What is life without growth? Staying in the same place in your career, relationship, financial health, and physical health is a terrifying thought! Improve, grow, learn, experience, and level up! If you vow to make a difference in your life, the change has to come from within.
Everyone should work towards becoming a better version of themselves. It’s not always an overnight process, and it certainly takes some time to form a habit, but it’s worth it. I’m sharing 10 effective self-development goals to work towards. Your future self with thank you!
#1 Start with a Self-Development Book
Nothing can make you grow and elevate your mind like a good book. There are plenty of great (and not-so-great) self-development books available to you. Reading these types of books can leave you with an entirely different mindset, a new sense of motivation, and provide effective methods for change. Here are a few of my favorite self-development books and some that are up next on my reading list!
#2 Start a Gratitude Journal
Starting a gratitude journal is actually one of the self-development goals I currently have for myself! Life is full of ups and downs, and it’s easy for most of us to focus on the negative. We take for granted simple things like food, water, and shelter.
To make a mindset change from negative to positive, practicing gratitude is a necessity. Every morning, take time to write down 3 things you are grateful for that day. Don’t get too complicated with it, just think about the things that are going well or make you happy in your life.
#3 Create an Organized Space
Studies have shown a correlation between stress and a messy room. We’ve all been there – after a long day of work or school, coming home to a cluttered, messy home is a drain. Even if there are more dishes in the sink, you feel some type of way. You could hire a maid (the costly and less effective route) or you can create an organized space moving forward. Here are a few CGS articles to help:
- Declutter Your Way to Happiness
- 6 Tips for a Perfectly Organized Closet
- Get Organized from the Inside Out
- Beautify Your Workspace
#4 Practice Public Speaking
If the thought of public speaking terrifies you, or if you’ve never spoken in public, start practicing the art of public speaking by taking a class at your local community college. Public speaking can be nerve-wracking and exhilarating. Not to mention, the ability to speak to different types of people can help you grow in your career, business, and personal life. Check out 6 Tips to Become a Public Speaking Pro.
#5 Effectively Handle Stress
I’ll be the first to admit that this is a tough goal for me. I tend to wear my emotions on my face, and if I’m stressed out, anyone near me can sense it. It must ooze out of my pores or something! In the recent months, I’ve sought to handle my stress better and more effectively. If a stressful situation comes up, I try to take my emotions out of it. I think to myself “Is this as bad as it seems?” or “Is this situation out of my control?”
I’m learning that situations that I can’t control are irrelevant to worry about or stress over. There’s nothing I can do to change the outcome anyways. More importantly, those situations never seem to turn out as bad as I originally thought they would. My stress is tied to my emotions. If I get my emotions in check, I’ll be able to handle my stress. However you can effectively manage stress the best for you, work towards mastering it!
#6 Eat Better
You may be wondering how eating better can be classified as a self-development goal, and here’s how: If you eat better, you feel better. If you feel better, you can perform better. You can kick-ass at your goals, your job, your business, or whatever you are striving to do. If you eat better, you look better. If you look better, you have more confidence to get more things accomplished.
Think about the last “bad” meal you had. A greasy pizza. A big bowl of spaghetti. It probably tasted good initially, but once it was gone how did you feel? I love carbs – pasta, bread, muffins, you name it. However, I’ve taken carbs out of my diet and felt amazing. The cravings are still there, but I truly do feel and look better!
#7 Create a Morning Routine
Okay, I know it’s not easy to get up an hour earlier each morning, but imagine how much you can get done? You can complete your gratitude journal, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea without rushing, work out or exercise, or work on your side business. You will be tired for the first week or two, but you will get used to it. Check out the articles Make the Most of Your Mornings and 8 Ways to Improve Your Morning Routine for some tips.
#8 Drink More Water
Water fuels our body. We all need water to survive, yet we quench our thirst in drinks that aren’t as good for us. You don’t have to give up your iced coffee or diet soda, but do try to incorporate more water into your daily routine. You will find that the more water you drink, the more you actually crave water.
#9 Find a Mentor
Are you on a certain career path? Do you want to start your own business? Whatever success looks like to you for your career, find a mentor. Look for someone who is doing what you want to do, or who has become successful in the career of his/her choice.
A mentor can provide you with guidance, help, and assistance on your journey. They can teach you things from the lessons they have learned. They can help you through tough situations. You can grow and develop in all areas with the help of a mentor.
#10 Stop Procrastinating
Have you been thinking of starting your own business for a while? Do you want to create your own blog? What’s stopping you? Striving for perfection, especially in an unknown area can hold you back. Instead, focus on starting. Just do it! Don’t procrastinate your goals or your wants. You are simply prolonging your own success.
Related: 8 Ways to Get Inspired about Your Goals
I hope these 10 self-development goals help you think of ways to take your current situation to the next level. Are you working on, or have you mastered any of the goals above? What self-development goals are you currently working on? Post a comment below. I would love to hear!
