving yourself that time off during office hours, you’re already one step closer to a healthier, well-balanced life.

8. Watch a TED Talk

TED Talks are like a mini-lecture. They just might teach you more about yourself, or inspire you to innovate and carry out that dream you’ve always thought about. Plus, they’re only about 20 minutes—watch one while getting ready for work in the morning, or during your lunch break, or when you’re sitting in a waiting room for a super-quick knowledge boost.

9. Listen to a Podcast

Similarly, podcasts are a great on-the-go news source. And a lot of the time they’re just what you need to unwind without completely wasting away in front of the TV (not that I have anything against relaxing that way). I’m a big fan of tackling one podcast during my commute—half of it on the way to work, half on the way back, and the stories always bring out some real emotions. (For reference, my favorites are This American Life and You’re the Expert.)

10. Do a Bunch of Little Productive Tasks

I challenge you to set aside 30 minutes and do all those nitty-gritty tasks you’ve been meaning to do, all at once. First, this prevents you from multitasking later on when emails are rushing in while you’re trying to do your work. Second, it forces you to tackle those things that make you cringe—things that, once they’re done, will make your life a heck of a lot easier.

Not sure what chores I mean? I’ll help you out—here’s a to-do list of 21 useful things you can do in five minutes, then, if those don’t do it for you, here are nine other productive things you can complete in 15 minutes.

11. Get to Know Yourself

What better way to improve your life than by learning all about your strengths and weaknesses and honing in on your best self. To get started, here are 14 free personality test you can take in the next half hour.

12. Treat Yourself

How long has it been since you treated yourself to a relaxing massage or a manicure? Well, maybe this is your week to do it. Was there a game you’ve been meaning to download and play? Or, a cool new lunch spot? You deserve it, so go get it (just don’t overdo your 30 minutes of leisure, especially on the job).

13. Revisit Your Goals

You probably made some New Year’s resolutions or set monthly goals for yourself (whether on paper or in the back of your mind). Have you followed through on any of them? Are there ones you can get rid of, or alter? Do you feel confident in achieving all of them? Take some time this week to reflect positively on how far you’ve come, and think about where you want to be—and maybe write down the steps you need to take to get there.

14. Connect With an Old Friend or New Co-worker

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen or talked to someone, reach out and let them know you’re thinking about them. Maybe even try it the old-fashioned way—sending a physical letter! There’s no doubt snail mail makes anyone’s day. (Isn’t it the worst when you open your mailbox to nothing?)

Or, if you haven’t had a chance to meet a colleague in another department at the office, or a new co-worker who just joined last week, consider meeting up for lunch or coffee. You’ll make a work friend (or, eventually a work wife or husband), and, even better, you’ll build up your network.

(Bonus: Studies show that hanging around good people leads to better lifestyle choices!)

15. Clean Your Closet

By “closet” I could also mean your desk, your office, your bedroom, or even your kitchen cabinets or dishes. Cleaning is stress-relieving, and actually a form of mindful meditation, according to some studies. So, kill two birds with one stone by reorganizing your space and practicing positive self-awareness.

16. Get Outside

Notice how I didn’t say “go to the gym” or “go for a run.” Because, yes, exercise is great. But for most people, including myself, it’s a lot easier said than done.

So, I have another option for you—go outside. Walk around, sit in the park and read, or go for a leisurely bike ride. Just being outdoors is good for you in so many ways. It improves creativity, helps us age better, makes us happier, and, it might actually make you want to work out more (science says so!).

Don’t you feel better already? Try out these simple tips and see if you can start to develop better habits—the goal being you’ll be healthier and happier a lot more often than just 30 minutes a week.

Photo of happy woman courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.

Three Simple Ways to Get Better at Getting Better

Back when I was in high school, there was a sign hanging in the lockeroom: “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” Unfortunately, none of my coaches ever defined what, exactly, constitutes perfect practice. But in the reporting for my new book, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success, I learned that a lot of the world’s best athletes improve by following a few simple rules—rules that a growing body of new research supports: take on just-manageable challenges, focus with deep concentration, and work in discrete blocks of time. The best part? These principles can be adopted by just about anyone to get better at nearly anything. 

Take on Just-Manageable Challenges

Big-wave surfer Nic Lamb, who in 2016 won Titans of Mavericks, says, “Being uncomfortable is the path to personal development and growth. It is the opposite of complacency.” Elite American runner Sara Hall puts it like this: “The workouts that are on the outer edge of what I think is possible, the ones that really challenge me, they tend to produce the biggest payoff.” 

Lamb and Hall are referring to a concept that researchers call “skills from struggle.” In short, studies have found that the most profound learning occurs after a period of struggle and even failure. In a paper published for Singapore’s National Institute of Education, Manu Kapur, a professor of psychological studies at the Hong Kong Institute of Education and an expert on human development, writes that there are vast benefits in allowing people to “explore, struggle, and even fail at tasks that are beyond their zone of proximal development.” 

This isn’t to say that you should take on impossible challenges, but rather just-manageable ones: workouts and movements that are a little more intense and complex than what you’re accustomed to. The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls this being in the “flow channel,” somewhere between anxiety and boredom. If you’re legitimately anxious, it’s probably worth scaling the challenge back. But if you’re completely confident—or worse yet, bored—you’re not getting any better, either. You want to be in the middle, according to Csikszentmihalyi; aroused, but not so much that you can’t focus. 

Practice Deep Focus 

In his 2008 book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell popularized the 10,000-hour rule, which is the notion that the main thing it takes to become an expert in something is 10,000 hours of practice. His theory was based on work from the Swedish psychologist Anders K Ericsson. Yet Ericsson’s actual findings represent something quite different. Developing expertise, he found, is not about practicing for a certain number of hours. Rather, it’s about the focus that is brought to those hours. 

Ericsson, who has studied hundreds world-class performers—from athletes to chess players to musicians—discovered that what separates the best from the rest is the intention with which they practice. His research demonstrates that the most effective way to practice is to eliminate all distractions, devoting your full attention to mastering a specific goal. He coined this “deliberate practice.”

Steve Magness, running coach at the University of Houston and to pros including Neely Spence Gracey and Natosha Rogers, says that deliberate practice means ditching the smartphone, often the music, and sometimes even the watch. “To get the most out of key workouts, you need to be completely present, internalizing how your body and mind feel and respond to certain effort levels,” he says. According to Magness, this is a theme that holds true across all sports. “If you really want to master a skill or effort-level, you need to be completely there in the process of doing so.”

