Being independent means being able to control your own destiny and make decisions for yourselves. It has been shown that independence helps people achieve greater success and happiness. But becoming more independent isn’t always easy. When looking into yourself closely, you may surprisingly find that you are so dependent on your parents, partners, friends, or colleagues. Here are some tips that can assist you to become more independent.

How to Become More Independent

1.   Get to Know Yourself

In order to change how you act or feel, you’ll need to learn where you stand. This can help you figure out the best way to achieve your goal of becoming more independent. Self reflection is a good way to get to know yourself.

2.   Become Assertive

Assertiveness boosts self-esteem, which helps foster independence. In order to become more assertive, you will need to practice it. You can do this slowly by learning to set boundaries, say “No” and identify what you feel and need.

3.   Challenge Your Beliefs

In order to become more independent, you’ll need to question your beliefs. Many times, you may just form your opinions habitually without knowing the true feeling in inner heart. By reassessing how you view things and see the world, you can more easily change yourself.

4.   Don’t Ask for Permission

Keep this tip in mind if you want to learn how to become more independent. If you always ask for permission, you’ll never achieve full independence. This is because you will be constantly relying on what other people think, which is the last thing you want to do as an independent person. Don’t hesitate to follow your gut and move forward.

5.   Get Self-Motivated

Your success is mostly dependent on yourself, not others. Find the eagerness and motivation from your inner heart when you want to accomplish certain goals. Don’t try to please others. No one else will have the same level of interest when it comes to your success.

6.   Learn for Yourself

Keep yourself well-informed by developing a good habit of reading. Information and knowledge can help prevent you from being a follower, and develop your own opinions toward things. Try to find the information yourself; in this way, you can reduce the amount of biased information you receive. If you must get information from other people, try to get the information from different people.

7.   Do What You Love to Do

If you find something you really like to do, you will do it more often and do it better. You are more likely to find true satisfaction and meanings in your life, which are the important signs of independence. Ideally, you can find something that has educational, instructional or humanitarian value, as those will be the most constructive.

8.   Plan Your Day

Make a list of what you need to do and what you want to do in a day. When you plan your day, plan it around yourself, not others. You can never become independent when you spend time revolving around other people. And don’t let others easily take your time away and change your plan.

9.   Find a Support Network

Becoming independent never means isolation. We humans are social animals and we always need others. Finding someone for support is good, as even the most independent will need some help every once in a while. But only ask for help when necessary. If possible, try to find this support person (or group) from your family and close friends.

How to Be Financially Independent

Financial independence is critical to becoming completely independent.

• Figure out your goal. You’ll need to figure out what your financial goal is before you can establish the steps to obtain that goal.
• Learn budgeting. You can’t manage your money if you don’t know exactly what you have and how much you’re spending. Get organized, have a budget and be able to identify your financial needs for a given situation.
• Avoid debt. Not all debt is bad, but in order to achieve the greatest level of independence, you’ll need to avoid revolving, non-housing related debt. This will reduce wasted money on interest.
• Save. The only way to save money is to spend less than you bring in. This is easier said than done, but it is essential for gaining financial independence.
• Create a safety net. Another way of how to become more independent is having cash reserves for emergency. But you’ll need to be prudent in how much you have in reserve.
• Reassess your job. Is your current job the best way to achieve financial independence? You might like your job, but it may not pay enough. If so, you may want to expand your work-related income by doing part-time job.
• Invest in assets. A good investment is one that provides steady income. The right investments can help you weather financial ups and downs. Avoid investments that waste money, such as paying high fees or commissions for services you don’t need or want.

How to Be Independent in a Relationship

Being in a romantic relationship is fun, but we always tend to forget ourselves when we are caught up in love. Try to leave a little space for yourself and your partner. Maintaining a bit of independence is healthy for relationships.

• Have separate hobbies. It can be good to have at least one hobby that doesn’t involve your partner. This allows you to maintain your individuality and spend time with yourself by making your own decisions about something.
• Keep up with old friends. When you’re with a new significant other, it can be easy to forget your old friends. Send an e-mail or call to see how they’re doing. Having your own social circle is important in how to become more independent in a relationship.
• Take time alone. If you’re spending so much time with your new love, it’s easy to forget to pay attention to your own needs. Taking time for yourself, away from your partner can help maintain your independence and let your mind feel free to wander.
• Communicate. You have your own needs. These needs will need to be communicated effectively to your partner if you want your relationship to last and your independence to be kept.