20 Simple Tips To Be Better NOW
Ever wonder how to step up as a man without the fluff? No suits, no seminars—just changes to get better right now. I’m hitting you with 20 dead-simple ways to level up—stuff like owning your screw-ups and standing tall. Most take a minute a day, but can change everything. This isn’t some polished, perfect version of manhood—just better, sharper, and stronger than you were yesterday. This isn’t some toxic manosphere garbage, no seminars, no membership fees, just 20 easy ways to you can start tonight to make incremental progress to be the best version of you possible. You’re not a man, good! Most of these tips apply to you too! Being a man or a woman is about owning your space, being decent to those around you, and being a rock when life hits hard.
First up: own your mistakes. You screw up—spill a drink, miss a deadline, snap at your partner—just admit it: ‘I messed up, I’m sorry, my bad.’ No dodging, no ‘but she started it.’ Step up, fix it, and move on. People don’t trust the guy who ducks; they respect the one who owns it.
Number two: listen hard. Ear on, mouth off—really hear what people are saying to you. Your buddy’s venting, your mom’s nagging, your kid’s rambling—be present and participate in the conversation: ‘What happened next?’ Shows you’re in it and they matter.
Three: stand tall. I tell this one to my youngest, 10 years old… Shoulders back, chin up—posture’s your billboard. Slouch screams ‘I’m checked out’; up straight says ‘I’m here.’ It takes zero effort—do it now, feel the difference. A great life tip is Fake it ‘till you make it and in this case the confidence will still.
Four: keep promises. If you say ‘I’ll be there at 8,’ be there at 8. Flaking’s for boys—men deliver. It doesn’t need to be big—just mean it when you say it because trust is built in the follow-through.
Five: lift something. Get physical—10 push-ups, haul a box, hit the gym. Strength isn’t just muscles; it’s mental determination. Start small by going for a long walk or doing 10 air squats You don’t need a barbell or gym membership to start, just use what’s around.
Six: say no. I can’t do that. I won’t do that. ‘No, I’m good.’… and the conversation is OVER. And I suck at this one. Overcommitting is a trap—it spreads you thin, ticks people off when you bail last minute. Setting clear boundaries isn’t rude.
Seven: learn a skill. Learn how to scramble eggs, change a tire, sew a button—pick one, get good. Competence is king. I have a friend that dedicates himself to a new hobby each year to continue growing and being sharper.
Eight: dress better. A clean shirt, decent jeans, shoes that aren’t trashed. Dress one step up from what the occasion demands and it signals you’ve got your act together. Doesn’t need to be a suit—but put some effort into your appearance.
Nine: ask for help. Can’t figure something out, need help moving something? Pride is dumb when you’re spinning and wasting time. Time is your most valuable commodity. We use to have a rule where I worked once… If you can’t solve a problem in 30 minutes, get help.
Ten: cut the whining. Job sucks, weather’s crap—just vent once to a friend or share with your partner, then stop complaining. No one cares about your sob story; they watch what you do next.
Eleven: give a hand. Hold the door for someone, carry their bag, give a compliment or thanks—small acts of kindness multiply.
Twelve: read 10 pages. In a book, not doom scrolling on your phone. History, stoics, a manual., a biography. It only takes a few minutes and helps gives you perspective and stretches the mind. How did the roman empire fall?
Thirteen: fix your sleep. Seven or more hours and go to bed at a decent time. A foggy brain keeps you from your best. Learn to box breath, prepare your sleep space, and put your phone down.
Fourteen: speak clear. Remove ‘uhh,’ from your vocabulary. Slow down when you speak and say what you mean. Mumbling is horrible so speak up, remove filler words, and be willing to accept silence while you think of a response.
Fifteen: own your time. Put your phone down and be productive. 5 minutes focused beats an hour scrolling. Chunk your time to stay on track. You’ve got 24 hours in a day, make them count.
Sixteen: laugh more. Catch your breath, crack a joke, and take other people’s jokes. It doesn’t need to be comedy gold, we all LOVE dad jokes…just don’t be so serious all the time.
Seventeen: sweat. Walk, bike, chase the kids, whatever—20 minutes of huffing and puffing builds backbone. Sweat is free, really good for you mind and body, and it proves you’re still alive.
Eighteen: say thank you. Clerk at a store, your wife, your kids—‘Appreciate it’ or ‘Thank you’ goes far. It makes them feel better and makes you a bigger person. Do it everyday.
Nineteen: know your limits. Own your lane and be honest about it. I suck at singing, so I don’t do karaoke. Lean and grow obviously, but there is only so much I can do with this voice.
Twenty: check in. Call your mom, text your friends, or check in with your partner. Building and keeping connections is not mushy, but a sign of strength. Be an anchor to those around you.
There are your 20 tips! Once you start stacking them up, you become a sharper version of yourself. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about momentum. We are all different with some on the list being easier for you than me, etc. Start with easy ones and keep adding more day after day. In being stronger, smarter, and more capable to face anything, small steps now, big edge later. My challenge to you is pick one—don’t overcommit, read 10 pages, put your phone down and sleep—try it tonight. You’re not a statue; you’re a work in progress just like the rest of us.
