Personal Development Activities
To People Who Want To Succeed, But Can’t Get Started: Try These Personal Development Activities
I read a story about a man who was overweight, in bad health, and very discouraged. One day, he’d had enough. He got up off the couch, went outside, and walked to the end of his block and back. The next day, he walked halfway around the block. And so on, until he’d run a 5K, then a 10K, then a half marathon, and then a marathon! If you want to succeed, but can’t get started, pick just one of the following personal development activities. Start small. Master that activity. Then pick another one. Before you know it, you’ll be succeeding.
We are either progressing or retrograding all the while; there is no such thing as remaining stationary in this life. James Freeman Clarke Tweet This
Here are a few personal development activities that are helping me succeed. I fall on my face many times, but over time, with God’s help, I’m progressing. I wanted to share my own personal development activities so that you can get to know me better. But then I will want to hear from you in the comments below!
Reading
I recently went through my Google Reader and pruned my blogs from hundreds to about twenty. I’ve picked top blogs in my niche interest areas of Discovering Life and Career Purpose; Building Personal Development Plans; Individual and Personal Branding; and Growing Personal Leadership. I also read blogs specific to my professional interests of the autism spectrum, attention deficit disorder, and mental health. And I like to read blogs and books that challenge me to grow spiritually.
Journaling
I talk a lot on this blog about discovering and building upon your strengths. But I find it’s just as important for me to focus on my weaknesses. Journaling helps me get my thoughts down on paper. When I write, I gain perspective on my own thoughts and feelings. I learn what I need. I reflect on my daily victories, but also my personal shortcomings. I record at least 10 things I’m grateful for.
Morning Routine
My morning routine is my golden hour. It’s the hour that sets the compass for the rest of the day. I try to rise at 6 am. From 6 to 630 I drink my coffee and sit in silence. I’ll also read Scripture to focus my heart and mind, and I will pray to connect with God. From 630 to 7, I exercise. I use my GAIN Fitness app for strength training every other day. And I use RunKeeperto track my 30 minute runs every other morning. (Neither of those links are affiliate links 🙂 From 7-730: Shower, Dress, Quick Social Media moments on my computer. 730 to 8: Prep my son for school and catch up on miscellaneous activity before going out the door.
Evening Routine
I learned about evening routines when I researched better sleep tips. And The Art of Manliness blog also inspired me with this article. Here’s my evening routine: 930 pm to 10 pm: Review personal mission, vision, and goals. I like to use MindBloom to visualize my goals and take new actions toward accomplishing them. I also like to add pictures to my Vision Board on Pinterest. 10 pm to 1015 pm: Take time to lay out my clothes and other items for the next morning. This saves time and hassle. 1015 pm to 1030 pm: Journal and reflection time. 1030 pm to 11 pm: Read light material. Browse news headlines. Or meditate.
Think Time
I’ve scheduled at least two vacation days per month to give myself time to catch up on home maintenance, balance the budget, and connect with friends. On Sunday evening I like to check and plan for the week ahead. I also check my vision, mission, and goals at least quarterly. Since life has a way of veering me off course, it’s important to make sure that I’m living in line with my values and my personal development plan.
Personal Service
It’s important to pay my blessings forward. I spend time at church each week helping teach Sunday School to a bunch of rowdy first through fifth graders. They teach me as much as I teach them! I also like to work on random acts of kindness that no one else will know about.
Transparency
I’m learning to open up about shortcomings. I’m sharing them with Christian men in my Bible Study group who hold me accountable to make changes in my life. Unless I tell the truth, intent on changing, I’ll stay the same for too long.
Building My Relationships
I’m a task person more than a relationship person. But I’m working on changing that. This means I schedule time with significant people in my life. I work on scheduling dates with my wife. I work on scheduling one on one time with my daughter and with my son. As a couple, my wife and I focus on having couples over from time to time.
These are just a few personal development activities I’m working on. What about you? Please share yours below! photo credit: oddsock
Wow, that is some great advice! Thanks for posting and sharing. It is never too late for a change.
Gary, thanks for the input. What are some of your personal development activities?
