Most of the time I prefer to stick to the specific niches that I regularly write for, whether that means writing about brainpower research or financial ideas. I don’t often like to give general “self improvement” suggestions. But I just found an old file where I collected some “tips for life,” and I thought they might be useful to others, so here they are…

1. We know how de-motivating it can be to dwell on past mistakes, but it can be a hard habit to break. If there is a specific mistake that you keep thinking about, take time to sit down and make a note of every lesson you learned from that mistake. Then tell yourself that you have learned what you need to, so you can drop the matter. If it pops up again in your mind, remind yourself that you don’t need to think about it any longer, and immediately start concentrating on something more productive.

2. Praise people when they do well. Doing so creates a different atmosphere that not only helps that person feel better about himself, but makes you feel better as well. It also subconsciously motivates you to do praiseworthy things. Look for an opportunity to praise someone for a job well done today.

3. Start developing the habits of courage. Fear is just an emotion, but taking advice from your fears is a problem. The more you do it, the more of a habit it becomes. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. Do what needs to be done when faced with any fear, large or small, and it will become a habit that changes your life.

4. Complaining is not only a waste of energy, but a obstacle to seeing what can be done and doing it. If things could not be different, there is no point to complaining, and it sucks away your productive energy. If things can be different, think about how to change them instead of complaining. Watch yourself today, and at the first hint of a complaint, however subtle, immediately turn your thinking in a more productive direction.

5. Make “problems” into adventure stories. A problem is often defined by our interior dialog about it. Think “overwhelming” enough, and it starts to feel that way. Why not think about how you’ll look back on the problem when you have overcome it? See yourself telling the story as an adventure. Try this and you’ll find that it is far more motivating than worrying.

6. Practice being a good listener. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally. Keep quiet while others are speaking, and speak up only to ask relevant questions, so they can better explain whatever their point is. This practice will not only let you learn more (you already know what you have to say), but will help you get along better with people.

7. Make your major goals into small steps. This makes them easier to act on and accomplish. For example, if you want to save for retirement, their are steps you can take today. You could open a savings account, buy a book on investing, or make a form to track your savings. Write down many small steps that will carry you towards your goals.

8. Think of something you are looking forward to as soon as you wake up. This makes it easier to get excited about the day, and therefore easier to get out of bed.

9. Watch out for short-term thinking. When parents give their children candy or other sweets to quiet them, they’re teaching their kids to whine and cry for rewards. Soon they suffer the consequences of their short-term thinking, because the world at large offers little to those who whine and complain. We do the same with ourselves when we take our “candy,” without looking at the whole picture. I’m sure you can see how debt problems, wrecked relationships, unhealthy bodies, and more result from this. Consider the long-term consequences (good and bad) of the things you do today.

I won’t offer these kinds of general tips for life very often, but if you have your own to add to the list, feel free to do so in the comment area below.