Activities for personal development can and will tremendously help you.
They can:
- Keep you on track
- Motivate you (especially when you’re in low moments)
- Lead you to success
- Enhance your skills
- Help you earn more money
Most of the things on this list I do myself (except for #16 and #24), so I say with confidence, that your life can significantly improve when you do these activities daily.
If you can’t do them daily, then do them weekly. If you can’t do them weekly, do them biweekly, but whatever you do, do something.
From me to you: Do one thing today that is going to add to your future, no matter how big or small.
All of these activities are budget-friendly, easy, and/or refreshing, and most of them you can do at home (shout out to my homebodies and introverts!)
So follow along with budget-friendly activities for personal development to get you the results you’re looking for fast!
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Activities For Personal Development
1. Read 10 Pages Of A Good Book A Day
2. Exercise
3. Staying In The Moment
4. Meditation
5. Journaling
6. Volunteering
7. Active Listening
8. Communication
9. Cooking
10. Therapy or Holding Yourself Accountable
11. Visualization
12. Rest
13. Drinking Water
14. Practicing Forgiveness
15. Improving Your Financial Literacy
Fun Activities For Personal Development (Not That The Others Aren’t Fun)
16. Gardening
17. Doing Hot Yoga
18. Walking
19. Reading The Bible
20. Dancing In The Rain
21. Making Tea & Experimenting With New Teas
22. Anything Therapeutic For You
23. Biking Or Rollerblading
24. Swimming
25. Joining A Book Club Or Doing Bible Study
Activities For Personal Development
1. Read 10 Pages Of A Good Book A Day
One of the best activities for personal development is reading.
And one of the best ways to read is to read 10 pages of a good book each day, which comes out to around 12 books a year.
Reading 10 pages a day has a low barrier to entry (so you’re more likely to do it) and has helped me learn everything I need to know to be successful (not just money-wise) fast!
That’s the beautiful thing about books, they can really serve as shortcuts to success because rather than taking the long way and making a ton of mistakes, you can read advice from someone who’s already done it and speed up some of that learning curve.
2. Exercise
Another very beneficial activity for personal development is exercise, in any form.
Swimming, running, walking, yoga, bike riding, whatever your heart desires (literally).
Exercise will help you tremendously with personal development because it’s both physically and mentally good for you.
It can serve as a time to:
- Reflect
- Build
- Create space for your thoughts or emotions/feelings
- Release
- Channel energy or emotions
For me, yoga has worked best, so far, because it requires me to be connected with my mind, body, and spirit all at the same time.
It also helps with balance, flexibility, and shedding some anxiety.
Read More: How To Manifest Your Dream Body Guaranteed Results!
3. Meditation (Guided, At Home, In A Class – It Doesn’t Matter)
Meditation is like a form of exercise as well, except it’s more for your mind rather than your body.
It’s very easy to do:
- Have a seat anywhere you’d like – I usually just sit on the floor
- Set a timer for a minimum of 5 minutes
- Close your eyes
- Breathe in through your nose
- Breathe out through your mouth
- Your thoughts will eventually start to wonder, and when they do, redirect your mind back to your breath
- That’s it
The purpose of this is to slow down.
Slow down your thoughts, your breathing, your anxiety, your sad thoughts, and anything else you need slowed down in your life.
Meditation has been the biggest thing I give credit to that has helped me with both my anxiety and anger issues. Without it (and God), I wouldn’t be where I am today.
4. Staying In The Moment
Yes, this is actually an activity and if you don’t think so, give yourself the task of staying in the moment for a whole day and then come back and tell me what you think.
It takes a lot of effort, brain power, and energy to go from being in my head all the time to actually staying in the moment.
Staying in the moment can not only help with your personal development, but it can also help
- Strengthen your relationships
- Strengthen the relationship with yourself
- Calm any anxious thoughts
5. Journaling
Journaling is another one of those activities for personal development that I swear by.
First of all, it can be quick, easy to do, and free!
I mean, who doesn’t love something that is free (outside of buying the journal) that will also help carry you to your dreams? I know I do.