Break Up Your Time into Discrete Blocks

Reaching outside of your comfort zone and doing so with 100 percent focus is draining. No surprise, then, that in his years of studying elite performers, Ericsson learned that across all fields, even the best struggle to sustain intense work and deep concentration for more than two hours. Outside of rare, short-term situations, once this threshold is passed, the work becomes futile. For example, in perhaps his most famous study, “The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance,” Ericsson found that the best violinists in the world practice in chunks of between 60 and 90 minutes followed by brief rest periods. (Additional research has shown that the ideal break should last anywhere between six-to-30 minutes.) Beyond 90 minutes and the quality of the sessions began to suffer. 

This upper limit is also relevant in athletic endeavors. For starters, after about 90 minutes, glycogen, or your muscle’s primary fuel source, runs low, says Magness. But equally as important is what happens psychologically—much like the body, the mind fatigues as well. 

Occasionally, during the rest intervals of workouts, Magness has his athletes complete various mental puzzles and games like the Stroop Test, in which one must quickly report the appearance of a color that is overlaid on top of the text of a different color. While Magness does this to strengthen his athlete’s ability to focus under fatigue, he says it’s equally important to simply let them rest once an hour. “Once you go beyond an hour in a hard workout, concentration suffers, even in the athletes who are mentally strong.” 

There are, of course, exceptions to the 90-minute rule, like the long workouts that are lynchpins of so many endurance and adventure sports. But it’s best to keep workouts that target the development of a new skill or the ability to internalize a certain movement or effort level time bound. 

Brad Stulberg (@Bstulberg) writes Outside’s Science of Performance column and is a co-author of the new book Peak Performance: Elevate your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success

How To Get Better At Anything In One Month | by Josh Spector | For The Interested

It’s easier than you think.

It’s hard to get great, but it’s easy to get better.

Because no matter what you want to improve about your life, work, or self, the path to improvement is the same.

We all have plenty of things we want to get better at, but the first step to doing so is to focus on one.

Choose one specific thing you want to improve and focus solely on that for a month.

Give yourself permission to deal with all the other stuff you want to improve at a later date — your likelihood of success goes way up when you focus on one thing at a time.

Multitasking is not your friend.

Once you choose your one thing, decide exactly why you want to be better at it.

The more clearly you understand your why (with a nod to Simon Sinek), the easier it is to accomplish your goal.

Thinking through your motivation before you begin also helps ensure you choose the right thing to focus on.

For example, maybe you chose to get better at Twitter, but in thinking through your motivation realize your real goal is to get better at connecting with people and Twitter isn’t necessarily the best way for you to go about doing that.

The stronger your motivation, the greater your chance of success.

You can’t achieve a goal you haven’t clearly defined.

“Better” is a tricky word.

It can mean different things at different times. You need to define what it means in the context of your thing, so you can accurately measure whether you accomplish it.

Think through what metrics or tangible evidence you can attach to it.

For example, what does it mean to be a “better” blogger? Does it mean you post more frequently? That more people share your posts? That your posts inspire more debate?

There’s no right or wrong definition of what better means, but if you don’t clearly define it, it’s impossible to ever achieve it.

No matter what your thing is, you will only get better at it if you do it on a regular basis.

The more you do it, the better you’ll get. But in almost all cases you have no real chance of getting better at anything in a month unless you commit to doing it at least three times a week.

You have to put in the work. Improvement doesn’t just happen.

Since you defined metrics around what it means to be “better” at your thing, you can now measure your progress as you go.

It’s important to not only measure the results of doing your thing regularly, but also to analyze those results.

The key to getting better is found in what you learn from what you measure.

This varies widely depending on what your thing is, but your actions will result in a set of impacts you need to study.

Learn from how people react to what you do, how you react to it, and start to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

As you measure the results of your activity and analyze them, use that knowledge to form a hypothesis about how you can improve your results.

This hypothesis can be more than one thing — it can be a series of observations that lead you to shift the way you do your thing.

What’s important is that you think through what you’ve learned from the results of what you’ve done and develop a theory of how you can improve it.

A hypothesis doesn’t do you any good unless you implement it and measure the results.

There’s as much chance your hypothesis of how to get better at your thing is wrong as there is that it’s right. But that’s fine.

You’re in a testing phase and being wrong can teach you valuable things that help get you closer to being right.

Don’t put too much pressure on your hypothesis to be right and don’t get discouraged if it’s wrong. Learn from it and use those findings to develop a new hypothesis, and test it again.

Each step — in success and failure — gets you closer to your goal of being better. Even if it may not seem like it in that moment.

As you go through the month — doing, measuring, testing, and repeating — you may feel you’re not making progress, but it’s important not to get discouraged.

Don’t confuse getting “better” with getting “great.”

Remember: it’s hard to get great, but it’s easy to get better.

You’re not going to get great at anything in a month — that’s not the way the world works. But you 100% can get better at anything in a month.

The way to get great is to keep getting better. And the way to get better is to do so one month at a time.

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How to Get Better at Golf Without Lessons – 16 Top Tips – Golfing Focus

Golf lessons are often cited as one of the best ways to improve your game.

It is not often you will find someone advising a new or even long term golfer that they do not need to bother with lessons.

But it is not compulsory for any golfer to take lessons and indeed only 15% of golfers seeks professional instruction.

There are also a number of examples, including two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson, of players who have never had a lesson and clearly have done just fine.

Golf lessons also cost money and if you take a few the amount you spend can add up.

So to help players who do not want to spend alot of money on golf lessons, or indeed do not have a lot of time to fit them into their busy schedule, I’ve put together a list of 16 of the best ways to get better at golf without taking lessons.

Not all these will apply to all standards of golfer but if you are looking to improve your game without taking a lesson you will find something useful on here.

Expect the Unexpected. Work on Changing Your Mental Approach

You do not need to tell any golfer who has played the game for any length of time that it can play havoc with the mind.

Golf is hard and arguably the hardest sport mentally for players to play.

Not only does every shot count without exception but the scoring system, which sets a ‘scoring par’ on each hole, means that the average golfer has to face up to having ‘failed’ on almost every hole.

Golfers also face the unique concentration challenge of having to ‘play’ for only a tiny fraction of the time they are on the course – players will only spend a few minutes over a 2½ -4 hour round actually hitting the ball.

Add to this a complex and un-natural series of movements that need to be combined together and timed well repeatedly within the golf swing and it easy to see how golfers can easily lose focus and get quickly frustrated.

“Golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half inch course … the space between your ears … No-one ever had golf under his thumb. No round will ever be so good it could not have been better. Perhaps this is why golf is the greatest of games.“

Bobby Jones, 7 Time Major Champion.

But if you can reset your mental approach and start to work on accepting the inherent difficulties that make golf impossible to play perfectly you will start to improve your game simply by taking a more relaxed approach.

