Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!
It can feel strange to take care of yourself when you lead the busy life of a solopreneur. But learning how to set personal development goals will make you a better business owner, better spouse and parent and a better friend.
Last year I found myself burnt out and struggling to keep it all together. I was scared of failing and disappointing those around me.
It was a months-long journey to figure out how I had gotten so depressed and out of balance. The journey brought out a lot of new awareness about how taking care of myself. I found that improving myself is actually the only way to find balance.
Balance is misunderstood in the entrepreneur community. You can’t actually find balance and “do it all.”
It’s more like learning to read the signs that tell you where you need to focus. Some days it’s on a new idea that energizes you and some days its on relaxation and gratitude.
Being a well-rounded person who listens to what their body and mind need is the best way to stay balanced and focused on your goals.
Here are 16 personal development goals to consider when you are thinking about your own work/life balance.
16 Personal Development Goals
1. Take care of your health
Learning to take care of yourself can be hard, especially when you are a mom! But having a healthy body and mind will allow you to be the best version of yourself.
2. Learn new skills
Don’t let your mind get bored! Challenging yourself to learn on a regular basis will keep your mind fresh and your business will benefit.
Take a class, read a how to book, or start a new hobby. Anything that challenges your mind will make you a more well-rounded person.
You might also enjoy…
- What Do You Need Before You Launch?
- Do You Need An Email List to Launch?
- What Exactly is a Launch and What Goes Into One?
- How I Use Copy Blocks to Write Effective Sales Pages
- 3 Things You Need to Check if You’re Pivoting Your Business This Year
3. Build your self confidence
If you struggle with
Here are 10 ways to build your self-confidence from Entrepreneur.
4. Eliminate fear
Fear holds you back. When you face your fears and find a way to overcome them you’ll be a happier and more successful person.
5. Stop procrastinating
Seriously, just stop. You are not doing yourself any favors by putting off tasks that need to be done. Here is a tip on how to stop procrastinating in two minutes.
6. Build a habit of self-care
Like learning to stay healthy, self care is a skill worth building. I love this list of ways to take care of yourself.
7. Develop a growth mindset
What is a growth mindset? According to Carol Dweck, the psychologist who developed it; “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
So basically, believe you can learn and grow and you will!
8. Surround yourself with positive people
Do the people around you support your goals and dreams? If not, it’s time to find some new people.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Jim Rohn
So be sure to surround yourself with people who are excited to see you succeed, who love to cheer you on, and who are also working towards their life goals.
9. Learn to persevere
What do you do when the going gets tough? Learning how to get through the hard times and keep working towards your goals can make all the difference in your business.
Have you read The Dip by Seth Godin?
10. Practice gratitude
Make a list each evening of the things you are grateful for from that day. By focusing on the positive, you will change your whole attitude.
11. Overcome anxiety
One of the best techniques I learned to overcome anxiety was to follow through on my thoughts about the worst case scenario.
What is the worst thing that could happen? If that happens, then what? And if that happens, then what? Is it worth not doing the thing I really want to do because of all these hypotheticals?
Most of the time, it’s not really that bad once I think it through.
12. Manage expectations
This is a good thing to practice not only on yourself, but on other people too.
Are you expecting perfection from yourself? Learn to follow the mantra, “Done is better than perfect.” and let go of doing everything just right.
Do you expect other people to always live up to your expectations? Find ways to grant those people some grace and let them be who they are.
13. Embrace failure
You have to fail in order to succeed. Period. End of sentence. Embrace it! Look for it! You’ll be that much closer to success when you find it.
14. Define success
Speaking of success, create your own definition. Don’t worry about what other people think success is or is not.
Do you want a huge house and brand new car? Or is your success about avoiding debt and retiring early?
Decide what it is that you want and don’t let anyone tell you your not successful when you reach it.
15. Develop an abundance mindset
Not just money. Focusing on abundance in all areas of your life will make you a happier person.
Abundance allows you to think big and be generous with your energy, time and money. All key parts of being a successful entrepreneur.
16. Enforce personal boundaries
Learn to say no. Enforcing personal boundaries will open up space in your life for the things you really want.
If you need some help with developing this skill, check out this book!
Hello, I really learned a lot about making a business. I need to figure it out. I’m living on Social Security disability and I am supporting my son. He got sick and lost his job. I don’t make enough to support him and myself. I don’t know when he will be able to work. If you have any ideas I would appreciate if you could let me know.
Valerie, I’m sorry to hear about your son. There are a lot of different business ideas on my site, I’d start here: https://emmaleebates.com/small-scale-business/