Just because it’s on the list of personal development activities, that doesn’t mean your journaling has to always be about you becoming a better version of yourself either.
Quite the contrary actually.
You can journal about anything that you need at the time, and the beautiful part about it is that the simple fact that you’re writing is contributing to your personal development.
Yes, even if you’re writing a fictional story, it is contributing to your personal development. How, some of you may ask?
Because you’re being creative.
Even if you are complaining in your journal, it still contributes, because you’re getting it off your chest rather than blowing up on someone later.
If you’re looking for a real cute journal I highly recommend the Notes to Mindfulness Journal!
Learn More: Notes To Mindfulness Journal Pros + Cons (My Honest Review)
6. Volunteering
Volunteering is going to help you because you’re contributing to your community, and any time that you are contributing to something good, it makes you feel good, most of the time.
It also can be a time for you to reflect, reevaluate your values, rechoose better habits, and revamp the way you view the world and your impact on it.
The best way to find volunteering opportunities is to look up, “Volunteer opportunities in *your city*”.
7. Active Listening
This one kind of goes hand in hand with challenging yourself to stay in the moment because in order to be actively listening you need to stay in the moment.
Why should active listening be something you want to improve on?
- Because you want others to actively listen to you when you’re speaking so in order to have that you must give it.
- It’s the right thing to do.
Personal development is not just about developing yourself to be a better version of yourself, it’s about showing up better for you AND those around you.
It’s about becoming an updated version of your current self that is more:
- Productive
- Kind
- Patient
- Loving
- Understanding
- Giving
Personal development is not always about making more money. It’s about becoming a better you.
One of the best ways to show up for those around you is to listen to what they have to say, with no judgment, no thinking about what you’re going to respond with, and no wandering off in your mind while they just sit there and talk and you’re making it seem like you’re listening but you’re not.
Everyone wants to feel heard, everyone, including you.
So if you strive to become a better version of yourself then you need to work on actively listening, starting with those closest to you.
8. Clearly Communicating
And while we’re talking about active listening, another great activity for personal development is working on your communication.
I know some of you may not want to hear this, but it’s the truth.
Working on your communication is directly related to helping you grow because it can
- Open new doors for you
- Strengthen your current relationships
- Express your point in a professional and clear manner
Bettering your communication can and will better your life in ALL aspects.
This activity, I will admit, is a bit more tedious and difficult than the other activities on this list. It may take you a bit longer, but once you’ve mastered those principles, you will take those with you forever.
9. Cooking
Another activity for personal development is cooking!
Cooking is one of the best activities for personal development because:
- You’re eating food where you know the cook has washed their hands and didn’t drop your food on the floor.
- You’re less likely to eat fried/greasy foods.
- It’s an activity that requires all of your focus and can help improve skills such as patience, problem-solving, and creativity.
After you continue getting the hang of cooking, it’s also a great way to impress your lover, family, or friends.
10. Therapy or Holding Yourself Accountable (Whichever One Works For You)
Therapy is another activity for personal development that is very very important.
If you can’t afford therapy right now or don’t want to go, then holding yourself accountable is a free option that works just as well!
I personally have never been to therapy, but I have pretty much only heard really good things about it.
The only negative things I’ve heard about therapy are having to go through multiple therapists to find the right one for you and a bad therapist not being super helpful.
If therapy is something you’re interested in, I have a 20% discount code for Online-Therapy (code: THERAPY20).
If you don’t want to do therapy, then I totally understand; however, I still recommend doing something that can be in place of therapy and the best way to do that is by holding yourself accountable.
As easy as this sounds, it is not always a walk in the park, but holding yourself accountable can really bring a positive change in your life.
Holding yourself accountable can look like:
- Reflecting on how you talk to and treat others
- Asking yourself questions such as “Would I want someone treating me the way I’m treating them?” or “Would I want someone to talk to me the way I’m talking to them?” or “How can I show up better for my loved ones?”
- Taking action to make a change once you’ve noticed where you’ve gone wrong
11. Visualization
Visualization is the act of imagining a desired outcome.
The only difference between visualization and daydreaming is visualization is specific/intentional and daydreaming is simply for fun.