Aim to get better at accepting that you will hit bad shots every round and you can improve simply by getting better at not beating yourself up over a bad shot.

Good players get over poor shots more quickly than others.

Remaining frustrated takes time and effort to maintain and if you are concentrating on your frustration you will not be focusing on your next shot.

Taking control of as much of the game as you can and having some process goals are great ways to help switch focus to the next shot and we will cover some of these in the rest of the post.

Golf is a great game that is fun to play and though that can often be difficult to remember, particularly on a bad scoring day, it always throws up the possibility that your next shot will be your best one.

Stop Aiming Straight at the Pin & Always Use a Tee

Given golf’s inherent difficulties it makes sense that you should take advantage of anything that can potentially make your life easier.

Jack Nicklaus’ approach to teeing up the ball on a par 3 is one great example of this.

He has often talked about how he can never understand why all players do not automatically tee the ball up on every par 3 they play.

As Nicklaus puts it “….why is the tee there? You have an opportunity on a par 3 to tee it up, so why not take advantage of that and give yourself the best lie possible? In the fairway, when the ball sits on the ground, you might hit it thin or fat. But if you tee the ball a little higher on a par 3 … you’ve just eliminated the two things you don’t want to happen.”

Jack Nicklaus hitting one of the best par 3 tee shots in golf history at the 17th hole of the 1972 US Open at Peeble Beach from a tee.

As arguably the greatest golfer who has ever lived and someone who has played some of the greatest par 3 tee shots in history this is hard advice to argue against.

Another playing approach adjustment you can easily make to your playing approach is to stop always aiming straight at the pin.

Better players will more often than not focus instead on hitting the middle of the green.

In addition better players focus more on simply putting the ball on the fairway off the tee and putting the ball in play.

So when you are next considering taking on that tee shot over the trees on the left with a 200-yard carry, or the pin tucked behind that deep bunker 6 feet from the edge of the green, maybe have another think.

Check You Are Always Playing the Best Ball For Your Game

It can almost be a badge of honour for some golfers when they talk about how they haven’t bought a golf ball for the past 2 years and just play with whatever they find.

Other players meanwhile will simply default to buying the ball their favourite player uses.

While the former undoubtedly helps keeps costs down, and the latter may make you look good, it is not necessarily going to help your game and you will be giving up one of the simplest chances you have to control something that can help your game.

Golf balls have 3 main elements to them – the cover, layers and compression – and different manufacturers will make different combinations of each in different golf balls.

For beginners, it is best to start with a surlyn cover, 2 piece ball with low compression although ball choice is less than important than it is for better players who should experiment to find the ball that best suits their game.

And on top of that, it is even more important that players don’t constantly chop and change the ball they play with from round to round or even from hole to hole.

Using the same ball all the time will help you understand exactly how far it goes with each shot, how much it spins and how much it rolls on the green.

Think about it, if someone told you to change your clubs every round you likely wouldn’t as you are used to your own so why should your golf ball be any different?

Take Advantage of All the Tech Advances Going

My second oldest brother is a good golfer playing off a single figure handicap at a tough golf course.

And now that his kids have grown up he has started to play again in some local amateur club tournaments and has reported back that the young golfers he is playing with have been teasing him about his clubs.

He is still playing the same ones he bought over 20 years ago and safe to say his new playing partners are not impressed.

The problem he is discovering, apart from a slightly bruised ego, is that he is consistently 50-70 yards behind them off the tee due to his missing out on many of the huge technological advances that have been made in the manufacture of golf equipment in the last 25 years.

Many of these have made the game easier and where possible and affordable every golfer should take advantage of these.

For example ‘cavity back irons’ and ‘hybrid clubs’, are specifically designed to be more forgiving and therefore make it easier for players to hit shots.

Forged blade irons, by comparison, require a player of a certain skill level to play them well so if you are a high handicap player using these chances are you will be losing distance and accuracy.

So if you are not checking your clubs are at least comparatively up to date chances are you are leaving strokes on the course and missing out on opportunities to make your golfing life that little bit easier.

Get Into the Grooves of Your Wedges Specifically

Golfers with a handicap of more than 10 will hit less than 7 out of 18 greens in regulation on average and your average golfer with a handicap in the mid-teens will hit even less.

That inevitably means a lot of shots from 100 yards in for the typical weekend golfer – approximately 60% in total – and as a result the clubs in the bag which will get the most use are the wedges.

And given how versatile wedges are and the number of shots they can be used for – recovery shots from paths, bunkers etc – it is likely your wedges will wear out faster than many of the other clubs you carry.

The problem with this is wedge wear and tear is the enemy of spin and therefore control of your wedge shots.

Again we are not advocating people rush out and spend hundreds of dollars, pounds or euros changing their wedges just so they can get more spin on the golf ball.

But if you playing regularly and looking for ways to improve your game it is probably worth taking a look at your wedges before any of your other clubs.

You may find the grooves are worn down and therefore starting to affect how much control you can get with your wedge shots.

Be Exact with Your Own Golf Stats

If you are keen to improve your game you need to know what the weaker areas of your game are so that you can quickly focus on addressing them.

To do that a rough recollection of how you think you played during your last round and a general idea of how far you hit each club is not good enough.

You need to be clear on what you need to focus any practice sessions on and know how far you hit every club in your bag to help you decide on the right club on the course.

Thankfully technology again makes these things easier now.

There are lots of golfing apps, many of them free, which will let you simply track your high-level stats and quickly identify what are the weakest parts of your game that you need to work on.

Similarly, it is a straight forward process to measure golf shot distance these days with multiple tools available to make this task even easier.

While it is always tempting to hit lots of shots at the range that we are good at if your stats are telling you are getting up and down less than 10% of the time then there’s going to be little gained from not starting some hard work on your short game.

Similarly, if you are faced with a 145 yard shot it surely would help to know which iron in your bag you most consistently hit that distance?

Better players analyse their game so any practice they do is specific to addressing their specific weaknesses and prepare as far as possible to take any guesswork out of picking what club they should play.

Your stats won’t lie and tracking them consistently will give you a consistent feedback loop to help direct your practice over the coming weeks and months.

Always Practice With a Specific Goal in Mind – Be SMART

Now that you are tracking your stats and are clear on what specific areas of your game need to be addressed to make improvements a vital next step is to add a specific goal to your practice.

And make these goals SMART where you can – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely.

If you are a high handicapper, is it realistic for example to set yourself golf of becoming a scratch golfer within a few months?

SMART goals will by comparison give you something that you can sensibly aim to achieve and track your progress against as time passes.

