5 Ways to Develop Self Awareness This Summer

By Sascha Ealey

Self-Awareness is as important as breathing, sleeping, hydrating, and exercising your body.  It is a fairly new buzzword that people are trying to tap into. It is defined as an awareness of one’s own personality/individuality. Self-awareness is a vital first step in taking control of your life, creating what you want, and mastering your future. Where you choose to focus your energy, emotions, personality, and reactions determines where you’ll end up in life.

There were many times that I wished I could keep my emotions in check. There were many times that my emotions interfered with my decision making and there were many times that I felt I could be a better leader if I was more self-aware. It takes effort and practice to really strengthen your ability to see and understand yourself clearly.

Here are 5 ways you can work on your self-awareness:

1. Meditate To Check In With Yourself

Meditate for at least 10 days for a clear mind. Daily meditation helps you calm your mind so you can think clearly and become more aware. It helps you stay relaxed so you’re better able to control your emotions. For a simple meditation, sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Then focus on your breathing. If your mind happens to wander, remember to bring it back to your breath. Look for guided meditations online or use a free app such as Headspace or Calm. 

Before you begin to meditate, disconnect from social media. Social media has been linked to low self-esteem and sleep deprivation. Unplugging from social media allows you to detox from a controlled environment, reconnect with the present, and helps increase focus.

Bonus: Try deleting some of your apps for several hours or even days. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done when you’re not unplugged in

2. Get Lost in a Book

Doing so will improve your mind through reading and enhance your interests through building literary knowledge. Some reads that will enhance your awareness are Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Live Your Dreams: Say Yes to Life, and What I know for Sure.

3. Express Yourself

Focus on promoting and doing what you love. Find ways to express yourself whether that be through art, music, writing, and even through what you wear. I personally blog to share my thoughts and opinions with the world. It’s a platform for me to express myself and say what I want to say.

4. Learn Something New

Take a course just because you want to learn something new. Websites like Coursera offer short-term courses (as short as an hour) for affordable prices in just about any subject that focuses on self-development.

If you don’t feel like spending cash, watch YouTube videos on a topic you want to learn for free. 

5. Discover Your Eureka Moment With A RVL Puzzle

Custom Photo Puzzle from RVL Wellness

Puzzles offer a peaceful escape from the outside world with their ability to improve focus and allow you to be mindful. I recently completed my own 120pc customized jigsaw puzzle from RVL and it was such a meditative experience putting all the pieces together. Moments of insight, the ones that make you cry out mentally, if not verbally, occur when new ideas emerge into your awareness. It goes hand and hand with step-by-step analytical thinking that uses your conscious and deliberate thoughts. For example, one minute you don’t have a clue of the solution to a problem and then a second later you do! Every time I put a piece in the right place, my brain released dopamine, the neurotransmitter that made me feel happier and alert.

Jigsaw puzzles are unique in the way they engage the logical part of the brain (rationally fitting pieces together) and the creative side (envisioning the big picture of the completed activity). They are a great activity when the world feels out of your control because the task is entirely within your power and requires you to be aware. You can spend all day putting it together, or just work on it for a few minutes at time whenever you are in the mood. The overall experience of puzzle-solving is mood-boosting!

Although there are plenty of things we can work on to better ourselves and live a happier life, I think self-awareness is above all the most important. Self-awareness and self-reflection offer restorative paths to mental wellness. It is a fundamental tool for self-control. Most Importantly, it helps you focus on self-care!