5 Simple Ways to Continue Your Self-Development Journey
You want to continue improving yourself– your goals, healthy habits, your headspace, self-confidence, energy…
That’s why you’re here, right?
Self-development can sometimes seem daunting. So many of my life coaching clients tell me they want to improve their lives and reach new levels of success, but they’re not sure what exactly to do or where to start.
Maybe you feel aimless or unfulfilled in your career.
Or maybe you want to find your purpose and live with excitement and joy.
Or maybe you over-extend yourself and want to improve your work/life balance.
When you’re working towards these goals and continuing to develop yourself personally and professionally, there are TONS of resources available that can help you on your journey. And they don’t have to be complicated or expensive either!
5 Simple Ways to Continue Your Self-Development Journey:
Hire a Life Coach. Of course this is my #1 tip! Working with a Life Coach is the secret weapon to helping professional women show up with confidence, take control of their careers, and lead joyful and fulfilling lives. Life Coaches serve as mentors, encouragers, goal planners, and sources of accountability. They are masters of helping you create a plan to increase your performance and see meaningful results in your life. While there is a vast amount of resources and advice available online, in books, podcasts, or social media, Life Coaches offer something unique and valuable: custom, personalized support created solely for you as an individual, while also holding you accountable for following through and reaching your goals.
Listen to podcasts. I’m a huuuuuge fan of podcasts for many reasons, but mostly for the convenience of how information is delivered in this format. Because all you need to do is pop in your AirPods, you can turn your flight, trip to the grocery store, or morning commute into a learning experience. Your car might even become a university on wheels. Podcasts make it ridiculously easy to continue learning and developing while simply listening. Some of my favorite self-development podcasts include: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, The Life Coach School Podcast with Brooke Castillo, Robin Sharma’s Mastery Sessions, and Life Kit by NPR.
Take a solo trip. Going on vacation by yourself is a fun, adventurous way to break out of your typical routine, get out of your comfort zone, and simply focus on YOU. Whether you’re navigating the streets of an unfamiliar city, spending quiet time in nature on a hiking trail, or having a delicious meal by yourself, self-development is sure to happen while you’re on your trip. It increases your confidence– you get to make decisions about how you want to spend your time. It opens up the opportunity to learn about new cities, cultures, and parts of the world you would otherwise now. And, it forces you to practice being independent… no relying on your partner, friends, or family to make decisions about transportation, meals, or daily activities. It’s all up to you!
Read non-fiction books. If you start reading non-fiction consistently, you’ll be way ahead of your peers. The average American reads 4 books per year. What if you committed to reading one book every week? That would be 52 books per year, which would be 520 books after 10 years (while the average American would be stuck at 40 books after 4 years). Brian Tracy says, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Continuous learning is key to being successful in the 21st century. To be a top performer in your career field, to become proficient at something new, or to continue your own self-development journey, learning is absolutely essential. And reading is the way to get that knowledge. Click here to check out some of my favorite non-fiction books.
Attend a retreat. Retreats allow you to escape from your regular day-to-day life and self-develop in a unique setting. There are hundreds of different types of retreats, but there is usually a specific intention or purpose behind each retreat. It could be yoga, spiritual development, business strategizing, surfing, general wellness, or any other area of focus. Retreats are known to impact participants’ well-being, along with their skills and development. On your retreat, you will be surrounded by like-minded women who have similar goals, values, or priorities to your own. Spending time with these people in a special location, while going through specific experiences focused around an intention is an incredibly impactful experience.
