Recently, the 30-day challenge trend has been making waves on social media, inspiring people to learn new things, take up hobbies they’ve always wanted to try or establish healthy habits that change their lives for the better. Maybe you’ve seen these success stories and felt inspired, or perhaps you’re a little bit more skeptical and wondered if it’s realistically possible to change your life in 30 days. You may surprise yourself with how much you can accomplish in a month by using these tactics.

1. Be Consistent

While 30 days might not be enough time to ingrain a new habit into your routine, you can give yourself a solid head start by repeating the same thing at the same time every day. Human brains crave consistency, so instead of spending your 30-day challenge by bouncing around among a wide variety of new things, pick one thing about yourself you want to change for the better and practice it daily until it sticks. For example, if you have always hoped to become more mindful, create a quiet space in your home and meditate there every day.

2. Be Realistic

The 30-day challenge is inherently ambitious, but that doesn’t mean you should self-sabotage by setting unattainable goals. For instance, saying you are going to lose 20 pounds in one month isn’t only unrealistic; it’s also unhealthy. It’s better to start small than to aim too high and miss your target altogether.

3. Be Patient

Nobody promised the journey to change your life in 30 days would be easy. Though you may feel frustrated enough to abandon your goals when you face a setback, self-improvement can’t happen overnight. If you get discouraged, remind yourself why you are doing this and focus on the good it will bring you. Everyone makes mistakes, but embracing them as a learning opportunity is part of discovering your emotional maturity.

4. Be Accountable

You can keep yourself on track with your ambition to change your life in 30 days by writing your progress down. Whether you prefer to use an old-fashioned handwritten journal or download one of the many available goal-tracking smartphone apps, logging your activity will make you feel more accomplished. If you’re someone who finds it intensely satisfying to cross off items on a list, you can even mark out each day on a calendar.

5. Be Introspective

One of the best things about doing a 30-day challenge is the ability to look back and see how far you’ve come on your mission to promote positive changes in your life. Take time every day to celebrate your successes and spend at least a few moments thinking about what you’ve learned about yourself along the way. This practice can be motivational because it lets you congratulate yourself, even if your progress isn’t something others would notice or compliment you about.

Learning to Thrive, Despite Life’s Challenges

If you feel overwhelmed and your mental health is suffering, you are never alone. At Serene Behavioral Health, we are here for adults living with complex mental illnesses like depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and dual diagnoses. Someone is always here to talk when you are ready to reach out and request help.