The biggest lessen I have learned on my personal development journey is that I am my favourite person. I get to love myself, take care of my self and focus on myself. If I do not love me then moving through this world is going to be spent trying to find that outside of me from a job, a family member or a partner.
Remember, when you have spent your life looking outwards for validation turning inwards will feel inherently selfish. You will feel the need to sacrifice your wellbeing to take care of others. But there is so much truth about filling your cup up to the brim so you can then share the access with others. The other image of putting on your air plane mask before your friends and family because you cannot help someone else until your needs are met.
Of course, this does not be removing yourself from all things other people. In fact, I would argue that building your community will further your self development journey because meeting new people will add to your knowledge base.
I want you to start your personal development journey to better understand yourself. Let go of the negative self talk, build self esteem and achieve your big life goals.
10 Simple Self Care Tips to Start Your Personal Development Journey
- Journaling 1 page a day
- Breath Work
- Dance
- Alone Time vs. Being Lonely
- Less Screen Time
- Nutritious Recipes
- Solo Dates
- 5 Minute Tidy Every Evening
- Trying Something New
- Pursue Your Art
Journal One Page a Day
Journaling is a great habit to start into order to learn more about yourself. At first you might control what you write, making it neat and pretty but I want you to push past that instinct over time to get all your thoughts and feels on the page. The best one page journal sessions are done in a quiet space where you can just let your thoughts move the pen or pencil. Do not try to structure sentences, don’t erase anything just let whatever comes to mind come out into your journal.
Breath Work
Breath work will help reduce stress and keep you in moment. We hold a lot of tension in our bodies without even knowing it. Even right now if I ask you to sit up straight, unclench your jaw and take a deep breathe. You will feel the difference in your body. You can use methods like 4-4-4 box breathing or watch a breath work youtube video to get started.
Dance
Moving your body on a regular basis will help change your vibrations. If you are angry and frustrated about something jumping up and down, shaking out your arms and hands can help you release those feelings from your body. You can also put on music that makes you feel happy, upbeat and joy while you dance. Once again this does not have to be structured. No choreography, just moving your body how ever it feels.
Alone Time vs. Being Lonely
You can feel lonely in a crowed room of people. You can feel elated and fulfilled all by yourself. Personally, I feel a lot of us do not put effort in being comfortable alone. Whenever you don’t have friends to do something or being with family puts you in a sour mood, you still keep going back for the sake of not being alone.
Of course, as an introvert I thrive alone. It is the best feeling every doing my own thing on my own time. One of my 2024 resolutions was to make a friend because I avoided going out so much. It worked, I made a great friend where we hang out almost every week or weekend.
I want you to learn how to be comfortable alone without a screen. Yes, being alone with your thoughts, a hobby or going for a walk. Do an activity regularly that is just for you.
This will help you build a strong foundation of positive self talk, working through your triggers and realizing that being alone is good. You then get to work up to building your community. Welcoming people into your circle to expand your joy.
Less Screen Time
It really is those damn phones. If you can stop the doom scroll and set boundaries with how much you consume on social media you will see an improvement in your overall well being. Us as a human species are not meant to watch ten second clips of silly things, then horrors, then something aggravating, then a silly video that makes you laugh, then a video that makes you sob. Going through those emotions so quickly is harming us. This means butting time allotments on certain apps or having no phone evenings. It will feel weird not relying on your phone at first because it is a distraction.
Nutritious Recipes
Your self development journey is reflected in your relationships with food and on a deeper level your body. The way you think about fuelling your body can add to your development or hinder it. We all have different food stories and it can take a very long time to love food and your body – here is a little about my journey here – but the first step is find just one new recipes that is nutritious, that you love and you can step into the moment of cooking.
Solo Dates
The next step in your self development journey is to take yourself out. Treat yourself to a date that brings you joy and happiness. The goal of solo date is to try something new, be comfortable alone and build trust in yourself to take care of you.
Read: 32 Solo Date Ideas to Get to Know Yourself Better
5 Minute Tidy Every Evening
Your space reflects your mindset. If it is messy and cluttered, you are not going to feel as motivated to build your dream life. A 5 minute tidy has changed my life. It really does only take five minutes to put things away, take the dishes out of my office and make sure my laundry is put away.
Getting into this habit will make it easier to show up for goals because a clutter free space reflects a clutter free mind.
Try Something New
The best way to build confidence is to try something new. At first you will feel out of place or even frustrated that are not good right off the bat. But when you try something new you are expanding your knowledge. This challenges your limiting beliefs and get help you find a new topic, craft or movement that changes the trajectory of your life.
Purse Your Art
Your Art matters. Never stop creating no matter what your inner critic is saying or people in your life are saying. An artist is meant to create and however you have to show up and do that. Do it. Do it with every fibre of your being. Whether it is drawing, singing, dancing, fibre art, writing, and so many other forms of art you get to pursue it.
These self care tips are not your usual ones because a candle lit bath might be relaxing and spending time doing your skin care can be therapeutic you self care journey starts from the energetic foundations of believing in your dreams.
Changing your life takes time and doing one thing each day that brings you joy is essential to your overall wellbeing.