Personal growth is a journey worth pursuing at any phase of life, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Though some pundits have dubbed 2020 a “lost year” due to the many opportunities taken off the table by this novel coronavirus, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn and become a more resilient person in response to the pandemic. Here are some takeaways you can use to get started. 

1. Learn New Things

Continuous learning is a goal you can commit to, even if your school days are long behind you. If you’ve found yourself with extra downtime due to COVID-19, use it to take a class or hone a new skill. It doesn’t matter whether you’re learning something that will serve you well in your career or brushing up on a topic you’ve always wanted to know more about; the crucial thing is that you’re expanding your mind and challenging yourself. Plenty of free online classes exist to help you achieve this goal, whether you want to explore art history or become a competent coder. 

2. Serve Others

Another valuable personal growth strategy is to expand your horizons by volunteering for a cause you believe in. You’ll give yourself an all-natural mood boost, while supporting your community and helping those less fortunate. Helping others can also aid in your personal development by growing your ability to empathize and by expanding your worldview.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Personal growth requires stamina, resilience and enthusiasm, which is why it’s impossible to change for the better if you aren’t looking after yourself. Eat a healthy diet, exercise daily and get enough sleep. Allow yourself time and space to relax and be present through activities like yoga and meditation. Make your well-being a priority, and reap the rewards. 

4. Practice Mindfulness

As tempting as it might be to spend your spare time binge-watching the latest Netflix hit or losing hours scrolling through social media, those activities don’t contribute to your mental health. As much as possible, keep your attention in the present moment. Give your full focus to the person you’re with or the activity you’re doing, even if it doesn’t make you feel inspired. Don’t let yourself worry about the future or get trapped in unproductive reminiscing about the past. 

5. Love Yourself

When was the last time you tuned into your internal monologue? Was it mostly healthy and positive, or did you notice self-defeating thoughts like “You’ll never succeed” or “You don’t deserve to be happy”? If you live with a barrage of constant negativity, you’ll eventually start to believe the worst about yourself. Part of personal growth involves embracing positive thinking. If you practice affirming self-talk, you can retrain your brain to believe that you’re worthy of love and respect. Make confident thinking a habit, and optimism will eventually become your default state of mind.  

Personalized Care When You Need It

At Serene Behavioral Health, we offer four levels of mental health care tailored to improve your well-being, wherever you are in life. If you’re struggling with your personal growth, reach out to us anytime.