It is amazing how many golfers will complain that they are not getting any better and when you ask them what their target handicap or score is for the next couple of months they won’t have any number in mind.

Or they will have such an unrealistic goal in mind that they are quickly getting discouraged.

If you don’t set a sensible destination it is impossible to plot a map route to get there.

Practice in a Purposeful Way

We’ve all done it. You pitch up at the range, grab a bucket of 50 or 100 balls and start hitting away without another thought.

Before long 15-20 minutes has gone by, you have hit about 30 balls with a variety of different clubs and hardly paid much attention to what you are doing.

To consistently hit better golf shots and improve your game you need to follow a deliberate method.

Having identified through your stats that the weakest part of your game is your pitching and putting what is the point of rocking up to the range and crashing a bunch of drivers into the distance.

Or to get to the pitching and putting green without any real plan of what types of pitches and putts you are going to practice.

Repeating and practising an activity over and over again is unquestionably the correct route to targeting improvement.

But if you are practising the wrong activity in the wrong way it may have no effect on performance or worse still lead to the adoption of a bad habit which will make future performance improvement even harder.

So consider carefully what type of practice you are planning for your next session.

If shots under 100 yards are your problem consider splitting up your 50 balls into groups of 10, and then hit one group at the 100-yard marker, the next 90 yards, then 80 yards and so on until your finished.

Keep using the same club and improve your feel of how to adjust your distance control as you get closer to the green.

Or try replicating the shots you hit at the 2 or 3 holes on your course that give you the most trouble.

Play them on the range exactly as you would like to on the course.

If it’s a long par 5 that’s your nemesis hit your driver, then the fairway wood, hybrid or long iron you would typically play next and then a wedge shot.

Practice is key but if it is not purposeful you run the risk of adding even more bad habits to your game.

Make Sure Your Warm-Up Targets the Hips, Glutes & Neck

In an ideal world before every round we would all arrive at the course an hour or so before we are due to tee off to enable us to get a good warm-up.

Unfortunately, normal busy lives don’t make that easy and often golfers will be rushing to put their golf shoes in time to get to the first tee in time for their game, grab their driver, and tee off following one or two brief practice swings.

Rarely however on these occasions will the ball soar off straight into the distance up the middle of the fairway and despite every golfer being aware they should warm up it is amazing to find how many don’t or are unable to.

Better players, however will always make time to warm up and typically will hit some practice shots before they reach the first tee to give themselves a better chance of playing well.

If time is tight however every golfer should be able to find at least 5 or 10 minutes before they play a round or practice to at the very least warm up the main muscles they are going to use when playing.

Any warm-up routine should focus on the hips, glutes and neck / upper spine particularly to make sure they are prepared in some small way for making a series of golf swings.

The golf swing is an unnatural and complex series of muscle movements that need to be combined together and timed well repeatedly so it is important that you don’t take your body by surprise straight away with a big lunge with the driver on the first tee.

Whatever warm-up time you have before you play or practise should focus on the key muscles you will be using repeatedly so establish a minimum warm-up routine which you can run through by default.

Nail Down Your Pre-Shot Routine and Stick to It

Process goals are very powerful and they are one of the few things on a golf course you are in total control of every time you hit a golf ball.

One such process goal is your pre-shot routine and it is one thing you should have in the bank and deliver before you strike every golf shot you play.

Sir Nick Faldo, 6-time Major Champion, advocates hitting an imaginary ball at full speed as part of your pre-shot routine.

A good process goal for your pre-shot routine might be to make 2-3 practice swing humming your favourite song before every golf shot.

Or it might be standing beside the ball and imagining hitting the exact shot you plan to before then trying to do so.

Pre-shot routines become even more important when the pressure is on and if you’ve got one you trust the likelihood is that you will have a better chance of hitting the shot you want.

6 time Major Champion, Sir Nick Faldo, was famous for his meticulous preparation, particularly in the build-up to major championships and is a big exponent of a pre-shot routine which involves hitting an imaginary ball at full speed.

As he puts it “….the mind does not know the difference between a rehearsal and the real thing”.

Work On Your Alignment

When you hit a golf ball your head and body is not facing the target where you are aiming.

To not be looking where you are going, and indeed facing in a different direction is counterintuitive, and beginners in particular, can find it difficult to make sure there are aligned correctly.

The good news is alignment is something you can work on easily and consistently.

You can use golf alignment sticks, or to be honest just another two of your own clubs, to check your alignment when your practising to help you improve on it.

Place one stick above your feet and the other above the ball and using the sticks as a guide ensure your arms, feet and eyes are parallel to the left of your target.

Golfers of whatever standard will always be checking and working on their alignment so if you can find a process step or trick that you can add to your pre-shot routine to ensure you are well aligned before you hit each shot even better.

You can’t use other clubs or alignment sticks on the course during the round though of course!

Want to improve your scores by the biggest factor? Get working on your approach shots

Focus on Your LONG Game More Than Anything Else

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that if I really wanted to improve my scores I should focus almost exclusively on practising my short game I would be a rich man.

After all, it makes sense doesn’t it?

Given that at least 50% of your shots will be from 100 yards in whatever standard of player you are surely you should therefore be spending the vast majority of your practice time on your short irons, chipping and putting.

But the reality is the stats today show that it is a myth that your short game is the key to better scores.

If you are really serious about getting better and finally breaking 100, 90, 80 or even 70 it is the long game that is more important.

According to Mark Broadie, Columbia Business School professor, author of ‘Every Shot Counts’ (Check here to see my review of Professor Broadie’s great book) and pioneer of the ‘strokes gained’ metrics first adopted by the PGA Tour in 2011 chipping and putting (the short game) explains only one-third of the difference in scores between two typical amateur golfers.

The long game (i.e. driving and approach shots) explains two-thirds of the difference.

In other words, 66% of the difference in the score of a player shooting 80 and one shooting 100 comes from skill differences in driving and approach shots.

For clarity, an ‘approach shot is a shot that starts outside of 100 yards from the hole, excluding tee shots on par-four and par-five holes.

A ‘short game’ shot by comparison starts within 100 yards of the hole excluding shots that start on the green (i.e. excluding putts).

Professor Broadie acknowledges his analysis goes against almost all of golf’s conventional wisdom and will be considered close to heresy by some.

He also does not deny that putting is of course a critical part of the game and that putts are likely to be the easiest strokes to erase from your scorecard.

But he is simply highlighting that the analysis of millions of golf shots disproves the conventional wisdom that the short game is key to all major golf improvements.

And when you look at Tiger Wood’s numbers it is hard to argue against it.

Broadie found that between 2004 and 2012 on the PGA Tour Tiger gained 2.79 strokes per round against the field’s average – close to 1 stroke better than the next best-ranked player.

