Anyone who has messy children, lazy partners or naughty flat mates will be impressed by the resourcefulness (足智多谋) of Katrina Neathey, the co-owner of a cleaning company in West Sussex. She has made her three teenagers sign an agreement to help keep the house tidy. Any infraction of the agreement, for example, littering up their bedroom with magazines and drinks, or failing to put their dirty plates in the dishwasher, will come with a 5 pounds’ fine on removal of their phones.

It is one way of setting up a cleaning rota (轮班表) that people might stick to. “Cleaning is teamwork.” says Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean. She suggests getting everyone in the household together to find out what people like doing. “In our family, my husband is better at mowing the lawn. I love cleaning rooms. Someone else might like folding the towels. You let everybody do what they’re good at, or enjoy, so there’s more chance they’ll actually do it.”

Crombie is not a fan of fines. For her children, she takes away their phones or turns off the Wi-Fi. For other adults who aren’t joining in, she suggests keeping asking them to take action.

If you aren’t sure what is required to keep the dirt at bay, there are many checklists online that you can print out to share the daily, weekly and monthly tasks. You can stick it on the fridge, and then everyone knows where they stand. If it’s not working, have another chat, such as “What do you dislike?” “How can we improve it?” Ironing out problems is all about communication.

From honoring yourself to doing small acts of kindness, there’s something you can do each day to better yourself and grow as an individual. Keep reading to learn how you can start your self-improvement journey.

Be yourself. 【小题1】 You are unique, special, and one-of-a-kind. Accepting yourself for who you truly are can help you feel happier, improve your life, and strengthen your identity Follow your gut (直觉), do what you love, and explore your interests. The more you do to fuel your energy, the happier and more confident you’ll be.

【小题2】 If you don’t give your body the proper nutrition and rest it needs, you won’t be able to serve yourself or others. Slick to a regular routine that’s healthy for you. Watch how your mood changes for the better. When you support your physical health, you support your mental health.

Accept that change happens. It’s okay if your goals don’t stay the same as you grow older. 【小题3】 It bends when you least expect it! Because of this, your short-term and long-term goals may change as you go. This is completely normal and a sign that you’re becoming a better person. 【小题4】

Be kind to yourself. 【小题5】 Self-compassion (自我同情) may sound like the opposite of being a better person, but caring for yourself is the first step to improvement. After all, if you can’t care for yourself, how can you care for others?