6 Ways To Use Technology For Personal Development
We all strive to become better versions of ourselves and evolve as people. However, you may feel like you don’t have the time to invest in personal development or don’t know where to start. Luckily with the technology available today, improving personal development and accessing self-improvement material has never been easier.
Books on a tablet or E-reader
Perhaps the most recognized and widely used method of improving personal development is through reading Self-improvement books. There are thousands of quality books out there on the subject that have helped many people reach their goals. It is now easier than ever to access all this material with Tablets and E-readers.
Self-improvement books reinforce positive thoughts and teach lessons about making better life decisions. Consistently reading the books and hearing these messages will make you a much more positive person and improve the decisions and actions in your life. Personal development is all about expanding knowledge and reading is one of the easiest ways to achieve this. Treat every book as a key to unlock knowledge about yourself and you will continue to want to read new material. Here is a great list of some of the best Self-improvement books that have been written; you would be surprised how many are available on your tablet!
25 Best Self-improvement Books
Productivity Technology
Productivity apps can help all people become better workers and feel better about the way you work. There are time-tracking apps that help you find your work habits and patterns so you can find ways to improve them and become more productive. Some of my favorites are Toggl, Hours, and Qbserve. Several of these apps also include task management tools to keep to-do lists organized, share tasks with others, and juggle all the madness going on in your life. If you have trouble staying on task they also have services for time- tracking to make sure you are working efficiently or apps to keep you off sites that will distract you. We all have times when we could use some help making sure we are working as efficient as possible and productivity apps can do that.
Self-Improvement Podcasts
Podcasts are excellent for people seeking advice on self-improvement but don’t enjoy reading or don’t have the time. They can be great when you are commuting to work, sitting at your desk or working out. Podcasts help balance a busy schedule with the need for self-improvement. Podcasts have become extremely popular over the past years because they are accessible from anywhere on any device. Because I am constantly moving and don’t have as much time to read as I would like, podcasts have easily become my favorite method of accessing this information. There are thousands of podcasts available on many platforms that help with stress, lack of energy or motivation, depression; anything that is holding you back from reaching your goals. Here are a couple lists of the best personal development podcasts available right now:
22 Best Personal Development Podcasts
Online Journal Technology
Today there are many online journal options available for those who would rather type or use a tablet/ device than put their thoughts down on paper. Sometimes this is also just more convenient when you are on the move. Journaling helps you learn more about yourself and the way you work. We all have thoughts, challenges, and experiences that change the way we perform at work. Recording these thoughts and feelings helps find trends in your behavior that are destructive while also helping to formulate more productive ways of handling situations going forward. It can also lead to developing emotional intelligence, which allows you to relate to other people. Having a better understanding of yourself can lead to success, while also helping others around you. It also helps set, track and work towards short, medium and long-term goals. Writing these goals down and charting progress will help towards achievement. This was my number one personal development tip in my article: 7 Personal Development Tips To Make 2018 Your Best Year Ever. There are tons of options out there to help with this, but my favorite is Day One. This app offers a ton of features; You can create journal entries in just one click, use templates to make journaling easier, insert photos and videos, password-protect your journal, and auto add metadata like location, weather, and motion activity. The app also has the best look and is the easiest to use in my opinion.
Workout/ Fitness Technology
Everyone knows exercise is an extremely important part of our lives. It keeps us healthy and keeps us alive longer. Today there are hundreds of fitness apps available, many free, for athletes of all shapes, sizes, abilities and most importantly schedules. Most of us are so busy it is hard to fit in time to work out. However, overlooking your fitness not only impacts your health but will also affects your performance at work. Exercising improves memory, concentration, self-esteem, and will help you keep a positive attitude. Many of the apps have quick exercises designed for people with a tight schedule and limited time to work out. Go find the app that works best for your ideal workout and schedule.
Here are some of my favorites:
Running: Interval Time, Map My Fitness, Strava
Home Training: Stacked, Sworkit, Keelo
Workout Community: Zenrez, Bvddy, Aaptiv, Pump Up
Stress Management Technology
Without proper stress management, it is impossible to grow as a person. Using these apps can reduce stress and anxiety which leads to better attention and awareness. Some stress management apps contain breathing exercises that help with anger management, mood stabilization and again reduced stress and anxiety. Using these tools can lead to making sure you are always performing at your absolute best and more enjoyable to be around. I haven’t had a chance to play around with too many of these apps but one that I have used and enjoyed was Headspace. As someone with no experience with meditation, this was a great app for me because it easily walked me through several different exercises. I could tell right away that my mood was improving and I will definitely use it again. I don’t consider myself someone with anger management or anxiety issues but if these tools are available and make you feel better about yourself and happier, why not take advantage of them.
