Elevate Your Life: Essential Personal Development Tips for Women

Ok, so, first things first, let’s talk about why personal development is so important. We’re often juggling so much, from our careers, family, relationships, school, and personal goals, among other things…trying to keep our mental and physical bodies together.  It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Personal development is about investing in yourself so you can be the best version of yourself in every area of your life. Now I know we aren’t going to get everything 100% right all the time, and that’s ok. I learned this the hard way. I used to try to do everything and be everything for everybody at once. Then I learned pouring out an empty cup is impossible. But anyway…this is about growth, self-love/care, and empowerment. 

Now, let’s talk about the benefits of personal development. 

1. Becoming confident!

2. Becoming resilient! 

3. Gaining clarity about your purpose and passion! 

4. Increased happiness and a positive attitude!!

5. And more…

Let’s break this down a little further so we can implement actionable steps. For everything in the next few steps, you should write it down, grab your pen and paper, or, if you’re like me, open a Google Doc (I love me some Google products).

1. Set Goals! 

1. Create clear goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it. Sometimes, people say they want to achieve something, but when you ask them why, they have no idea why they want to do it—knowing your “why” is essential. Your “why” will keep you motivated and focused.. It’s important to know your “why” in anything you do. 

2. Create categories. Once you determine your goals, categorize them. Categories might include career development, faith, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, etc. 

3. Prioritize. Next to each goal, number it, starting with 1. The number 1 will signify the lowest priority, and the highest number will be the highest priority. 

Okay, here is the harder part: You’re going to break your goals down into manageable, measurable steps with deadlines. But first, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

1. You’re human, and you are allowed to change your mind! If you write these goals and decide in three months that one of them is no longer a goal…guess what?? It’s totally fine. 

2. Your priorities sometimes change; grant yourself some grace if you miss a deadline. Nobody hits the mark every single time, and if they tell you they do…I won’t say they’re lying…but sis, they're lying, lol.

3. Don’t share your goals with close-minded people or people who are afraid to try anything new. They’ll try to keep you inside the box they’re used to being in. 

Now that we got that out of the way. Let’s really get down to it. If you haven’t guessed it already…I’m referring to creating SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2. Self-Care

Self-care is exactly what it sounds like. It’s taking care of yourself. It’s time to do something you love that doesn't include caring for anyone but you. If your version of self-care looks like going to the spa, do that. If it’s lying down with a comfortable blanket, coffee, and binge-watching a series, then do that. Do whatever you need to fill your cup! 

Here are some ways to implement self-care if you have children, are on a low budget, or feel guilty about doing things for yourself. 

1. Read a book for leisure. 

2. Take a bath, but romanticize it (bubbles, your drink of choice, rose petals, bath bombs, music, etc.)

3. Coloring: I know this sounds so crazy, but I promise it’s therapeutic. 

4. Take a walk.

5. Give yourself a facial.

6. Journal.

More importantly, please eat healthy foods and drink water regardless of where you are in life! 

Always remember that self-care isn’t selfish. It's essential! 

3. Build a village

Some people are fortunate enough to have a village already. While others have to build theirs. We often hear the phrase it takes a village to raise a child….but let me tell you how adults need villages, too. You need people! It doesn’t have to be a lot of people, but you need human interaction, a person or two who is trustworthy, someone you can talk to without judgment, even on your worst days. Someone you feel comfortable asking for help and someone who can motivate and encourage you. I mentioned in an earlier blog how you need different people for different things, and this can also apply when building your village. Your village might be two people, but it may also be five people. It just depends on what phase you’re in. in life, who you know, etc. 

I know some of y’all are probably thinking, so what if I don’t know anyone or trust anyone? Well, frieennndddddd, you’re going to have to put yourself out there. Get active in Facebook groups that target things you’re interested in. Meeting people online was once frowned upon, but now so many people meet some of their best friends online. You can also join a gym, run clubs, take an organized group trip so you can meet other solo travelers, etc. There are ways to meet people, but it's just putting yourself out there to do it.  

4. Be a forever student

If you know me, you know I’m an advocate for education. Education doesn’t have to be traditional, from a college or university. You can take free classes online, watch YouTube videos, read blogs, etc. Make sure you are always learning and perfecting in whatever area you feel you’re lacking or want to learn more about. There is always something new to learn; you don’t know everything, and you’ll never know everything. Get around people who know more than you, strive for greatness, they  can teach you as you teach them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; that is a part of learning. Also, education and learning don’t have to be boring. One year, I dedicated it to learning more about history. I traveled to historical sites to explore and better understand my history. I went to Galveston, Texas, to explore the history of Juneteenth, I went to Alabama to explore the civil rights museums and statues, and I went to the African American museum in DC. I did things to make it fun. 

I know today's blog was a bit long, but I promise you, you can do this. You can elevate your life if you remain consistent with these four things: set goals, self-care, building a village, and being a forever student. Remember, you are resilient! You got this. When you feel like you’re falling and you didn’t do something right the first time, grant yourself some grace!