Even if you don't plan to make any New Year's resolutions [1], there's always room for self-improvement [2]. And bettering yourself doesn't require as much action as you'd think, because it all begins with you. Once you become open to making a change, you're already well on your way to becoming a better version of yourself. See 11 simple ways to make it happen in 2018!

1. Get involved: Find a cause you're passionate about and see how you can contribute, whether it's volunteering every quarter (or more often!) or making a donation. Notice that a certain topic fires you up or hits you emotionally? Pitch in and make a difference instead of taking a backseat.
2. See it from a different perspective: The next time you're quick to judge, evaluate the situation from a different angle before making any assumptions. Practising this regularly will help relax that reflex and promote compassion.
3. Take responsibility: It's easy to make excuses and point the finger, but work on holding yourself more accountable in situations from being late to contributing to a larger issue.
4. Be thankful: Expressing gratitude is such a simple way to improve yourself. Go even further than a simple "thank you" and reciprocate your appreciation. Your health and relationships will also benefit [3] as a result.
5. Give up your time to help others: The key here is to do something nice for the sake of doing something nice, without expecting anything in return. Whether it's a coworker who needs your input on a project or a friend who'd appreciate help moving, put any selfish tendencies aside to lend a hand.
6. Limit the negativity: Negativity is contagious, but so is the reverse! Rather than feeding into gossip or ranting about your issues, take it upon yourself to spread good vibes instead. It only takes one person to shift the mood of others around them.
7. Be open-minded: Resist the urge to impose your ways or beliefs on someone else. (See point #2.) Take a lesson in humility and accept the fact that you're not always right — a little empathy [4] never hurts.
8. Stay current: Educate yourself on what's going on in the world to prevent seeming insensitive or tone-deaf. Staying on top of current issues will widen your perspective and make you more aware of certain groups, cultures, issues, etc.
9. Be polite and respectful, always: This one's a no-brainer, but it's still worth reminding. Regardless of whether you're having a good or bad day, the way you treat others should remain the same.