7 Pillars of Self Development

Self-Development is taking steps to better yourself, such as by learning new skills or overcoming bad habits. It is a process of consciously improving oneself in various aspects of his or her life. It is the conscious pursuit of personal growth by improving personal skills, competencies, talents, and knowledge.

Here are the 7 steps of personal or self-development:-

1. Drink More Water

You should do this every morning. As soon as you get up, walk straight into your kitchen, pour out a glass of water and drink that right away. Carry a water bottle with you to drink throughout the day. Anywhere between 1-2 litres of water a day has been shown to keep you hydrated and focused.

2. Meditation

Three key reasons why meditation is an integral part of your success journey:
-> Meditation makes you happier.
-> Meditation helps you manage (mild) anxiety, stress and depression.
-> Meditation sharpens your mind and memory.

If you are new to meditation, it can be as easy as doing nothing for 10 minutes, just sitting on a chair comfortably and breathing.

3. Daily Movement

The old saying "use it or lose it" is very true. The reduced movement will result in your muscles reducing in strength, size and function over time.
Daily movement can help with:
-> Boosting your mood
-> Improving your sleep
-> Sharpening your focus
-> Reducing your stress

4. Learning and Reading

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr Seuss

Learning can come in many different forms. 

I like to listen to podcasts and read non-fiction books (generally on business, marketing or personal development).
Your learning or reading habits may look different, of course.
A pro-tip I would recommend is to read and learn about subjects that are actionable for you.

5. Daily Journaling

"I examine my entire day and go back over what I've done and said, hiding Nothing from myself, passing Nothing by." - Seneca
Life is a journey, and each day starts a new chapter in your life. Are you keeping track of your life and the successes and challenges that each chapter brings?
Journalling just after meditation has worked out pretty well for me. Give it a try.

6. Get To Bed Early

"There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep." - Homer's Odyssey 

When is the last time you did anything innovative and productive, something that really pushed the needle forward in your life, after about 9 or 10 pm in the evening?
You might be able to pull up one or two examples, but generally, 99% of the time, you are sitting on the sofa, maybe watching a TV show or cruising through your phone.
Creating a consistent evening routine can be very beneficial and will set you up for your next day.

7. Get Up Early

Getting up early is one of the most fundamental parts of building and compounding success habits in your life! Getting up early- could be anywhere between 4:30 to even 6:00 am, depending on your current waking time- to give yourself 1 or 2 hours in the morning before you start your regular work.
Move your wake up (and get up) time back 30 minutes a week until you have the 1-2 hours in the morning.