18 Ways to Be a Better Person in 2019


At the end of each year, I like to take some extra time to reflect – I feel like it really helps me with resetting my goals, and it gets me refocused and ready to tackle the new year. In what feels like such a dark, scary world lately, I think we can all benefit from focusing on ways to be better people and making our globe a more positive place. At the least, I’m going to try with these ideas.

18 Ways to Be a Better Person in 2019:

  1. Be kind. Go above and beyond to be kinder than necessary . Offer to let a stranger cut you in line at the grocery store if they only have one thing, or simply ask a neighbor how their day is going when you see them outside.
  2. Follow your intuition. We all need to do a better job of trusting our intuition – our hearts usually don’t lead us wrong. Imagine how much softer this world could be if people stopped making decisions based around money and power and started listening to their hearts instead!
  3. Call your parents more. If you’re lucky enough to still have one (or both) or your parents around, try being a better daughter or son to them by calling them and visiting them more often. Or the people who raised you or have had an impact on your life.
  4. Be more flexible. Instead of getting upset when plans change last minute, remind yourself to go with the flow. It’s okay if things don’t always pan out how you planned or envisioned them.
  5. Be more adventurous. I so need this! Don’t be scared to pack up for a last-minute trip, whether it’s a short weekend getaway or a longer trip abroad. Adventuring makes us better people by teaching us to appreciate experiences more than material goods.
  6. Be honest. Honesty is one of the most admired traits a person can have – it’s how you build integrity. Even when we tell white lies that we don’t think matter, we’re still hurting our own character. Honesty is always the best policy.
  7. Listen more. Listening takes more practice than you might think! Practice active listening so that you can better understand the people around you. Building up your listening skills will help reduce misunderstandings and make your interactions more meaningful.
  8. Practice mindfulness. When we’re more mindful, we can actually appreciate the present moment for everything it is. It’s hard to do that when we’re constantly thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
  9. Be grateful. Instead of harping on what you don’t have, be grateful for what you do. It can be as simple as having a roof over your head (which is a huge blessing!). Once you start being more grateful for the little things, you’ll naturally exude more positivity to those around you.
  10. Find a mentor. Whether it’s a friend, a colleague, or a family member, find someone you look up to in some way – this person should be someone you can grow and learn from.
  11. Compliment others daily. Have you ever received a compliment that made your day? Be that person to someone else! Believe it or not, it feels just as good to give a compliment as it does to receive one!
  12. Pay it forward. But for real this time! Make a conscious effort to pay it forward and do something nice for somebody else as often as you can (I’m aiming for once a day at least). I think of these as more of a physical act – so yes, that means you totally should buy a coffee for that person in line behind you next time!
  13. Ask for feedback. In order to grow and push ourselves, we should always be asking for feedback. If you don’t proactively ask for feedback, you may never know what you could be working on to make yourself a better person.
  14. Be empathetic. Always try to put yourself in other peoples’ shoes. So when someone cuts you off on the freeway, instead of getting angry, just think – maybe they’ve had a bad day or are super stressed out about something. Hey, we’ve all been there!
  15. Put down your phone. I feel like we’re missing out on some pretty important human interaction since we always have our heads down staring at our phone screens. My goal is to not allow myself to be on my phone when I’m spending quality time with my loved ones – or anyone for that matter.
  16. Challenge yourself. We’re all super busy with work and just life in general, I get it, but don’t be afraid to take on more and challenge yourself with a new side gig or new role that includes more responsibilities. After all, that’s the only way you will grow – by pushing yourself and seeing what you can (or can’t) handle!
  17. Have faith. Sometimes we just have to let go and trust that the universe will have our back. Instead of over-worrying about things, try trusting that everything will work out for the best, because most likely, it will!
  18. Smile more. Cheesy but important! The world could use more smiles, and you never know whose day you’ll be brightening with yours!

Have you been reflecting on this past year recently? What are some things you’re hoping to focus on in 2018?

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32 comments

  1. I needed all of these 18 reminders. It’s as if you are in my head. I need to be more kind, I need to slow down more and appreciate the little things, and I need to be more understanding and flexible. Let’s hope 2018 is filled with all of those things! I will accept them with open arms and a smile.

  2. This is such a beautiful and meaningful list. I appreciate all your suggestions.
    Going with the flow, and having more faith are 2 areas I can definitely improve in. Thank you for the inspiration!

  3. Thank you for this post. I really already do most all of them. I let a lady go ahead of me at Walmart Friday..she had two small items and I had buggy full. Last year a lady came up to my side in grocery store and dropped something into my pocketbook and left. I got it out, it was a card with $30 for Winn Dixie. I kept that card from Nov. to dec. I went to eat by myself at waffle House, my waitress was an older lady maybe in late fifties early sixties. For a tip I handed her that gift certificate. Tears came to her eyes..she said thank you and I smiled and as I walked away, I heard her say” thank you God”

  4. Fantastic Reminders that we all should be doing!! I already do a lot of these daily, but I can always work on improving myself. Trying to mentally prepare myself for my 21st surgery next week, staying positive & have been so blessed to have so much support. The world would be a better place if we all practiced these 18 tips daily!! Peace & Love to All in 2018

  5. These are all fantastic tips! I especially love #15 and I am also going to adopt this practice..theres nothing worse than someone who is always on their phone while you’re hanging out.. not going to be that person in 2018 or ever!! Thanks for the post – xx Lauren Will

  6. I loved this post sooooo much from last year! When you published it I made it my computer wallpaper and I would see & think about the points each day. I have to say that all year it helped me to keep my focus on the things that mattered. I was anxious to see if there would be a “19 things” post this year (hint hint) Much love!

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