It’s incredibly common to make goals for ourselves in an effort to improve our lives and, in many cases, our livelihoods. The goals can be simple things like, “Today I’m not going to drink any soda,” or they can be more complicated things like, “I’m going to run a half-marathon in six months.” There’s an idea in business circles that if you aren’t getting better, then you’re probably getting worse, since no one ever really stays the same. People tend to go in one direction or the other. The same could be said of individuals: If we aren’t trying to better ourselves, then there’s a decent chance we’re going to just stay where we are and stagnate. There are ways to avoid that trap.

Get physical

Physical fitness is one of the most tried and true ways of improving both mentally and physically. It can help you keep your weight in check while also boosting your mood and increasing energy levels. So why do many people still have so many issues getting to the gym? For one thing, we don’t incorporate exercise into our everyday lives. Unless you live in a city like New York, you’re probably going to have to get in the car and drive to the grocery store or to work. We don’t have to exert ourselves very much to get to where we’re going, and so we’re less inclined to exert ourselves when we have some free time. When we’re tired and stressed, we cancel our plans to go to the gym, instead opting to go home, order a pizza, and watch a TV show on Netflix.

One way to get out of the mindset of, “I”ll never have time for exercise,” or, “Exercise is just the worst,” is to consciously seek out activities that feel more like entertainment than gym class. Do you watch sports? Then try to start a game of pick-up basketball with your neighbors a couple of times a week. You can pretend you’re LeBron James going for the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. If reality TV shows about dancing are more your style, then check out dance lessons and classes in Hillsboro, OR. It’s normal to feel like you have two left feet, especially at the beginning of your very first class, but push past that feeling and keep going. When you do, you might be surprised at how quickly you can get the hang of the latest moves.

Remove clutter and improve mentally

We’re easily distractible; it’s just part of the human condition. It’s gotten even worse now that we have tiny computers in our pocket at all times, meaning we have almost instant access to games, shopping, and information. But we can’t just sit around and play online while the dishes pile up and the clutter slowly overtakes our house. It’s a good idea to perform a few minutes worth of decluttering every single day. Even setting the timer for just 15 minutes can make a big difference in how you feel about your home environment. Be mindful in how you do it, though; not everything should be thrown away on sight. Take all your aluminum cans and research scrap recycling and hauling in Newark, NJ. Recycling benefits the planet, and taking in scrap metal can also benefit your pocketbook, since many places pay you for certain materials. If you don’t already have it, create a bin or bucket that’s marked especially for recyclable materials. When the bin gets full, take what you can to your curbside recycling bin, and then take the rest to a scrapyard or similar facility. Both your house and the planet will be a little cleaner, and you can feel a little better about your place in the world.