The beginning of a month marks a new (albeit small) chapter in your life. It’s not as much of a new beginning as a new year, but it’s not as minor and inconsequential as a new day, so it’s perfect for making plans and working to improve yourself. To make the most of the new months, you should make plans that help you do better than you did in the previous month. It’s confusing to figure out where to start. So, to help you out, here are some questions to ask yourself every month that will change your life.
10 Questions To Ask Yourself Every Month That Will Change Your Life
1. How Was Last Month?
Regular reflection is a very important part of self-improvement. You can only plan for your new month and make positive changes by understanding what happened in the month before it. If not, you’ll go in circles and repeatedly make the same mistakes.
Challenge yourself to be critical of your actions. Examine your successes and failures so you can find ways to replicate and avoid them. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean dwelling on bad times and errors; it means being aware of low points, owning them, and analyzing them in a productive way.
Have some trouble figuring out what to think? Here are some sub-questions to ask yourself within this main question.
- What happened last month?
- Did I accomplish my goals for the month? Why, or why not?
- What were the successful points?
- What were the unsuccessful points?
- Is there anyone I fell out of touch with? Should I reconnect with them?
- What were some mistakes I made, and can I prevent them? How?
- If I reencounter this situation, how can I do better?
Thirty to sixty minutes in one day is enough to help you get all your ducks in a row. Once you’ve done this, you can ask the next few questions with more clarity and knowledge.
2. What’s My Bare Minimum?
We should always aim above and beyond the bare minimum, but knowing where your standards lie is a good way to figure out how to work your way up. Determine what you have to do this month to feel satisfied and happy with yourself.
This can come in the form of goals. How much do you need to save to feel like you’ve been frugal? How well do you want to do at work? What–and how many–books do you want to read? Your bare minimum is personal and unique to you, and knowing this in various areas can help you get your priorities in order.
3. Are There Any Events I Should Prepare For?
The last thing you want is for a big, important event to catch you by surprise. Making sure you remember them is very important, and it can prevent last-minute rushes that make life so stressful. Here are some sub-questions to ask:
- Are there any birthdays, anniversaries, or big days?
- Is there a holiday coming up? How do you want to spend it?
- Are there any appointments you need to make?
- Is there an important event to keep in mind?
4. How Do I Want To Feel?
It seems like an odd question, but it’s important. Logic is necessary when preparing for a new month, but that doesn’t mean your feelings should get thrown out the window. A big part of personal happiness and positive thinking comes from catering to your emotional needs.
Determine how you want to feel that month, and work from there to figure out what steps you must take to achieve those feelings. Once again, it will help you choose your priorities.
5. What’s My Budget This Month?
Not everyone enjoys the process of budgeting. And of course, we aren’t expecting you to keep perfectly meticulous track of everything you spend, earn, and save – though if you can, definitely do so! Still, understanding your financial situation is important to get your perspective straight.
Budgeting is a very important aspect of a positive life. Start by going through your accounts. Take note of large expenditures, your salary, and how much of it tends to go where. Now, come up with a general plan of how much you can spend on what. Here are some sub-questions to consider:
- What bills need to be paid?
- Are there any big expenses I need to prepare for?
- Do I tend to overspend in certain areas?
- Are my savings sufficient for rainy days?
- Do I want to set any financial goals?
Having a proper personal budget, even a rough outline, gives you a clearer picture of your financial state. It prevents you from running out of money and can significantly change your habits. Plus, budgeting is important so you can be prepared for emergencies or for large payments that need to be made.
It’s also great to try setting some financial goals. Maybe you want to try and save $50 extra weekly or $100. Maybe you want to focus on cutting your entertainment expenditure in half? Or perhaps you want to have enough to enjoy a movie and a night out or two during the month. The choice is yours, but it pays to prepare!
6. Who Do I Want To Spend Time With?
A healthy social life makes a healthy mind. Falling out of touch with people, especially good friends, isn’t fun; if you stay disconnected for too long, you’ll regret it.