And where did the biggest proportion of Tiger’s gain come from – approach shots – a whopping 46% (1.28 strokes out of 2.79) of his gain against the field!

“Guys say you have to have a short game to win tournaments and it is not the case. Not at all” (Rory McIlroy)

“I agree with Rory. I never practiced my short game because I felt like if I can hit 15 greens a round and hit a couple of par fives in two and if I can make all my putts inside 10 feet, who cares where I chip it?” (Jack Nicklaus)

Source: Every Shot Counts, Avery Books

Ask the Mirror on the Wall for Feedback

Even if you don’t take any lessons you are going to need to get some feedback at some point.

And a mirror in which you can see your whole body is a great tool for this.

When you are swinging a golf club you will inevitably make mistakes.

Repeatedly putting together the complex series of movements that comprise the golf swing correctly on a consistent basis is difficult.

The margins for error are small.

And as you can’t see your own swing it is difficult to know what mistakes you have made and without knowing your mistakes it is impossible to know how you can rectify them.

A mirror is a great tool to help with this.

You will get instant feedback on whether you are swinging correctly and be able to quickly identify any mistakes you may be repeating.

Practising any swing changes consistently in front of a mirror is, therefore, a great way to help golfers improve their technique and commit those improvements to the muscle memory bank.

Many driving ranges will have booths with mirrors behind them which you can use and there are also some very handy portable golf mirrors you can take with you anywhere to let you keep an eye on your swing yourself.

Record Your Swing and Use Training Aids to Identify Issues

As we have noted you need feedback in order to help you see what needs to be improved.

A golf instructor is one way to get this but if you are not taking lessons golf training aids and swing analysers can be an excellent cost-effective way to gather that all-important feedback on your strengths and weaknesses.

It is hard to know what you are doing wrong sometimes and as with clubs technology has come to the fore in recent years enabling the development of multiple tools to help players analyse their game.

“Feedback is the greatest teacher there is. You look at the ball and see what it did, and if you know your swing and your mechanics, you know what you need to do to fix it”

6 time Major Champion, Lee Trevino – Wall Street Journal (Top Pros Who’ve Never Had a Lesson)

Swing analysers today can show your key swing metrics such as swing speed, tempo, swing plain, club face angle and so on to help you identify where things may be going wrong.

And some of them can even let you set swing goals and therefore let you see how each individual swing compares to those goals which can be a great help in any quest to implement a swing change.

Others meanwhile act as both a warm-up tool and training aid and focus on key swing movements, timing and rhythm.

So the great news is today there are a huge amount of tools and aids which can give you that all-important feedback on your swing.

Practice One-armed Swings to Improve Consistency

The golf swing is a un-natural series of complex movements that need to be combined together and timed well multiple times throughout a round.

There is little margin for error in the golf swing so to complete it consistently well is the challenge for all golfers.

An inconsistent golf swing delivers poor golf.

Practising one-armed swings is one effective way to help create consistency in your golf swing.

If you are right-handed the left side of your body helps you to control most of your swing.

You are aiming to let your left side rather than your right to ‘pull’ the golf club in the downswing so have a go at practising one-armed golf swings for a week.

You may be surprised by your performance when you put both hands back on the club.

Vary Your Practice to Keep Things Fun

When kids are introduced to playing golf a lot of effort is made to help them not get bored when they pick up the game.

Parents and golf clubs will look at a myriad of ways to introduce kids to the game – miniature golf, video games, games in the back garden/backyard, made up games on the golf course – all with the intent to make sure they have fun and enjoy the game as much as possible.

So why this should goal to maintain the fun be any different for more experienced players.

If you are looking to improve you are going to have to put in a decent amount of practice.

It’s not going to come any other way unfortunately but that does not mean your practice sessions always have to involve simply hitting dozen after dozen of golf balls on the practice range.

Mix things up to keep your practice sessions engaging and interesting. Practice at home, practice at the range, play different types of games on the course with your buddies.

You can be working on a specific change or shot at any point in multiple varieties of ways and that can be important to do to maintain focus and keep you on target to your improvement goals.

Remember the main goal is always to enjoy the game and have some fun and just because you are potentially putting in some extra practice doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of fun to that as well.

Other top articles related to this topic

How to Get Better at Golf

Getting better at golf boils down to being able to reduce strokes off of your score, but this can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you often find yourself over par and hitting slices. The good news is that there’s always room for improvement!

Before investing a lot of time and money into improving your golf skills, consider some of these simple changes that can have a huge impact. Keep reading to learn tips and tricks for how to improve your golf game.

Don’t Lose Sight of the Fun Aspect of the Game

Let’s face it: Even pros have bad days on the course. The fact is that a perfect game is rare. Instead of getting mad or frustrated when every shot isn’t perfect, take it for what it is and move on with your game. Don’t get hung up on perfection. It’s the nature of golf to have bad shots. The best thing you can do is stay calm and stay realistic.

By staying calm, you’ll find that your game will improve because you can make calculated shots. A less than perfect round doesn’t automatically mean it’s not a success.

When you’re truly enjoying your time on the golf course, you’ll find that improvement comes naturally. Don’t let those bad shots put you in the rough!

Focus on the Basics

As we strive to get better, we often forget the basics of golf. Factors such as your grip, aim, stance, and posture all impact how well you hit the ball. The first thing to do in order to improve your golf game is to focus on your posture.

When making tee shots, you want to have the proper stance. Make sure that your feet are slightly wider than your shoulder-width apartment. When making the shot, drive the power from your core and legs, not your arms.

Set Realistic Goals

Having a goal of getting better at golf is too broad and too vague. What do you really want to accomplish when on the course? Saying that you want to get better is a start, but what specifically do you want to get better at?

• Do you want to improve your average tee shots?
• Want to slice less?
• Want to miss fewer putts?

By having a clear goal, you can identify what you really need to focus on. Focusing on a specific skill is the most effective way to improve.

Play More

This tip may seem too simple, but the fact is that it’s entirely true! The more time you spend playing, the more time you’re able to dedicate to improving your game. When the weather cooperates and you’ve got some free time, spend it golfing!

Plan to spend a few weekends on the course. Be willing to play alone, or bring along a fellow golfer who can help to spot any errors you may be making. The more practice time you can get in, the better.

Know Your Yardages

Knowing your yardage is another important part of getting better at golf. When computing yardages, most golfers only calculate their yardage when hitting the ball well. Another common mistake is only considering the club’s total yardage versus also considering the carry yardage.

One of the best ways to get in-depth analysis and numbers about your yardage is to use a launch monitor. These products are designed to easily and conveniently calculate carry and total yardages.