In order to visualize all you need to do is imagine yourself in a successful outcome of whatever it is you’re striving for.
If you want to get better at public speaking, visualize yourself up on the stage sweat-free, audience-engaged, and having a good time.
If you want to find the love of your life, visualize yourself on an awesome date with someone where you guys are having the best conversation you’ve ever had.
I must say that visualization doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get it right on the first try, but what it does do is put you closer and closer to your goal.
12. Rest
Some of you may be shocked to see this make the list of activities for personal development, but rest is EXTREMELY important.
How can you crush your goals and truly reap the rewards of it when you’re tired, burntout, and frustrated?
You can’t.
You need to rest. I know some of us grew up in a household where your worth was tied to your productivity and you weren’t ever really allowed to rest but let me tell you something: you deserve to rest.
You do NOT need to be productive 24/7 and your worth is NOT tied to how much you’ve done today. I don’t care what anyone else tells you, your body needs rest.
Without it, you’re more likely to get sick, less likely to make good sound decisions, and less likely to reach your goals.
And if you need scientific research to make you feel more comfortable with that thought here you go.
Now, resting doesn’t mean don’t do anything at all.
What it means is, when you’re tired, stop working and don’t feel guilty about it either. I know this is easier said than done (not feeling guilty about it) but when you feel guilty about resting, it literally defeats the purpose of it.
If you need to take a few days off, take them.
Hell, if you need to take a few weeks off, take them, especially if you have the opportunity to do so.
13. Drinking Water
Staying hydrated is very very very important. It is just as important as eating and sleeping.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, being dehydrated can cause you to have headaches, dizziness, and exhaustion.
You cannot continue on your journey of personal development dehydrated because all it’s going to do is slow you down and potentially cause health issues down the line.
Get a good water bottle and stay hydrated, my good people.
14. Practicing Forgiveness
This is another one of those activities for personal development that doesn’t really seem like an activity but once you start putting it to practice you realize it’s a lot harder than you thought it would be.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before but I’m going to say it again, forgiveness is for YOU, not them.
It frees up space in your mind and unbounds your heart so you can use your energy to create, inspire, and contribute.
Here is something that has helped me forgive and let go.
15. Improving Your Financial Literacy
Last but not least, one of the best activities for personal development is any activity that improves your financial literacy.
This could be:
- Watching a financial youtuber
- Reading a good budgeting book
- Creating a budget for yourself
- Learning about how credit works and what a FICO score is
- Taking note of all of your expenses (everything you spend money on a month-by-month basis) in comparison to your income (how much money you make a month)
You honestly cannot go wrong with any of these choices, and I recommend doing all of them at some point.
Don’t do them all at once, just take it day by day, month by month.
The absolute best budgeting book I swear by is The 10 Minute Budget. This has saved me thousands of dollars, years of stress, and 10,000 hair follicles. Highly recommend it.
The best financial YouTuber I recommend is Graham Stephan, he has taught me everything I know about credit.
The Key Activity For Personal Development
Put yourself in other people’s shoes.
- Notice how you’re speaking to others as if they said that to you.
- Notice how you’re treating others as if they were treating you that way.
- And notice how you speak about others behind their backs and ask yourself if you would want someone speaking about you like that behind your back.
This alone can and will bring the change you seek from personally developing yourself.
Don’t judge yourself while you’re doing this either. Just observe and take notice of how you’re talking to and treating other people.
Then and only then can you have true change because you can’t change yourself and have personal development (even if you do activities for personal development) without taking a real cold hard look in the mirror.
No judgment. No shaming. No blaming. No complaining. Just look.
Then, after you’ve taken a good look in the mirror, I want you to take notice of what you appreciate about yourself. Write it down on a piece of paper.
The reason why I want you to do this is because personal development is not just about taking notice of what you’ve been doing wrong and changing it, but it’s also about taking notice of what you’ve been doing right so you can continue doing more of it.
Related: How To Be Non Toxic | Get Rid Of Toxic Ways In 60 Days
Fun Activities For Personal Development
Not that the other activities for personal development aren’t fun but these are more so things to do during your free time that you now have from not filling your day with a bunch of junk anymore.
