Level up by Studying Key Areas in Your Life

Alternate Title: Learning doesn’t end after school, it’s how we always level up

[UPDATE: Here’s part 2.]

[Skip to “Target Specific Areas” if you just want to get to the core principles.]

Self-awareness is key

[Reoccurring Thought: What works for most people isn’t necessarily the best option for yourself. You must be willing to walk your own path.]

A common theme throughout my blog is self-awareness. Whether the topic is about watching a bad tv show or motivation, it’s important to remember that life is a subjective experience.

What do you mean?

It means that there’s no “one size fits all” approach to life.

Basically, you experience life from your own unique point of view. No one else has your exact beliefs, circumstances, experiences, desires, and personality.

So to become a better you and level up your life, you must know yourself. Acknowledge your strengths, weaknesses, fears, dreams, and more. When you do this, it’s easier to effectively cater to your approach and level up your life.

Areas of study

If you’re going to transform your life and you’re not a “the best plan is no plan” type of person, then you need to do some thinking. You may want a general picture of what to do and how to do it.

And well, I don’t know about you, but I definitely didn’t get a tutorial when I started life. There was no clean-cut:

• PSA about how to be a good person
• Life skills course with fun and effective learning
• Mentor’s speech that filled me with confidence and energy to challenge the status quo

Or anything that felt suitable.

[It’s basically, been one unenticing learn-as-you-go mission.]

So, let’s fix that.

There are many ways to perceive life, but today let’s analyze it as different categories. Or better yet, areas of study. Because that’s the plan. We’re going to study how to be better at:

• Personal Well-Being
• Relationships
• Stability
• Work

Or whatever other area you want to level up.

[I know. Turns out learning and studying are lifelong activities.]

Target specific areas to level up

Take a moment and think about who you are as a person. Now, take another moment to think about what you like about yourself and your life. Lastly, spare another moment to acknowledge what you dislike or struggle with time and time again. [Oh, and feel free to actually write your responses down. It’ll be good for keeping track of things.]

Finished?

Great, because you want a fresh analysis of your situation. And already you have an idea of:

1. Your foundation. That’ll be your description of yourself.
2. What you’re grateful for and enjoy. Consider what you say you like about yourself and your life.
3. What’s bothering you or even eating away at your happiness. Recall what you dislike and regularly struggle with.

So, what now?

You tell me.

In my case, the main area of study I want to level up is personal well-being. [Although, I’m just starting to branch out with stability by learning about finances.]

My low efforts towards personal well-being have held me back long enough. Repeatedly, it’s made me anxious, miserable, and doubtful that I can change my life for the better. And although I’ve been aware of this for years but could never really manage to change things meaningfully, I’m tackling it better now.

How?

By better exploring topics and activities I relate to personal well-being.

• Awareness. Learning to be mindful of my body and mental needs. [Too much social interaction? Then it’s time to decompress.]
• Diet. Forcing myself to drink more water. Taking daily vitamins.
• Fitness. Trying yoga and cardio workouts.
• Fun. Investing and experimenting with hobbies. Pampering myself some.
• Gratitude. Appreciating what I do have, whether it be material things or the people around me that I adore. And also, treasuring myself.
• Sleep. The Sandman and I have never seen eye-to-eye, but things have improved somewhat by taking melatonin tablets.

Of course, self-care will look different depending on who you are and your circumstances.

But, you can always try YouTube, Pinterest, other blogs, or even an online course for more ideas and deeper explanations.

For example, I took a free class about well-being last year on Coursera. It discussed misconceptions about happiness, as well as gave suggestions for how to try and reprogram your thinking. I was also able to do it at my own pace too. So, it’s okay to fast track the course or go slower than intended. Just do what you gotta do.

Where to start?

Maybe you’re being held back by not knowing which area to focus on first. Well, here’s some questions to decide:

• Which area could be a double (or more) whammy? [For example, maybe doing better in school could also improve your relationship with your parents and increase your chances of an internship. That’s school, relationships, and work that can benefit.]
• Is one obviously easier? [Maybe you’re the type that needs to ease into this.]
• Which would encourage you more if you succeed?

If you’re still stuck, then just flip a coin.

The important thing is that regardless of which area you start with, don’t count yourself out.

And if you’re struggling to keep striving forward, don’t beat yourself up. Take a break or rethink things. Because if all you can manage is to inch forward, then still be proud of yourself. That inch will do. As long as you keep pushing onwards, you can level up.