By getting yardage information for every club in your bag, you can ensure that you have the appropriate options in your bag to hit the best shots.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Knowing your yardage is only one of the many benefits of using golf technology to improve your game. At Foresight Sports, we sell top-of-the-line golf monitors, golf simulators, and other high-tech products.

Our products can be used on the golf course or at home on your very own golf course! Whether you need to practice driving the ball or want some analysis into your golf swing, we’ve got a product that will meet your needs.

Interested in learning more? Contact the Foresight Sports team today!

90,000 6 great ways to create yourself

Perfection is the only thing in a person that has no limit. How to get better on your own and stop being inactive? Why do you want to grow despite stability? How to start trying, and not just pretending? Eliminate disadvantages today using simple tips. By starting now, you will at least save precious years, and at the most, you will become better!

1.Live consciously.

How to become better if you don’t give an account of thoughts and actions? We are not robots that live on autopilot. This is impossible, because blind adherence to the schedule erases the framework of the world. Mindfulness is the ability to understand everything around and give it meaning.

Family relationships are meaningful, and traveling to observe the world is also meaningful. Likewise, it is important to reinforce daily affairs with connections with what we do it for. There is such a clever expression – cause and effect relationships.This is the law of the Universe that works between a person and the world around him.

Take a personality test

2. Appreciate your own and other people’s time.

The phone call is delayed for 40 minutes, instead of the short “Hello, how are you, what’s new?”. Friends are constantly late for any meeting, although they agreed for 17:00. Disrespect for their own and others’ time lives in many people. Lack of punctuality, brevity in actions create other bad habits. Disrespect for time is a manifestation of incompetence, without which you cannot go far in life.You can become better if you attach importance to each of your own and someone else’s minute.

3. Do not focus only on yourself.

In order for a person not to be disappointed in the world, it is important to pay attention to those around him. Not everything revolves around the person herself – there are so many things around that require attention. Compassion is a personality strength that is neglected by many. Charity and mutual assistance, support reveal inner potential.

Financial aid for orphans, planting a tree in the yard, or cleanup in the park will not bring any harm.It is also important to listen to others. The advice of experienced people can bring undeniable benefits to those who are just starting their development. In the understanding of the surrounding people lies the philosophy of self-awareness.

Pass the selfishness test

4. Learn to be flexible in society.

Does criticism destroy self-esteem and morale? You can’t take everything to heart! It is normal that some do not agree with your opinion, dispute it, moreover, they discourage it. It is important to have your own opinion, which does not lend itself to other people’s judgments.

Listening to advice is one thing, but being plasticine in the hands of others is not permissible. Not everything should be attributed to the person! People may just enjoy playing with the emotions of others. If you show that this is not interesting, then they will lag behind over time.

5. Appreciate yourself.

How to become better when there is no feeling of self-love inside? Rejection of your life is a very strong decision, but rejection of yourself is detrimental. When a person has a love for his individuality, this feeling is reflected in his environment.After hard work, you can spend time with a light shower in the company. Going to the cinema, singing karaoke, spending time at the spa – rest and encouragement of your efforts give strong motivation. You should say to yourself: “You are the one who will be able to come to success, and I believe in you. You have strength and you are a great fellow! ” Words like this aloud help to reinforce faith in yourself and not give up your position.

6. Saying and doing are inseparable things.

Thoughtlessly saying “And I will have a big house, and I will have public recognition, and I will have this and that” is a stupid idea.This is familiar to many, and it is periodically traced in ourselves. Reliability is a trait of a man of his word who does not throw himself into the wind. Reliable people are often guided by those around them and set them up as an example. It is important to develop will and character, which will speak of inner strength. It was said that the meeting would take place tomorrow, and then I sharply got overwhelmed – it was worth going and meeting with responsibility face to face. How long have we been talking about losing weight? A great reason to start it now!

Take the personality test

How to make yourself better?

The desire to grow includes a reboot of the mind, which has been dormant for a long time.“Life goes on as usual” or “everything is fine with me”, and even more often “on the sly” – this is what we hear every day from the people around us. You look at such a person and all that pain and depression that have been growing over the years is reflected in him. Of course, every day cannot seem like a Disney fairy tale with a rainbow and cotton candy – anything can happen. If this always continues, then you need to include the Sherlock Holmes method. Why not become a detective in your own investigation?

How to become better according to the famous detective’s method? Be attentive to detail! By adhering to only two rules, a person can acquire that lacking skill – concentration.So what’s the secret:

• No need to spray too much. It is enough to pay attention to one thing. How do errors occur? If you do business in a hurry, as they say, loose. It is difficult to keep important information in your mind if you are in two bazaars (many will understand).
• Emotions are our everything! How can you become better if your nerves are constantly ruling the parade? Anxiety and many other negative phenomena break the whole picture of the world. To think creatively, it’s worth incorporating the positive side of yourself more openly.A pessimist always looks at the world worse than a positive one.

The ability to become better develops in the presence of only two components of : great desire and punchy perseverance. Without them, changes will simply bypass doors and not knock on them. Now you need to take a sheet of paper and a pen. For the solemnity of the process, they must be beautiful (this is not unimportant) – so the process will be official. It is important to write down the following points to adhere to on the path to a new “I”:

1. Switch from frivolous goals to more important ones.At first, the mind will be a little shocked, but without it there is no way! Quit your job in the coming months for your dream job. To develop self-control is not to sit for hours at the TV, computer, but to do yoga, reading literature. In general, what we have been thinking about for a long time.
2. Conduct an in-depth analysis of reality. Write things that you don’t like and need to get done with. Next to each one – write the ways of solving the problem, replacing “this” with “other”.
3. Write a step by step plan. Not to make a million in 3 years, but to describe how you can do it.There should be stages from execution under the loud words. It is worth including as many resources as possible to make your dream come true.
4. Work on imperfections. What is killing time? Not a trip to the forest for mushrooms (this, on the contrary, is a plus), but mindless sitting at the phone, playing with the console until nightfall, aimless shopping trips. It is important to eliminate the stimuli that hypnotize us.
5. Monitor the implementation of goals. It is important to write down each result in a diary and compare with each other. How to become better if you don’t understand where you are now? It is pleasant to realize that a month ago we were at the foot of the mountain, and today we are practically at the ridge.

How to get better? Activate your consciousness to the maximum and do not let go of this desire until the victorious end! The tips above will help you just pick up and get started, no matter the obstacles. Surely, you will not apply all of them, but you will definitely not stay in the same place. If you liked the article, share it with your friends and start a new stage of life together.

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90,000 How to get better. 22 ways

You can’t be too busy to improve yourself.

If you think you are already good at it, you can still do better!

