Creating a personal development plan

We tend to think about personal development as an ongoing process, like a river flowing continuously. But if you are swimming in that river every so often, you have to take a deep breath and reanalyze your plans and what your next step is.

Whether you’re starting out in a new career, chasing your next promotion, or looking to strengthen your relationship with yourself and others, implementing a personal development plan (PDP) will be very effective in your growth!

While we often go on throughout life basically on autopilot, sometimes it’s worth it to take time to re-evaluate. Follow these steps below to help propel your future!

1. Set Goals
   

First, think about the goals that are easily obtainable and simple to achieve. Then, if you imagined your life in five years, where would you be? What would you be doing? What is your career? 
Hard questions to answer, but if you separate them into a step by step process, it can help you thoroughly analyze what you want out of life!

 2. Prioritize

You know what’s most important in your every day versus what can wait. So learn to prioritize in your day what is vital for you to do and what can wait. For example, working on that assignment due tonight is more important than binging that new Netflix show.

  3. Track Your Progress

Things can move fast or slowly; whichever it is, it’s ok! Don’t rush it; take the time to perfect it. 
Track your everyday process with whatever you want to focus on, whether it’s your career, relationships or self-care; track all of it because even the most minor accomplishments are big ones.

 4. Set reminders

Don’t sell yourself short. Set reminders on your phone to keep you on track with what you need to get done involving your development plan. And if those reminders don’t work on the phone, try writing it down in a journal, notepad, or task list.

 5. Take it easy

Following a development plan or any plan isn’t simple, and if you fall off, don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, take it easy on yourself and remember that any accomplishment is a big one!

Follow these steps and become aligned with your purpose and what you want the most out of life! Having a plan in place will help keep you on track with your wants and needs.