In a world that’s so used to filling our schedules with social media scrolling and binge-worthy TV shows, making time for personal development isn’t always easy. If we’re being honest, most of us will prioritize pretty much anything ahead of reading a book, going for a run, or brushing up on our public speaking skills.
But … you have goals you want to reach—both professionally and personally! And while it’s certainly tempting to check Instagram™ every 20 minutes, ask yourself if that’s really helping you get closer to where you want to be. Or, are there different activities you could fill your time with that might benefit you in the long run?
If personal development has never really been your “thing,” there’s no time like the present to jump in! We’ll show you how to start prioritizing personal development daily.
Take control of your time.
The first step to solving a problem is becoming aware of the problem, right? Figure out what activities are taking up most of your time. Write down what you’re doing throughout the day or try out time management apps like these.
Once you know where your time is going, evaluate whether the activities you’re giving that time to are worth it. Could you cut back on hours spent playing video games and start making connections with new people instead? Maybe take a walk around the block on your work breaks instead of mindless social media scrolling? Be honest with yourself. Your time is precious, especially when it comes to hitting your goals—use it with intention!
Learn to love mornings.
Ah, mornings. The birds are peacefully chirping, the sunlight peeks through your window … is there anything better?
Okay, enough with the daydream—mornings are rough for most of us. The snooze button gets pressed one too many times, the forgotten breakfast in the fridge … we all know how it goes. But if you find that it’s hard to make time for yourself during the day, mornings might just be your new best friend!
Start by waking up just 10 minutes earlier than normal. (Pro tip: Put your alarm clock across the room so that you must get up to turn it off. This will make jumping back into bed a little less tempting!)
Now that you’ve got 10 extra minutes to spare, put them to use by starting your day with one of these activities:
- Hydrate BEFORE you caffeinated. Drink 20 oz. of water prior to starting a pot of coffee.
- Make a list of your goals for the day.
- Read a chapter of a personal development book. Check out some of our favorite leadership reads, here!
- Close your eyes and visualize positive things happening during your day.
- Make a healthy breakfast (this article is full of quick recipe ideas).
Prioritize YOU.
It’s great to be the go-to for other people. Just make sure that while saying “yes” to everyone else, you’re also saying “yes” to yourself! What does that look like, exactly?
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you don’t have time to add something to your schedule, it’s okay to say “no” without feeling guilty. Read this article for 80 ways to say “no” politely.
- Schedule a weekly non-negotiable “date” (or two) with yourself for personal development. Spend an hour at a workout class, go to a networking event, or take an online course to brush up on your skills (lots of great free online courses, here).
- Develop your weaknesses until they become your strengths. Read our post for tips.
- Make yourself a priority—this is really what it all comes down to. Do the hard things you’ve been avoiding and, most importantly, know that you are in control of your life.
We all get the same number of hours in the day, and each of us is in control of how we spend them. Choose to maximize your time by filling your schedule with activities that are getting you closer to your goals and helping you become the person you want to be!