If you are looking for meaning in life, there is nothing more meaningful than striving for a life of development and improvement.

Think about it: we get the most out of life by improving ourselves.

The good news is that the road to self-improvement never ends. In fact, you can start improving right now.

Don’t worry, we have 22 super easy tips to help you get better.

Let’s Get Started:

1. Read Books

Books are a concentrated source of wisdom, but you should also choose good books.

The more books you read, the more knowledge and wisdom you will receive to improve yourself.

Some of the books you may read are those that contribute to social, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial improvement.

In fact, billionaire Warren Buffett was once asked what makes him successful, and he replied like this:

“Read 500 of these pages every day,” reaching for a stack of manuals and papers.“This is how knowledge works. It accumulates like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee that not many of you will. ”

Greedy reading has helped him get ahead, and it can help you too.

2. Learn a new language.

Well, Russian is not the only language in the world.

Learning a new language is also useful when you want to travel the world or meet new people. You can start learning English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or whatever you like.

Learning a language is a fun skill that gives you access to other cultures.

Not only does having two languages ​​instead of one have clear practical advantages in a globalized world, scientists have also shown that being bilingual makes you smarter.

According to several studies, bilingualism has a powerful effect on the brain, improving non-language cognitive skills and even protecting against dementia in old age.

3. Find a new hobby.

Think about what you wanted to do but didn’t.

You wanted to learn how to play tennis? Then start now.

You wanted to learn how to play chess? You can do it now.

There are many hobbies you can do such as fencing, golf, rock climbing, football, canoeing or ice skating.

It can also be an entertaining hobby like pottery, Italian cooking, dancing, wine appreciation, web design, etc.D.

Recent research continues to confirm that you can improve your potential and general intelligence.

And with the help of certain hobbies and techniques, we can force our brain to build new neural pathways, allowing it to work faster, store more information and at a higher level.

4. Take the new courses.

Courses are a great way to gain new knowledge and skills.

What’s great about today’s technology is that there are many courses you can join online.There is no need to go to the physical office to learn something new. Some of them are even free!

This does not have to be a long-term course – you can attend seminars or trainings that teach you something new.

5. Overcome your fears.

We all have fears – they are part of human existence.

Our concerns range from uncertainty, public speaking to risk – you get the idea. What’s yours?

The thing is, these fears keep us in our comfort zone.In doing so, it prevents us from growing.

Start by telling yourself that your fears reflect areas in which you can grow. If you are afraid of something, it will help you become better.

Here is a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

“You gain strength, courage and confidence in every experience where you really stop to look fear in the eye. You can say to yourself, “I experienced this horror. I can take the next thing that comes to hand. “You have to do what you think you cannot do. ”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

6. Increase the level of your skills.

Leveling up is mainly used in video games, especially RPGs. Basically, it means gaining experience in order to become better and stronger.

If you are a blogger, you can learn how to improve your writing skills.

If you are a speaker, you can improve your communication skills.

The fact is that each of us has skills and you can level up.

7. Wake up early.

Early awakening has been recognized by many successful gurus.

They attribute this to increased productivity that directly makes your life better.

Perhaps this is because when you wake up early, your thinking is already set to retain momentum, which forces you to take the initiative.

Many successful people claim that 4 a.m. is the most productive hour of the day due to the lack of distractions, and it gives you the feeling that you are in control of your life.

8. Exercise.

You cannot get better if your health deteriorates. Thus, better performance also means better physical fitness.

You can start jogging at least 3 times a week, for at least 30 minutes each time. You can also combine it with gym workouts, swimming and martial arts for a change.

And remember, exercise shouldn’t be annoying. You can enjoy it too.

If you hate jogging, try weight.I hate weight? Try cars. Hate cars? Try something else.

The bottom line is this:

You are here to be in shape, which means that you must constantly do whatever exercise you can do.

9. Step out of your comfort zone.

It’s more than facing your fears. It’s about hard work and improvement.

If you are too comfortable in your comfort zone, your growth will slow down. But when you step out of your comfort zone, you get better.

Get ready to shake up the routine and do something else.

As you step out of your comfort zone, you literally grow as you learn to act in new circumstances.

As Roy T. Bennett suggests, you can never grow unless you step out of your comfort zone:

“A comfort zone is a psychological state in which a person feels familiar, safe, at ease, and protected. You will never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change starts at the end of your comfort zone. “

– Roy T. Bennett

10. Ask for feedback.

No matter how hard we try to improve ourselves, we will always have blind spots. This is why it is important to ask for feedback, because it gives us additional perspective.

Start approaching people who can give objective feedback – friends, family, colleagues, bosses, or even acquaintances. They can present their feedback objectively.

Feedback helps you become aware of yourself and understand things that go beyond your own biases.

11. Focus on to-do lists.

Start your day with a list of tasks you want to accomplish and KEEP it.

Having a to-do list will help you focus on achieving your goals for the day. You will realize how unproductive you are without a list when you use it.

Remember to keep your to-do list simple, achievable, and be sure to complete the most important tasks.

12. Admit your shortcomings.

Each of us makes mistakes.But what is important is to understand them, acknowledge them and reach out to them.

When you eliminate your shortcomings, you are faced with something that needs improvement.

13. Take Action Now

I can tell you hundreds of ways to get better. But still, the best way to learn and improve is through action.

Take immediate action on what needs to be done, because waiting gives nothing. Taking action gives you immediate results and inspires you to improve further.

14. Learn from the people who inspire you

Think of the people you admire: public speakers, life instructors, financial gurus, writers and others who inspire you.

Of course, these people have certain qualities that you want to have for yourself. Then focus on how you can learn to acquire these qualities.

15. Quit the bad habit.

When we talk about bad habits, we think that it is connected only with such vices as smoking and drinking.

But that literally applies to anything that doesn’t suit you. Simple habits such as excessive sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, being late, stooping, and nail biting are also considered bad.

16. Avoid negative people.

“You are, on average, of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

No matter how we defend ourselves against negative people, we will always meet.

What we can do is learn to avoid them.Don’t spend too much time with them, because they will only drag you down.

17. Learn to deal with difficult people.

Sometimes we cannot help but deal with difficult people, especially if they are our work colleagues.

The ability to deal with difficult people is considered “people management skills”. If you do it right, it will go a long way towards working with people in the future.

18. Reduce the time you spend on social networks.

I’m not against social media. But we must learn to control ourselves using it, otherwise we will be controlled by technology.

Too much time on social media will do nothing. In fact, this leads to a loss of time that can be spent on other production activities.

19. Stop watching TV.

Yes, you read that right. Most mainstream TV programs and advertisements are usually low-minded.They don’t empower you, they just turn you into a mindless person who believes every word they say.