These are just a few examples of ways you can use the technology available to work towards becoming the best you. I hope you enjoyed reading and this information helps. If you have any other suggestions or tips let me know!
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7 Personal Development Tips To Make 2018 Your Best Year Ever
1. Take Notes/ Diary-
Learn more about yourself and the way you work. We all have thoughts, challenges, and experiences that change the way we perform at work. Recording these thoughts and feelings helps find trends in your behavior that are destructive while also helping to formulate more productive ways of handling situations going forward. It can also lead to developing emotional intelligence, which allows you to relate to other people. Having a better understanding of yourself can lead to success, while also helping others around you. It also helps set, track and work towards short, medium and long-term goals.
2. Create Goals
Create and write down goals for your professional life and your life outside of the office. This will help prioritize your tasks. If you are working towards something you are passionate about, you become engaged, and inspired. This carries over into the workplace. Reward yourself when you are able to complete challenges and then set more!
3. Invest In Yourself
“What got you here won’t get you there.”
Most of us are always looking to improve ourselves but not everyone actually does something about it. Attend conferences, organizations, volunteer time, go see speakers, conferences, continue education, read books. With so many options out there, even free ones, there is no reason not to continue to invest in yourself and gain more knowledge.
4. Set Time To Exercise
When you are busy at work, fitness and exercise is often the first thing to go. Overlooking this area of your life doesn’t just negatively impact your health, it affects your performance at work. The benefits from exercising include improved memory, better concentration, and a positive attitude. It also helps you stay present at work and make better decisions based on what is happening in the moment, rather than out of emotion or societal pressure.
5. Vent
Do a cleanse— a brief sharing of anything going on that day that might be bringing you down. You might be sick or have someone sick at home. You might be feeling pressure at work or had a disagreement with someone. Airing it out right away keeps you from being distracted and helps keep you present and engaged. Acknowledging it and giving it a few minutes of discussion can clear the air and allow everyone to participate fully without distraction.
6. Get More Sleep
Doctors have linked getting a healthy amount of sleep to increased creativity, increased muscle mass and loss of fat with exercise, improved memory and attention, decreased risk of depression, lowered stress and even a longer life span. Using stimulants like caffeine or energy drinks is only a short-term solution and will lead to long term health issues.
7. Travel When Possible
If you can manage the time, traveling can lead to great personal development. That being said, it doesn’t have to be a long trip or an expensive one, sometimes it’s the opposite that are the most rewarding. If you stay in one place you can lose touch with the world around you. Traveling improves your communication skills, inspires creativity, and gives you an appreciation for everything in your life and around you. It often times pushes you outside your comfort zone which always leads to self- discovery. Get out there and see the world!
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How To Train Your Brain To Go Positive Instead Of Negative
Sometimes it can feel like we live in a pretty negative world – and if you watch the news, it seems like it is getting more negative by the day. We see all the terrible things going on around us, and it grinds us down.
But what if things weren’t really as bad as it seems? What if this was a trick that your brain was playing on you?
Your brain is conditioned from birth to see the negative and overlook the positive. While we are constantly seeking positives and rewards, we are always fighting our brains and our nature. This all sounds very negative itself, but there is some silver lining out there.
Why Does Your Brain Go Negative?
Before looking for the solution, it is a good idea to look at why our brains seem to automatically see the world through a negative lens. According to Loretta Breuning of the Inner Mammal Institute:
- Chemistry Hurts – Our body is made up of a variety of chemicals. Some are good, some are not so good. Chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin fall into the category of “happy” chemicals and create senses of pleasure or satisfaction. Our body releases these in short spurts only, which are metabolized quickly. This pushes us to keep seeking way to stimulate these chemicals. On the opposite end of the spectrum is cortisol, a chemical that surges to connect all the neurons active at a single moment, causing the feeling of pain. It’s effective – it motivates you to focus on the cause of the release and work to make it stop. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of not noticing much else except the solution to stop the pain or discomfort.
- We are Surrounded by Triggers – Our ancestors were surrounded by dangers, and so are we – albeit of different strains. While they may have had to worry about wild animals, we are more worried about disappointment or failure. Either way, your brain soon learns what to associate with good, and what to associate with bad.
