Generally speaking, people attempt to do their best. However, depending on the time of day, our best may vary. Your best is going to look significantly different on a day when you’re feeling fantastic and everything seems to be going your way than if you’re exhausted, grouchy, or just generally having a bad day. There will also be days when you fall someplace in between.

Your best will vary depending on the hour or situation of the day. But what if you wanted to step it up and consistently do things a little better, no matter how your day was going?

Whether it’s work, home, health, finances, relationships, or something else, you might be wondering, how could I do things better? 

Rule #1: Assess To start 

Consider what you wish to improve upon. Consider where modifications could be made if you want to increase your efficiency or your ability to perform your work. Asking yourself some questions will help you identify where you need to improve. How, for instance, do you typically carry out a specific task? Could you complete it faster? Could you make it easier or create a better-quality final product by using equipment or materials that are more effective? Examine how you are now performing your duties and determine what needs to be changed and how doing so might improve or simplify it.

To perform it better, do you require more education or training? Do you require greater communication abilities to succeed in a relationship? Do you require extra time to prepare? You might wish to change how you approach your daily tasks. How might rearranging your schedule enable you to do more tasks in less time? Would new machinery speed things up or help you get more organized? Once you’ve identified the areas you want to work on, you can start making plans for how to move forward. Planning your future move can breathe new vitality and interest into something that has grown monotonous or boring.

Rule #2: Focus on the Process

“Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” goes an old maxim. Getting the greatest results possible in whatever you’re doing might make you feel good about yourself and show that you’ve tried your hardest. Put your attention and focus on the action of doing something once you have made the decision to change it. Rushing something prevents you from putting all of your efforts into what you’re attempting to do. Additionally, paying great attention to the task at hand can assist you to avoid having to finish it again later. Having a vision of your end result is crucial, but the actual building blocks that give it structure, foundation, and substance are the steps you do along the route.

You can focus on your skills and talents by being aware of your own strengths and deficiencies. Plan to take advantage of such times and surroundings to assist you do your best work if you are aware that you perform at your best at a particular time of day or in particular circumstances. Make your talents or skills shine if you are very skilled at something while working to develop other areas that will strengthen your areas of strength. Try removing distractions if you need help focusing on your task. The Pomodoro Technique was created by Francesco Cirillo as a time-management technique to encourage discipline and encourage people to reflect on their work.

This method makes use of a timer to teach your brain how to focus for little periods of time. 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. After four iterations of this pattern, pause for 30 minutes. When learning how to do anything better, using time management strategies like this one can help you be more productive and stay focused. Asking yourself what you’re doing today is moving you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. It can help you determine if you are focusing on the correct areas to improve. You’ll accomplish more and have a clearer idea of what you want when you pay attention to what you’re doing. “No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.”, author Paulo Coelho wrote.

Rule #3: Education and Training

Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker, and author, once said: “No one can help you if you’re not willing to learn. Nobody can stop you from learning if you are committed to it. It could be time to seek assistance if greater knowledge or skills could make what you’re doing better. Asking a specialist for advice, taking a class, or reading a book on a specific topic could be all you need to advance your project. Making the necessary sacrifices to learn something new can be difficult. However, pushing yourself can be a beneficial method to expand your horizons and develop.

For instance, spending the effort to learn new computer software that would facilitate your work would be worthwhile in the long run. Once you’ve used this new ability in your business, the effort you put into acquiring it could end up saving you countless hours. For instance, a new tool or one that performs a particular cut might significantly alter both the final product’s appearance and the time required to complete it. Always have the appropriate tools for the work, advised author Anthony T. Hincks. With a teaspoon and a straw, you can’t possibly consume a steak.

Whether you work in an office, in a construction trade or you’re a stay-at-home parent, the tools, education, and training you acquire can make the difference in the work you do and the outcome it produces. 

Rule #4: Don’t Criticize Yourself

Recognize that you’re doing well already; you only want to improve. You can discover that, on occasion, you are your own harshest critic. Although striving to get better is a terrific place to start, if you solely focus on where you want to be, it can be easy to become critical of where you are right now. Venus Williams, a tennis champion, advises, “Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, act as though you do because eventually, you will.

Being positive will help you progress more than condemning yourself. Praise yourself for wanting to go even further as you consider how far you’ve gone. Moving toward your goal will have more power and momentum than focusing on what you have not yet achieved. Praise yourself for how far you’ve come, and then keep going! 

Rule #5: Practice

The saying “Practice makes Perfect” may be familiar to you. While achieving perfection may not be the main objective, practicing will nearly always improve your skills and bring you closer to your goal. Students who are learning to play an instrument may frequently begin by practicing for 20 to 40 minutes each day. Serious professionals will invest hours daily in their skill development. Athletes fall under the same category. The point is that practice makes a difference, and when you’re just beginning out, it’s alright to start out small. Of course, it can depend on the age and commitment of the individual to learn a new talent.

Michael Jordan, a famous basketball player, famously said: “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, and other people make it happen.” He was aware of the importance of consistent practice in order to perform at a high level. You may make the time to actually do something by setting aside time each day to practice a new skill or learn new software. You can improve at anything by taking tiny steps consistently.

Decide the time to start, think about the procedure, and find the resources and knowledge you require to advance. Stay focused! practice each day. It takes time, perseverance, and knowledge of your goals to get better at anything.

If you stick with it, you’ll find that you can make large strides in improving your skills and achieving your goals.

“Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.”