The time you spend watching TV can be constructively used for other purposes, such as hanging out with close friends, doing a hobby, exercising, remembering family, etc.

20. Meditate

Meditation helps calm you down and become more self-aware.

Meditation also helps you sleep better.It’s like clearing your brain after a day at work.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are our easy meditation tips for beginners.

21. Take a break.

Sometimes our worries come from being burned out at work.

If you have worked too hard, take a break. We all need him.

Self-improvement also means taking care of your mental health. So take some time to yourself every week.

22. Be loyal

Finally, do what you have listed to improve yourself.

A list is nothing more than a list – if you don’t act and stick to it, everything will be useless. It doesn’t matter what your gurus tell you, it is important to do what needs to be done.

When you make the decision to commit yourself to personal growth, you are taking part in a life’s journey of growth and change.

In conclusion

Self-improvement is not easy.While some results can be seen immediately, others take time to achieve.

But if you stick to it, you will begin to see positive changes in yourself and your life.

Remember, the sooner you take these steps, the faster you will see results.

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How to get better | Psychologist’s advice

This question is interesting to many, because now everyone would like to become the best and achieve any success in life.But the problem is that not everyone knows how to actually get better. Therefore, today we will analyze the most important and effective methods so that everyone can become better.

The first thing you need is to understand and decide why and for what you become better. Imagine what will change in your life when you can become better. This will help you motivate yourself and achieve your goal. Since when a person himself does not know what he really wants, he will not succeed, not only to become better, but also not to achieve any success in life.

Therefore, take at least 2 days to specifically understand and determine what you want to achieve from life and why you need to become better. Just write down all your thoughts on the matter, so it will be easier and easier for you to achieve your goals and become better.

How to get better

Read

If you want to become better , you first of all need to start engaging in self-development, which is also important in the formation of a personality.And in this, reading a variety of books can help you, especially those topics that you like and will help you achieve your goals. When choosing books, first of all you need to look at the author of these books.

If the author has achieved some kind of success in life, you can safely read his books, as they will give you more useful information and knowledge to become better, just like them. But if, however, the author of the book is a simple writer who has no experience and has not achieved success in life, then it is advisable not to read their books, as they will give you unnecessary and ineffective information that will only lead you to failures and misunderstandings of information.

There are many books written by successful people, look for them and read 1-2 hours a day, preferably regularly, and soon you will begin to develop yourself and be able to become better.

Get busy

So as to become better, you need to start, to do something. The best way is to find your purpose in life, it can be a hobby, favorite job or hobbies. If you have all this, feel free to develop and work on it, and soon your work will bring you invaluable experience, knowledge and great success in life.But if, however, you do not have this job yet, and you want to become better, then you need to find this job right now, which you will be doing until the end of your days.

The search generally takes a lot of time and effort, some cannot even find such a job until the end of their days, due to the fact that they rushed or underestimated this work, which may have been their meaning in life. There are also those who early found their meaning in life, and now feel happier doing what they really like.Therefore, gain willpower, fight laziness and boldly start looking for your meaning in life, and you will definitely find it. In order to correctly and clearly choose your purpose, write down all the types of work that you did in the rating, and evaluate which of these works suits you best.

How to Become the Best

Communicate

In order to become the best and develop yourself, you need to start communicating with a variety of people, conducting a variety of negotiations.But for this, you will first need to gain trust from the interlocutor so that he accepts your point of view and you can agree with him. Find a society of normal, successful people with the right outlook on life, as they will give you more of their experience and knowledge than others. Such a society is, of course, difficult to find, but you try to find it if you want to become better.

You also need to reduce communication with the wrong society, which does not understand what they want, lead the wrong way of thinking, from them you can only learn what you don’t need to do in order to become better.It is also a kind of experience that can protect you from all kinds of failures in life. So with the wrong society, you also need to maintain a conversation, but without accepting their advice and methods, as this will lead to big failures and it will be impossible for you to become better.

How to become better internally and externally

Way of thinking

In order for to become better , you first need to change your way of thinking, making your thoughts and emotions more positive, in order to strive only for success.To do this, you will need to monitor and control your thoughts and emotions for some time, which may seem difficult at first, but over time everything will go automatically and you will no longer need such control, and you can become better. And when you can, become better, you can begin to become more attractive, which will also help you achieve success and happiness in life.

To get better than everyone, first of all, you need to educate yourself.

In the practice of psychologists, there are many cases where parasitic words have harmed a career and relationships.Ask the question “What would you like to change in your own life?” Definitely, the use of parasitic words does not depend on the mental capacity of the person. They can be spoken by any person who comes across, as well as by a respected professor.

Therefore, in order to become the best, the main thing is to find and defuse a time bomb. Parasitic words are words that we speak mechanically, they are the same addiction as alcohol or drugs. Parasite words spoil a person and the impression about him, so a person cannot achieve what he wants at work.

To improve your speech, make it a rule when pronouncing words-parasites to bear punishment, for example, to squat up to 5 times. Also practice self-control. Psychologists have found a pattern that in order to get rid of something, you need 21 days of self-control. After 21 days, the human nervous system is rebuilt to a new model of behavior.

How to become better than everyone, in everything, in household chores

Home and family should be the center of the woman’s world, but not its borders.Become a better wife and don’t get caught up in a routine.

How to keep up with everything, and also leave time and energy for yourself?

Time management is a technique that helps you organize your day in an organized way so that you have time to rest, engage in your favorite hobby, and spend time with your family.

There is also a fly-lady direction, which helps women not only be the best housewives, wives, mothers, but also find time for themselves.

So, to become better at household chores:

Don’t try to do 10 things at the same time.Plan what things you might have to do in the coming week and spread them evenly. For example, Monday is shopping, Tuesday is washing, etc. Attach such a schedule to the refrigerator so that your husband can see and set up to help you in advance. Rule: one important job in 1 day.

For the best to keep your house clean, does not have to clean the floors and dust every day. Or, on the contrary, abandon the apartment and postpone cleaning for the weekend.It would be correct to divide the housing into 6 zones and clean each zone clearly for 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday, Sunday is a day off.

To be a better wife, involve your significant other and children to help you. Reward for help.

To be the best hostess, clean up immediately after yourself, iron your skirt in the evening, pack your handbag.

To be a better woman, remember what you once dreamed of.Don’t give up your dream because of routine.

That’s all we were going to discuss with you about how to get better. Applying the above methods and principles, you can not only become better, but also begin to manage your life, become what you want, which will lead you to success and happiness in life.

PSYCHOLOGIST’S ADVICE

psyh – olog . ru

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