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!