Personal development is a gradual process every individual must pass through. It is about learning, unlearning, and relearning things to have enough clarity and knowledge. It is about becoming the best version of yourself – by enhancing your skillset, gaining knowledge, correcting yourself, and empathizing with others – personally and professionally. In this writing, let us explore the top 6 activities for personal development that carry the potential to change your life and help you become the best version of yourself.
Reading
One of the most famous and efficacious personality development activities includes reading.
Reading gives us different points of view and perspectives of the world we need to digest and know about. Text inside books or on the web serves so much wisdom and knowledge that is easy to acquire, tried and tested, and exposes you to the problems and solutions people have been having for ages.
Between the leaves of the book lies the author’s lifelong work, POVs, personality, thoughts, and identity that they are known for. Some pages of the scroll or book can possess years of undeniable wisdom and sageness that can be revolutionary and transforming. From Marcus Aurelius to modern-day authors and writers, every piece of writing can be utilitarian and help you change for good, build tolerance, and solve your problems.
Reading isn’t something that “wastes” your time. Multi-billionaire business owners, investors, and tycoons, such as Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffet, devote special hours of their day to reading and learning something, even though they have reached heights of success already.
Goal setting
Goal setting is also one of the pivotal elements in self-improvement activities. It takes you a long way, from being able to have clarity on your goals, improved focus, and subsequently planning and working to achieve that aim. Most importantly, setting goals gives you the motivational stimulus to keep going in the short term and be disciplined in your routine in the long term. Setting goals has numerous benefits and contributes a lot towards personal development if achievable goals are set through the right techniques.
Networking and Links
“Your network is your net worth.” – Porter Gale
You may have come across this saying somewhere, or if not, you’ve read it now. And it’s true. Networking is one of many activities for personal development that can have the potential to make your life a living hell or a harmonious paradise. This can prove to be a very lucrative habit since links with the right people can help you save time, money, and effort.
It can also provide you with loads of opportunities and chances, and can serve as a great pathway to becoming the best version of yourself – since you get career opportunities and chances to interact with more and more people – both professionally and personally. Meeting new people allows you to learn from their mistakes and seek bits of advice and help in times of need.
Developing and Improving your Skillset
Upskilling and diversifying your arsenal is one of the best activities for professional personal development. Not only does it give you exposure to more fields and professions, but also enhances your chances of promotion and progress. Learning new skills allows you to navigate your hobbies, explore your passion, and meet new people in those domains.
Skills can be acquired or improved by actively taking or enrolling in courses. Or, you can consider reading books or material related to the skills you want to equip. Tons of sources for upskilling are available on the internet, either free or paid that have the potential to change your life.
Journaling
I cannot stress this enough, but journaling is one of the healthiest and most productive habits one can ever have. You can reflect upon your feelings and how you spent your day and express your thoughts that you cannot otherwise with anyone. Journaling is a great way of personal growth since it gives you tangible history of what you felt a day before, a week before, and a year before, or since whenever you’re writing. You see your progress, your changing opinions, perceptions, and identity.
Giving Back
Being humble, expressing empathy, and giving back to the community takes you a long way. It is unarguably a great activity for personality development. Since it makes you aware of the underprivileged groups in our community. And when you connect with them on an emotional level, you understand what they might be going through, and as a result, we tend to express more gratitude and appreciation towards our life. Giving back to society can be in the form of finances, voluntary services, or any sort of assistance that can make someone’s life better. Giving and helping promotes personal growth and prosperity of the society in the broader picture.
Working out
Working out in your spare time is one of the greatest activities for personal development. It gives you several minutes of the day to focus on your body, feel fit and agile, and shed sweat. Moreover, those several minutes serve as a complete zone out from your worldly matters and let you have moments of peace and ecstasy. Working out consistently not only tones your body but can also get you into the best shape of your life. Working out is one of the most influential habits on your growth journey since it lets you witness visible changes.
In conclusion, these activities for personal development can help you reach new heights in your personal and professional realms. Don’t worry if you see variance in your routine and growth since it’s not always linear. Embrace your shortcomings, face challenges and setbacks strongly, and come out of those as a better person. With consistent efforts and discipline, you can see a visible change in you. Start today and see yourself transform into the best version of yourself.