Steve Borgman recently posted…Taunt Fate: How To Do A Development Plan
You seem to have a gift for organization, Stephen. I can relate to some of what you do, being a runner myself. Probably, I should say “having been a runner” – I still work at it, but very slowly and just for pleasure these days.
I would be interested to know your own assessment of how well you actually manage to achieve this structured lifestyle. Do you have days when it just doesn’t work well for you? And how do you find time for the miscellaneous activities that can easily disrupt the plan, such as license renewals, tax preparation and paying bills? I didn’t see a lot of lagniappe in your days.
Having said that, please don’t think I’m questioning your integrity – rather I’m admiring your spirit. I got some excellent pointers from your article on activities that will serve me well when I can see how to incorporate them in my own plan.
Thanks for a stimulating article.
Alan
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Actually, Alan, it’s precisely because I tend to be disorganized that I’ve ‘imposed’ this structure on my life. Having said that, it helps to be flexible in its application. So by no means to I strictly apply this structure. In fact, I’m happy if I can get it down exact for two days a week! But I’ve been growing toward more consistency. The margin in my life comes on Sundays, when I tend to let things slide a bit, or I work on other activities unrelated to work. Each of us has to find our own balance 🙂
Thanks for sharing that – I feel much better now!
😎
Alan Jenkin recently posted…Runner’s World On Half Marathons
Hi Stephen, first thing in the morning, I listen to some “brain training” audios I purchased from John Assaraf. They are great – and put me in the mood to start my first “business activity session” straight after breakfast. I aim to start my first session as soon as possible because first thing in the morning is my best time! I get more done in one hour at that time, than I do in 2 hours during the rest of the day.
I usually read a “self improvement” book for about 20 minutes every day as well, and love listening to Abraham Hicks videos during the day or night.
Julieanne van Zyl recently posted…Review of Squeeze Page Creation Tools on Self-hosted WordPress blogs
Julieanne, thanks for sharing your personal development activities! I would highly agree with the practices of getting up early and choosing quality material to study and meditate on.
Wonderful advice Steve. Whether it’s achieving goals or navigating major life changes, for me the take away has and always will be that if we have a big enough WHY we will make the effort and find a way to make things happen. This lesson has been driven home to me again and again as an ACOA and during my marriage to someone with a serious drug abuse problem. It doesn’t matter how much support and help is available – change will only take place when they get scared enough to finally let go and make the commitment to move forward with life.
marquita herald recently posted…Choose to Grow Stronger Through Life’s Occasional Detours
Marquita, unfortunately we sometimes have to exhaust all of our personal coping strategies for change before we’re finally ready to try what works. Some alcoholics and drug addicts, and countless others unfortunately don’t make it. It’s tragic when that happens. Thanks for the comment 🙂
This post has actually inspired me. I’m at cross-roads at the moment and am having a difficult time. My last child has just started secondary school – which is across the road. It means my kids don’t need me in the morning any more. I don’t have to walk anyone to school any more. I long since taught them to pack their own sandwiches. I don’t have to pick up any kids from school like I’ve done in the last 9 years of my life.
Even my evening routine has been changed. I used to have my youngest read to me 4 nights a week (my husband did 3). We’ve now swapped and I feel like I’m missing out on her. I’m not actually – I only feel this way.
I’m working on a morning routine. I haven’t got it down to a T yet, but it’s being fashioned. This has inspired me to really get my routine going, as I think it would be much easier for me to adapt to my new life. I’ve also just made the decision to stop work at 9PM (unless I have a writing or editing deadline which is pressing).
Thanks for posting this.
Anne @ confidence blog recently posted…How To Get Confidence
Anne, it sounds like a lot of changes are going on for you. I hope that, bittersweet as it is to see your children grow, this chapter of life will bring new blessings to you. Good for you with your decisions regarding bedtime and your morning routine 🙂
Stephen,
I am impressed with your organized lifestyle. Try as I might, I just do not fit myself into a fully organized routine. But I do have a few very regular habits.
Every Sunday I attend my Infinite Way Meditation group. Most Wednesday mornings I play singles tennis and most Friday nights I play Round Robin tennis. I work out t the gym using bicycle (a new, great elliptical bicycle that is easier on your knees), elliptical and treadmill and weight. I always end with the jacuzzi (where I do yoga), the sauna (where I do Pilates) and the steam. Sometimes I come to the gym just for the spa and no working out.
