18. Goals for Personal Development: 10 Small Changes That Can Create a Big Impact with Analise Garcia
Updated: Sep 13
When you hear goals for personal development, what comes to mind?
A 5 a.m. morning routine?
Meditation.
Journaling.
Reading 52 books a year.
A spotless house.
A thriving business.
Perfectly regulated emotions.
Children who apparently never interrupt you while you're trying to improve yourself. 😂
Personal development can start sounding like another full-time job really quickly.
But I don't think that's what sustainable growth looks like.
Especially if you're a mom, an entrepreneur, working a full-time job—or some combination of all three. The most meaningful goals for personal development are often much smaller.
Reading five pages.
Taking five quiet minutes before reacting.
Listening to something encouraging while you're driving.
Writing down what's cluttering your brain.
Changing one sentence you repeat to yourself.
Learning how to come back from a bad day instead of deciding the entire week is ruined.
I talked about this on Go Get Great with Analise Garcia, mom, entrepreneur and creator of the Mommy Mindset podcast. Our conversation was really about what personal development looks like in real life—not the perfectly curated version of it.
And one of the biggest reminders was this: You don't need to become a completely different person overnight. You just need to keep becoming a little more intentional about the person you already are.
f we haven’t met yet, I’m Brittany — a mom of seven, home renovation enthusiast, an Amazon bestselling author, podcast host, and a business owner who’s all about keeping life real and doable. I know firsthand how messy, beautiful, and overwhelming motherhood can feel, and I share from that space of “in the trenches” right alongside you.
Here, you’ll find encouragement, practical tips, and honest conversations about balancing family, work, and your own sense of self. My hope is that you’ll walk away feeling a little lighter, a little more seen, and a whole lot more equipped to create a life that works for you and your family. Follow me on Instagram @brittanynmiller_ for more.
Meet Analise Garcia
Analise is mom of 2 and entrepreneur. Started her personal development journey in 2018 and fell in love with it. Through her journey of being a young mom, completing her degree and building her business she understands mindset is the most important thing to going after your dreams. She started Mommy Mindset Podcast in 2022 to help other moms build their mindset to become a present mom and build their dreams.
Analise is mom of 2 and entrepreneur. Started her personal development journey in 2018 and fell in love with it. Through her journey of being a young mom, completing her degree and building her business she understands mindset is the most important thing to going after your dreams. She started Mommy Mindset Podcast in 2022 to help other moms build their mindset to become a present mom and build their dreams.
Table of Contents
What Is Personal Development?
Personal development is a pretty broad phrase. It can include:
Mindset.
Confidence.
Habits.
Relationships.
Emotional regulation.
Career or business growth.
Health.
Boundaries.
Learning.
Self-awareness.
For me, I think the simplest definition is: Personal development is becoming more intentional about who you want to be and how you want to live.
That doesn't mean becoming perfect. And it definitely doesn't mean copying someone else's routine.
Analise described her own journey as asking questions like:
What kind of woman do I want to be?
What kind of mother do I want to be?
What do I want my children's lives to look like?
What beliefs are holding me back?
What needs to change if I want to move closer to the life I'm imagining?
Those questions matter because your personal development goals should actually belong to you.
Maybe you want more confidence.
Maybe you want to become more patient.
Maybe you want to create healthier habits.
Maybe you want to grow your business.
Maybe you want to stop losing yourself completely inside motherhood.
All of those count. So before you go buying all the personal development books out there, decide what area of personla development you'd actually like to work on for yourself. Analise and I both talk about our definitions of personal development and our journey through it, you can hear all about it in the full episode of the Go Get Great podcast here:
Why Personal Growth Is Important
If you've ever wondered why personal growth is important, I think the answer is that your internal world affects almost everything else.
How you talk to yourself affects how willing you are to try.
How you handle stress affects your relationships.
How you regulate your emotions affects your kids.
How much you trust yourself affects your business decisions.
How well you know your own values affects the life you build.
Personal development isn't about endlessly fixing yourself because you're somehow not enough already.
It's about becoming more aware.
More intentional.
More capable of responding instead of reacting.
And sometimes more willing to admit: This isn't working for me anymore.
Analise's story included seasons where she stepped away from social media and paused her podcast because her mental health and family needed more attention.
That wasn't failure. It was awareness. And I think that counts as personal development too.
10 Realistic Goals for Personal Development
If you want actual examples of self development goals, here are 10 I'd consider far more useful than trying to overhaul your entire life at once.
1. Become more aware of your thoughts
Start noticing the things you repeatedly tell yourself.
"I'm terrible at this."
"I never have enough time."
"I'm failing."