- Our Brains Learn from Pain – Your mind remembers what triggers that shot of cortisol, and it learns to scan for that trigger. This is necessary to help us avoid dangers, but also means the brain focuses only on the negatives we come across. Someone who is allergic to bees will constantly be scanning for bees. So they might not notice the beautiful patch of flowers that surrounds the single buzzing bee.
- The Difficulty of Being Social – We are an inherently social species, which brings its own set of difficulties. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others, which can lead to a constant back-and-forth of serotonin and cortisol. When our brain sees we are in a position of weakness, we get a dose of cortisol. When it sees we are in a position of dominance, we get a shot of serotonin. The serotonin is processed faster, meaning we then need to try again for the social reward. There’s a flip-side to this – we also need social support. Our brain seeks safety in the herd, and releases oxytocin when we find safety in social support. But when we move away from the herd and safety, or when the herd itself is threatened, it releases cortisol in alarm. So your brain is sending mixed signals – you may feel safe in the herd and get oxytocin, but at the same time find yourself in a position of weakness, releasing the cortisol. This will cause mixed feelings, and can lead to anxiety in social settings.
Retraining Your Brain
The good news is that you can retrain your brain to look for positives in your everyday life. There are a few methods to try – choose one, or try all of them to find what works best!
Build a Positivity Circuit
Three times a day, every day, spend one minute looking around specifically for positives. This helps to retrain your brain, making it look for positives in the same way it looks for negatives. While Dr. Breuning recommends you do this for forty five days, there really is no reason to stop after that.
The hope is that you’ll retrain your brain that it will automatically search for those positives after that time period. This may be a little ambitious, and if you find that your brain isn’t kicking in to find those positives, keep actively looking for them until it does.
Give Positive Feedback Every Day
Let people know that you are recognizing positives, no matter how recent they are. This could mean taking a minute and saying thank you to the co-worker that helped you on a project. It could mean digging up an old mentor, such as a college professor or high school teacher, and thanking them for advice they may have given that you now use every day.
Learn How To Pivot
If you find yourself thinking negatively, stop and think about where you would find yourself if you turned 180 degrees from this way of thinking. In her piece, Dr. Breuning puts forth the Dog Poop example.
For the longest time, people didn’t clean up after their pets, so there was dog poop everywhere. Now that it is common that people pick up after their dogs, we don’t think about the fact that we aren’t dodging dog poop land mines at every turn. We do, however, notice when people fail to pick up, and it often triggers some outrage.
Instead of getting mad and focusing on the negative – the dog poop that is there – think about the positive. Focus on the fact that 99% of the people are picking up after their dogs.
Pay It Forward
We’ve all heard about those “pay it forward” moments at Starbucks or McDonald’s, but you don’t need to shell out to the fast-food chains to achieve this. Just perform small acts of kindness that will help other people. Helping others or making others feel good will boost your own positivity.
Take Care of Yourself
Your health can impact your outlook. If you are eating well, sleeping well, and exercising appropriately, you are more likely to have a positive outlook. This isn’t just an old wives tale either – while they haven’t pinpointed the exact reason why it is, universities such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Kansas have noted this link. Take an honest, critical look at how you treat your body and what you put in it.
Release Your Inner Negativity
Center your thoughts on things that make you happy, helping to direct your mind toward the positive. Constant negativity and habitual skepticism will influence your decisions, and keep you in a constant negative loop.
So let it go. Stop letting negatives drag you down and limit your potential. Control your thoughts, centering on things that make you happy. If you start feeling frazzled, stressed, or distracted, calm your mind and slow down. Even pause what you are doing, if only for a moment, and clear your mind of negative thoughts. Then, get moving again on the right foot.
Bring Positivity into the Present Moment
By practicing mindfulness – and making a habit of it – you stop your subconscious mind from doing the driving. Having your conscious mind drive decisions will help you to focus your thoughts towards a more positive, balanced approach. A great way to do this is by asking yourself question, such as:
- What can I do right now that will give me joy?
- What am I grateful for at this moment?
- Is there something I can do to give someone else happiness right now?
- How can I demonstrate gratitude?
By retraining your brain to go positive instead of negative, you can change your outlook on life. You will feel better and you will likely see improvements in your social and professional life. As noted here, there have been numerous studies on the effects of positivity, with effects of positivity ranging from improved immune response to a virus to being able to perform better at your job.
It may seem negative to tell you that you won’t see changes overnight, but that’s simply reality. You’re fighting against centuries of bred instincts and evolved chemical systems. But you will see changes and, over time, you will be able to train your brain to look for the positives in life.