Self-Improvement Month: 10 Ways to Work on Personal Growth

With the arrival of September, we savor the last moments of summer and prepare to welcome fall as we enter the final stretch of the year. Fittingly, September is also self-improvement month. 

While summer is a time to take it easy and enjoy vacation time, the fall often feels like the final sprint to the end of the year. September marks a transitional period between the first two-thirds of the year and the last, making it a great time to evaluate how far you’ve come and what else you’d like to accomplish before the year ends. 

Self-improvement month is a good time to look at the goals you set earlier in the year and evaluate if you’re on track to meet them or need to make adjustments. Your values or priorities may have changed over the last few months, so it’s a good idea to check in with yourself and reassess.

Why Self-Improvement Matters

The only way to become the best possible version of ourselves is by constantly working on improving who we are. By continuing to develop our knowledge, skills, habits, and mindset, we get closer to embodying the most authentic version of ourselves.

Self-improvement allows us to become better partners, friends, bosses, or employees and helps us attract the right people into our lives.

We are never too old or too wise for self-improvement. Growth and self-improvement are lifelong feats we should all be undergoing to give ourselves the best possible chance at happiness and wellbeing.

Working on self-improvement can help you increase self-awareness and self-love, build resilience and grit, enhance your strengths, overcome weaknesses, heal relationships, improve mental health and give you a sense of purpose.

10 Ways to Work on Personal Growth During Self-Improvement Month

1. Set or adjust your goals for the rest of the year

Review the goals you’ve previously set for the year, determine which are still a priority, and design your plan to achieve those goals over the next few months. This is also a good time to set new goals for the coming weeks or even the next year. Be sure to choose goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable; otherwise, it’s difficult to determine if you’ve accomplished them.

2. Create a vision board

Vision boards are fun to make but can also be a powerful manifestation tool. You can use construction paper and make a collage you can hang or maybe create a smaller vision board in your bullet journal – use magazine clippings, photos, printouts, and words that represent your goals and dreams. Look at it each day and imagine what it feels like to already have everything you desire.

3. Build a morning routine

A morning routine helps you get the day started on the right foot. Rushing out of bed just to run out the door or spending hours scrolling through your phone before starting the day aren’t ways to set yourself up for a successful day. Instead, be more intentional with how you spend those precious minutes or hours in the morning. A morning routine should revolve around self-care and help you feel a sense of accomplishment before you’ve even started tackling your to-do list.

4. Read a book on personal growth

Personal growth books can be a source of knowledge and inspiration. These books often provide us with a new outlook on a problem we’re currently facing, as well as possible solutions. In addition, they teach us about psychology and how our minds work so that we can hack our brains and understand ourselves better to become the most effective version of ourselves.

5. Learn a new skill

If you’ve wanted to learn a new skill for a while, self-improvement month is a great time to commit to it! Learning a new skill is a great way to challenge yourself and grow. It could be a practical skill that helps you in your career, or it can be hobby-related. Just remember to practice it often, and you’ll become a master of it in no time.  

6. Implement a new habit

When thinking about your goals for the rest of this year, consider what habits you need to implement to get you there. For example, are you trying to lose weight? You may want to adopt daily walks and eating healthy as habits to get started. Want to create and stick to a morning routine every day? You may need to get in the habit of waking up 30 minutes earlier. Figure out which habits will get you to your goals and start tracking them to hold yourself accountable.  

7. Find a mentor or coach

If you’re feeling a bit stuck and don’t know what your next move should be, a mentor or coach can be a helpful ally to have. Coaches and mentors can provide advice and guidance and serve as an accountability partner you check in with regularly to ensure you stay on track with your goals.

8. Volunteer

Volunteering can do wonders for our wellbeing – it gives us a sense of purpose, increases self-esteem, boosts happiness, and connects us with our community. Additionally, giving our time and energy to a worthy cause cultivates kindness, empathy, and compassion within us. In turn, we’re more likely to express these qualities toward the people closest to us, strengthening our relationships.

9. Enroll in a class

 Maybe you’ve always wanted to go back to school for your Master’s, or maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a foreign language – self-improvement month is a great time to take a chance on yourself. Even if you don’t want to commit to an entire program, you can sign up for one-off courses at your local college, or there are plenty of free and affordable options you can take online. Expanding your knowledge is a great way to work on personal development.

10. Reflect on your growth

Reflecting on our growth is just as important as working towards expanding it. Doing so allows you to appreciate how far you’ve come and see how much you’re capable of accomplishing. Without reflecting on our successes, we miss out on a great opportunity to boost our confidence and self-esteem. So go ahead and reward yourself for something you’re proud of accomplishing!