"Everyone else is ahead of me."
You don't have to replace every negative thought with forced positivity. Just start noticing the story. Awareness comes before change. Once you notice the patterns, you can start to pause and rewrite them.
2. Build a gratitude practice that doesn't feel fake
You don't need an elaborate (or expensive) gratitude journal. I use a spiral bound notebook from the dollar store and I started small.
Try identifying one thing you're grateful for, like coffee or:
Your warm house.
A healthy child.
A quiet drive.
A good conversation.
The goal isn't to pretend everything is wonderful, even grateful and happy people have bad days. It's to train yourself to notice that hard and good can exist at the same time. Once you get more conistent with one, add more. I try to write down 5 things I'm grateful for every day. Some days they are big things like welcoming new babies to our family, and sometimes they are small things like my toddler saying thank you after I give him a snack.
3. Read more intentionally
You don't have to read a book a week, and it doesn't have to be a self help book (although, there is lots to learn from those).
Try five pages of your favourite mystery novel.
Or ten minutes on Kindle while you wait for your kids after school.
Or one chapter on the weekend while you have a bubble bath after the kids go to bed.
The goal isn't volume. It's enjoyment, and ideally, finding ideas worth applying. Which is why it's helpful to read personal development books or biographies. Analise and I share some of our favourites later in the blog.
4. Learn to pause before reacting
This one is huge for parents. And entrepreneurs. And humans. 😂
When you're frustrated, try creating a tiny amount of space before responding.
Take a breath.
Walk away briefly if it's safe.
Ask yourself what you're actually reacting to.
That pause can change an entire interaction with your partner, your kids, your clients etc.
5. Make time for yourself without earning it first
You are allowed to read, walk, rest, exercise, journal or sit quietly before every task in your life is complete. Because they're never all going to be complete.
This is by far the one I struggle with the most and also the one I'm most intentional about trying to do (because I struggle with it).
Rest and hobbies don't need to come only after your to-do list is done. Oftentimes, some of my best business ideas come to me when I'm relaxed and doing non-work things like reading, gardening, driving, or doing puzzles. If I never took time to rest, these ideas never would have come to me.
I have guest Dr. Aprile Andelle on the podcast to talk about the importance of self care for mom's and entrepreneurs, you can tune in here to hear us discuss how to actually fit it into your busy days.
6. Improve the way you talk to yourself
Would you speak to your child the way you speak to yourself after making a mistake?
If not, that's worth examining your inner dialogue.
Self-compassion doesn't mean avoiding responsibility. It means you can learn something without emotionally destroying yourself in the process.
7. Become more present
Presence doesn't mean being available every second.
It might mean putting your phone away for 30 minutes.
Reading one book with your child and actually listening.
Having a conversation without answering an email simultaneously.
Small amounts of focused attention count in business and your personal life.
8. Create better boundaries
Personal growth isn't only about adding habits.
Sometimes the goal is doing less.
Say no.
Set work hours.
Stop answering messages immediately.
Protect family time.
Make room for rest.
Your ideal clients will understand and respect your boundaries, if you have clients that don't, it might be worth cutting them loose and protecting your peace.
You might also need to set boundaries in your personal life, so you have dedicated time to rest or work on your business.
9. Build emotional awareness
Learn the difference between: "Everyone is annoying me."
and: "I'm overwhelmed and overstimulated."
Those are very different pieces of information.
The more accurately you can name what you're feeling, the easier it becomes to respond to what you actually need.
10. Keep promises to yourself
Start small.
If you say you're going to read five pages, read five.
If you say you'll walk for 10 minutes, do 10.
If you say you're going to stop working at 6, try to stop at 6.
Self-trust is built through repetition. The more you follow through, the more confident you'll become.
Start Small Instead of Trying to Change Everything
One of the biggest mistakes we make with personal development is getting really excited and trying to become a whole new person by Monday, or on January 1st.
New wake-up time.
New meal plan.
Daily meditation.
Daily journaling.
Workout five times a week.
Read every night.
No phone after 7.
Drink three litres of water.
Become emotionally enlightened before breakfast. 😂
Then real life happens and the entire thing falls apart.
Small changes are much easier to repeat or restart when life gets busy.
Five pages.
Five minutes.
One habit.
One mindset shift.
One boundary.
Those things feel insignificant until you've been doing them for six months. That's when you realize small things compound and that building good habits doesn't have to mean overhauling your entire life overnight .
Use Meditation Without Making It Another Chore
Meditation isn't everyone's favourite thing. Analise and I both admitted we struggled with it at first because sitting still felt incredibly unproductive.
If I sit down quietly, my brain immediately starts reminding me about:
Laundry.
