​Three of the most difficult words for many of us to say are, "I don't know."

Culturally and socially, we are conditioned to provide quick, confident answers as a sign of competence and leadership. As a result, there is considerable fear and shame around admitting that we don't know something. 

For example, think back to when you were in school. If a teacher called on you for an answer, "I don't know" was not the answer they wanted or expected to hear. And often, it would elicit snickers from classmates.

In our careers, admitting we don't know something to our manager or clients makes us feel inept, inadequate, and uncomfortable. 

Self-improvement is a valuable gift we can give ourselves. It's something we can benefit from at any age. It creates self-awareness, greater resilience and flexibility, a sense of direction, deeper, more meaningful relationships, the ability to identify and move in confidence toward our goals, and a happier, more fulfilled life.

​Learning shouldn't take place only when we're in a school or educational setting. When we leave formal schooling, that's when we take it upon ourselves to continue to learn, grow, and improve ourselves.

Self-improvement allows us to identify what's resonates with us, pinpoint our innate strengths and outline opportunities for growth. It broadens our horizons and perspective, allowing us to (hopefully) see alternate viewpoints and ideas. It shines a light on who we are as a person, giving us a better understanding of what motivates us and frightens us. This personal understanding leads to a more meaningful relationship with ourself and, as a result, with others.

Personal development benefits us in our careers and workplaces, enabling us to communicate more clearly and in ways others can "hear" and understand. It can give us the skills to stand up for ourself and others, to take a risk, to explore possibilities, to have hard but open and honest conversations.

Wondering how you can embark on a journey of self-improvement? Here are seven ways to get started down the path of improving you.

1. Read
Find subjects that interest and intrigue you, or thing you don't know much about but would like to. It can be anything - cooking, art, social justice, history, writing, bird watching, gardening. Whatever the topic, there are sure to be many books from which to choose. For those who don't enjoy reading, most books are also available in an audio format.

​Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato sauce. So, what does it have to do with managing time? 
 
In the late 1980’s, Francesco Cirillo was a university student and found himself struggling with managing his time. Using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, he created the Pomodoro Technique to help him “work with time rather than struggling against it.”  
 
Cirillo broke each unit of time and effort into a “pomodoro.” This unit is used to measure dedicated focus and time spent on a single task, or a compilation of smaller tasks.
 
Managing time is an issue for many, adults and children alike. It is so easy to get distracted, especially now that work, school, and home life are blurred. We are drawn away by phone and text messages, the pull of social media and our burgeoning inbox, not to mention household chores, pets needing a walk, and children requiring help with online learning.

​2020 has been a stressful year for many. The strain, worry, and anxiety has had a long shelf life...nine months so far. 
 
There has been considerable research conducted that shows when people are under extreme stress, their ability to focus intently and retain information is greatly reduced. Cognitive agility is also negatively impacted.  When the stressors are drawn out, the resulting effects have a more substantial impact.
 
Of 300 U.S. employees surveyed about how they've been faring during the year, 40% stated that they feel much less productive than normal. And no wonder – there has been nothing normal about this year. 
 
The human brain adapts and responds better to stress that is intermittent. The continual anxiety and pressure we’ve been experiencing keeps our brain on high alert for potential threats. This autonomic process uses significant mental and emotional resources that we would typically access for work or social situations. Basically, this enduring stress causes our concentration capacity to be diminished. 
 
Time Magazine recently offered these six suggestions for boosting focus and increasing attention span.