Intro to Self-Growth
We live in a pretty chaotic, exhausting world. Perhaps self-care is a real necessity, as it’s often the only way to prevent a total breakdown. Between your job, life, relationships, and the literal constant stream of thought in your brain, sometimes you just want to take your foot off the pedal and hope to coast to survive.
Self-growth doesn’t mean you’re “drastically changing your life” or “becoming a whole new person.” Let’s be real, a lot of us wouldn’t wanna do that anyway. And if we did, we wouldn’t have the time or the desire to continue with it after a while! Self-growth can be just a few practical lifestyle changes. These changes allow you to feel a little more anchored, a little more positive, a little more you.
In this article, we’re gonna talk about a few habits that you could introduce “from your current space” without dedicating an ungodly amount of productive time to activities a lot of you saw in a ‘5 am morning routine for successful people’ TikTok. And we’ll talk about some small shifts you could make in your thought patterns to help you through the next chapter of your life.
Daily Mindfulness Habit
Mindfulness is really just a big word for “paying attention to your life as it’s happening.” And yes, that can be very beneficial if you tend to overthink, panic, or zone out a lot.
Maybe start with 5 minutes a day where you sit with yourself with your morning drink and check in. No, nothing major, no 10X Success Guru Summit meditation your Instagram keeps pushing ads for, just – How’s my body today? Feelings and not thoughts… What’s on my mind? What would I like more/less of each day?
If guided meditations and mindfulness apps stress you out, forget about them. Your mindfulness habit could just be:
- A few minutes of quiet before the rest of the world gets up
- A slow walk where you pay attention to the sounds, scents, and sights around you
- Taking three breaths before checking email or texts
Journaling is another simple practice with enormous benefits. It doesn’t have to be a life-transforming essay. Just write 1–3 lines in response to these prompts:
“I’m feeling…”
“I’m grateful for…”
“I’m proud of…”
Over time, you’ll notice trends: what drains you, supports you, what you want to create more of in your life, and so on. And this kind of awareness is where self-growth begins.
Building a Positive Environment
It can be quite difficult to feel centred or hopeful when your external environment is chaotic and draining. You don’t need to create an Instagram-type aesthetic, but you do want to create a positive environment. You want to make space for the version of you who chooses their life rather than goes back to surviving in it.
Where do you have friends, content, or places that leave you feeling more refreshed and supported? Consider:
- Spending time with friends who uplift and support you instead of pulling you down
- Finding a community of like-minded individuals (online or in person) who share your goals
- Removing or minimising time with people who drain you
Consider the practical effect of your space on your well-being, too. No need to rush off and declutter your entire home; just start by working on one small corner of your space. Your nightstand, your chair, or a small part of your bedroom. Clear those first.
Small shifts in your space can have a big impact on your emotions:
- Clearing one pile or spot just so your brain feels like it had a visual exhale
- Creating a little hang-out nook with a lamp, blanket, and books
- Bringing in a plant or a cute painting that makes you smile
Don’t forget about your digital space. If you’re constantly bombarded with content that makes you feel “behind” or “not enough,” and generally drains you, it can make it harder for your nervous system to chill out. You can slowly:
- Unfollow or mute accounts and stop visiting sites that trigger you
- Find and spend time with creators who are realistic and supportive of your journey
- Create small boundaries around when and where you consume content (like not scrolling in bed or first thing in the morning)
- Set a few rules on boundaries, such as no scrolling in bed or first thing in the morning
Remember, you’re not trying to engineer a “perfect dream life.” You’re simply surrounding yourself in positivity to get in the right mindset for self-growth without exhausting yourself.
Small Steps Towards Big Change
Self-growth shouldn’t be viewed as a sudden shift in personality. Rather, it’s a slow accumulation of “boring” micro-decisions. Mindfulness, journaling, having a space for yourself, and treating yourself better are just a few ideas in that direction.
You don’t have to rush out and fix everything this week. If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or simply don’t want big changes, I’d suggest (at least as the next step), pick one habit or idea from this post, and “try it on” for a few days. Adjust as needed. Keep what you think works. Discard the rest.
Every small act of mindful change (like pressing pause to breathe, journaling, and clearing a corner of a shelf) is a vote of support to the version of you who’s just that bit more grounded and hopeful.
And that’s really what self-growth is: finding and following the path back to yourself in tiny little steps.