These can also serve as a great space to meet people who are more aligned with you.
16. Gardening
This is one of the activities for personal development that I don’t do because I’m currently trying to get over my fear of bees, but I still highly recommend it because I know that it has great benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
- Reducing stress
- Providing sun exposure
- Improving sleep
17. Doing Hot Yoga
I highly highly highly recommend this one.
Doing hot yoga is a great way to sweat out all the stress and BS from the week (or months) and make room for more positivity in your life.
Every time I have done a hot yoga session I literally feel lighter, motivated, and inspired. 10/10 recommendation.
18. Walking
Walking is another activity I highly recommend because it’s easy, a good way to get some sun, and relaxing.
I suggest walking without music because:
- It’s safer
- You can hear the birds
- You can clear your mind
19. Reading The Bible
If you don’t believe in God or aren’t religious feel free to skip this step.
For me, reading the Bible for myself has been a game changer for my personal development.
I was raised going to church every Sunday and Wednesday but it didn’t help me build my relationship with God as much as reading the bible for myself has.
I don’t go to church at all now (although I’m not opposed to going).
I do, however, watch Joyce Meyer on YouTube and she has tremendously helped me dissect and understand the word as well.
20. Dancing In The Rain
Dancing in the rain may not seem like an activity for personal development, but I beg to differ.
It’s a natural way to let go and just be free, which you need to do at some point as you’re developing yourself.
Don’t be so serious all the time. Let go and dance in the rain every once in a while.
Your soul needs it.
21. Making Tea & Experimenting With New Teas
Drinking tea is an awesome activity for personal development because it’s like a warm hug for your insides. Some teas also have great health benefits so I recommend trying this out some time.
My favorite teas are ginger, chamomile, and sleepy-time tea.
22. Anything Therapeutic For You
I know we talked about therapy and/or holding yourself accountable earlier but doing something therapeutic for you also serves as a good activity for your personal development.
Things such as:
- Hiking
- Aerobics
- Cuddling your pet
- Coloring in coloring books (my personal favorite)
Can be a great way to rest your mind or reset.
23. Biking Or Rollerblading
Speaking of therapeutic activities, biking is another fun activity for personal development that you can do.
Rollerblading also works too!
24. Swimming
Swimming is awesome for personal development because it’s a form of exercise, feels good, and is a good way to pass time.
It also doesn’t even feel like you’re exercising so that’s nice.
Sidenote: I know I said earlier I don’t do #24 and the reason why is because I don’t live in apartments anymore and I don’t have the budget to sign up to a place that has a swimming pool yet.
Not because I don’t enjoy it because trust me, once I have the budget for it, I definitely plan to make this a weekly thing because swimming is just amazing.
I love being in the water, so if you have the budget or a pool near you, I definitely recommend making this a regular thing.
25. Joining A Book Club Or Doing Bible Study
Last but not least you could join a book club. Just because this is for personal development doesn’t mean it has to be about self-help books either.
It can be any book that you like to read.
The reason why it doesn’t need to be self-help books is that joining a book club is a great way to socialize (part of developing yourself) and make good friends that align with you (also a part of developing yourself).
You could also do Bible study, and it doesn’t have to be at or with a church either. I usually do Bible study with my sister!
We pick a verse or chapter that stuck out to us the most and we just talk about it for however long we need at the time.
We make some snacks and put some instrumental music on in the background to really make a vibe out of it.
Conclusion On Activities For Personal Development
Activities for personal development can serve as an amazing tool to further your success in all aspects of your life.
The best ones are the ones that fit your needs the most.
For me, that’s doing yoga and walking, because right now signing up to a pool is not in the budget and I’m currently scared of bees so gardening is out of the question.
For you, gardening may be the activity for personal development that helps keep you calm, focused, and stable.
It’s about what you need right now, and which activity for personal development can best serve that need.
Don’t overthink this. If you don’t like one, try another one.
Which personal development activities did I leave off the list? Which one do you want to try today?
Comment down below to let me know.
Thank you for reading, peace!
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