After taking a course based on The Abundance Book, I have started meditating in the mornings, about half the week, not every day and certainly not at 6 AM.
I take breaks to prepare healthy meals and I do eat out at least once every day, not always as healthy as I would like. I sit quietly often and contemplate and I am always reading something uplifting and inspiring – or I am listening to an audio or watching a webinar or attending an event.
I use a sticky note computer program to keep my to-do list right in front of me. But some of those items stay there for weeks, maybe months, until the timing is right for me to tackle the items.
Life is good. Clients are fun to work with but my schedule with my clients is quite erratic – not limited to specific times or days. I used to be on a quite a rigid schedule as a professor for 25 years so now I just love the freedom to be flexible in my days.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted…Let All Your Senses Speak – As You Heal
Dr. Erica: you’re very right: we need to be flexible in our lifestyle according to our phase of life and personal circumstances. Due to my two kids (grade school and middles school), my schedule is a bit tighter all around 🙂 I love your schedule: it’s full of abundance!
Reading is easily my favorite activity on this list. On average, I read about a book a week.
I’d like to journal more or start for that matter. I always found it pretty cool. I’m working to implement a set daily routine for myself. Time management is an area that I need to improve on. I’m a work in progress there!
Dewane Mutunga recently posted…The Email Frequency Myth Debunked
Dewane, daily routine, especially if you’re running your business full-time, can be quite a challenge. I look forward to hearing your results. By the way, I don’t know if you listen to Mark Mason over at Mason World; he recently talked about the power of checklists. So for every procedure we do more than once in our business, it’s worth writing down in a checklist format. Then we’ll have the procedure available for both ourselves or for future virtual assistants. Just as an idea you may want to apply as you go about your business. The book is called Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right.
Thank you for the encouraging article. A lot to think about and implement.
You’re welcome, Sandy 🙂
Stephen I love how organised you are, it’s inspiring. I read a lot and I make time too read books as well as blog posts and articles. However I’ve always done that so no change is needed, I’ll have to start with a small walk I think.
Sarah Arrow recently posted…Do You Need a Personal Blog?
Sarah: I love your small walk idea! And if you really want to get inspired, check out the documentary, Spirit of the Marathon. 🙂
Hi Steve,
I feel fortunate that I am in a business which leads to personal development prior to business success. Personal development is so important because we need to know ourselves first before we are able to share our authenticity. Routines are essential so we can do something every day which contributes to more learning and clarity.
I am working on all of my routines at this time because of some personal changes which have taken place. Thanks for sharing what you are doing because it is inspiring for other people to look at different ways they can reach their personal goals.
Raena Lynn
Raena Lynn recently posted…Unstoppable Life Map Explanation
Raena Lynn, thank you for sharing your experience. I loved your recent explanation about the unstoppable life map: creating that was one of the best things I’ve seen in a while.
I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time on your blog Stephen. Just a lot of eye-opening content that I find very motivating. I think routines that you went into definitely help with structure and getting to the place you desire. Building relationships is always a work in progress, and time needs to be spent to nurture and grow. More to think about and practice. Thanks again Stephen.
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Steve,
You delivered some great advice and offer some great personal development activities. My personal development plan is similar to yours, so I was immediately drawn to your blog. I will be adding the “Vision Board on Pinterest” and “Think Time” to my repertoire of personal development activities. For 2013, I will continue attending graduate school and to strive to be the best person I can be. I seek to be closer to God and to be great husband, father, and person. I love self-improvement and spiritual development activities and will add your blog to my life. Thank you and I look forward to growing with you in 2013.
Sincerely,
Carey
Carey, I’m really excited to have you stop by my blog! What program are you in at graduate school?
I am pursuing a MS in Environmental Management.
Congratulations, Carey!
Hi Stephen,
what a great list of activities and I like how you share the way you do them personally in detail.
Journalling is one of my favorites and my way of doing it is very similar to yours.
One thing I including in my daily writing is touching base with my inner child and allowing her to express her feelings and acknowledge them and then reassure her. Even if I haven’t got a lot of time I write to her and let her know that I love and accept her exactly as she is.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Love and Light
Yorinda
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