Make time with friends, family, a significant other, or anyone else you’d like to. If you have a very busy schedule, now’s a great time to make plans with them in advance. Lost touch with anybody? Time to reconnect!
7. Am I Happy With My Possessions?
Marie Kondo has become popular for her take on decluttering and mild minimalism. While many people joke about her methods, she’s somewhat right! Decluttering is a freeing process and can be a crucial part of someone’s routine. Some areas to look at include:
- Your wardrobe
- Food (especially to check for expired cans/cartons, etc.)
- Technology (emails, DMs, photos, etc.)
- Books
- Games
- Toys
- Other collectibles
- Built-up clutter and junk
Of course, we know just how much collectible items can mean to you. We’re not asking you to throw out things that make you happy. We ask you to examine whether you really need or truly want everything you own. You’d also be surprised how much-unwanted junk you can collect in a month!
The most important one on this list is probably your wardrobe. Many of us buy items we’ll never use. Every month, dedicate around half an hour to looking through your closet. Pack away non-seasonal items, unpack seasonal items, and donate things you never wear. Your life will get much simpler, and you’ll be happier, with much more positive thinking!
8. What Fun Things Do I Want To Do This Month?
One of the most important questions is about how you can have more joy.
A lot of serious people look down on the idea of doing something purely for entertainment and fun. Unfortunately for them, this is a very important part of maintaining a positive attitude and keeping yourself happy and satisfied.
Living is about more than just existing, surviving daily, and doing what must be done. It’s about giving yourself time to breathe, smell the roses, and have a good time. So figure out what it is you want to do this month that can help make it fun! Some examples are:
- Go for a night out on the town
- Go shopping
- Watch a new movie
- Go on a nice date
- Take a day trip
- Buy a new video game
- Take up a new hobby
- Buy yourself something small
- Make time for a cozy day in
Choose activities you know will make you feel fulfilled and help you feel happy about life and living. Self-care and treating yourself are more important than you think – don’t ignore this aspect!
9. How Can I Keep Myself Healthy This Month?
Health is endlessly important to your life. One of the questions you must ask is whether you take care of yourself. Without health, you won’t truly be living. There are several ways you might want to keep yourself healthy, such as in your:
· Fitness
Regular exercise helps you keep in shape, feel good about yourself, and get enough sleep every night.
· Diet
Food is what keeps you going. Work on eating mindfully. This doesn’t mean you can’t have treats now and then – just focus on having regular, healthy meals.
· Mind
How can you keep your brain sharp and healthy? Read books that you like, meditate, do puzzles, and engage in interesting conversation.
· Mental health
Yes, this can also fall under your mind, but it deserves its own category. If you feel down or anxious, consider speaking to a therapist or do some exercises that help reduce these feelings.
10. What Goals Do I Want To Accomplish?
This is the most important question to ask yourself every month. It’s about your goals, your desires, and what you need to get done. Many people make the mistake of making generic plans for their months, not setting specific, short-term goals.
Why are monthly goals so important? They provide a lot of encouragement and motivation and give you something to actively work towards with a concrete deadline that you can’t dodge around.
When making these goals, it’s important to do them with optimism and realism. You shouldn’t set goals so boring and generic that you’ll meet them with no problem. Instead, aim to challenge yourself and believe in yourself and your ability to reach those goals.
At the same time, though, you shouldn’t aim so high that it isn’t feasible to meet those goals at all. This will only leave you discouraged when you fail to reach them.
Once you have the right goals, start planning to reach them. What do you have to do to get there? What things can you sacrifice to make it? It’s all up to you – so choose wisely.
Final Thoughts On Some Questions To Ask Yourself Every Month
It can be difficult to carve out your own path on a journey of self-improvement that is effective and achievable. By asking yourself these 10 questions, you’ll be giving yourself time to think critically about self-improvement to get the most out of each month.
They may seem minor things to ask, but you’d be surprised how much impact they can have. These questions can completely change your life with just a little extra thought!
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