Emails.
Groceries.
Appointments.
That one weird thing I said in 2014. 😂
But meditation doesn't need to mean sitting cross-legged in complete silence for an hour.
You can treat it as a pause.
A few breaths.
A short guided meditation.
A moment to notice what your brain is doing before moving into the next part of your day.
The goal isn't to become amazing at meditation. It's to see whether intentional stillness helps you. Truthfully, I've seen the benefits of meditation but I'm still not a consistent meditator, but when I do make time for it I find that I'm more calm and creative.I love doing meditation and breathwork with my fellow co-author Ashlee Livingstone, who has also bee a guest on the podcast and leads listeners through a free breathwork session. Check it out here.
Make Journaling Easier
I think journaling gets unnecessarily intimidating. You buy the pretty journal. Open to page one. And suddenly feel like whatever you write needs to be deeply profound.
It doesn't.
Use it as a brain dump. Write:
What you're worried about
What you need to do
What's frustrating you
What you're excited about
What you've been avoiding
What you're grateful for
What you don't want to forget
If you're already a list person, journaling can basically be lists with feelings. 😂 There is no correct format.
My spiral notebook from the dollar store is also my journal, and I use it mostly to brain dump ideas so when I sit down to work or spend time with my kids I'm not getting distracted with thoughts about booking the dentist appointment I forgot to make 3 weeks ago.
Personal Development Books Worth Exploring
Books have been one of the easiest ways for both Analise and me to fit personal growth into busy seasons.
You don't necessarily need a formal course or hours of free time.
You can read a few pages before bed.
Listen to an audiobook in the car.
Read during your morning coffee.
Analise mentioned several authors and personal development books that influenced her journey, including:
Atomic Habits
The Energy Bus
The Power of One More
Work by Mel Robbins
Tony Robbins
Dean Graziosi
Ed Mylett
I've read the first three and agree they are great, especailly anything written by Mel Robbins.
And if you're looking for good personal development books, I'd actually recommend choosing based on the specific area you're trying to improve.
Want better habits? Choose a habits book like Atomic Habits.
Working on confidence? Look for something focused there.
Trying to build a business? Choose a book that supports leadership, mindset or entrepreneurship. If you need some inspiration, I have a whole blog post sharing my recommended reads for aspiring and new entrepreneurs.
The goal isn't to consume every book for personal development someone recommends online. It's to find the one idea you actually use. A book you apply is worth far more than 20 books you highlight and forget.
Change “I Have To” Into “I Get To”
This was one of the smallest ideas we discussed—and one of my favourites.
Change: "I have to…" into: "I get to…"
I have to grocery shop. → I get to buy food for my family.
I have to take the kids to practice. → I get to support my kids doing something they enjoy.
I have to work on my business today. → I get to build something that supports our family.
Now, does this mean I experience profound joy every time I walk into a grocery store with children? Absolutely not. 😂
Some things are still annoying. This isn't about toxic positivity. It's about noticing when your language is adding unnecessary resistance.
Sometimes the responsibility is also a privilege. Both things can be true.
Personal Development as a Mom
One of the biggest themes in my conversation with Analise was identity.
Motherhood can become huge, especially when your children are little.
They need you constantly and slowly your interests, hobbies, goals and identity can become buried underneath everything you're responsible for.
Personal development can be a way of reconnecting with the person underneath "Mom."
That isn't selfish.
Your kids don't need you to erase yourself for them.
And there is another benefit: They're watching you.
They watch how you respond when you're overwhelmed.
How you talk to yourself after making a mistake.
Whether you apologize.
Whether you rest.
Whether you pursue things that matter to you.
Whether you keep learning.
Analise talked about using simple emotional language with children: "Mommy is feeling overwhelmed and needs a minute."
"I'm frustrated, so I'm going to take some breaths."
"I feel sad. It's okay to feel sad."
That's personal development becoming family culture. You don't have to model perfection. You can model growth.
Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth
I've become less and less convinced that work-life balance means every area of your life gets an equal amount of attention every day.
That's just not reality.
Some days business needs more.
Sometimes your kids need everything.
Sometimes the house is demanding attention.
Sometimes you need more.
The goal is awareness and boundaries.
If you work from home, it can be particularly difficult because you're technically "with" your family while also trying to work.
But proximity isn't always presence (yet another lesson I've learned the hard way).
You might be beside your child while thinking about an email, editing something or trying desperately not to lose the sentence you were writing.
That doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you someone trying to do several things at once.
Instead of expecting hours of perfect family presence, look for smaller intentional pockets.
Thirty minutes without your phone.
Bedtime.
Reading a book.
A conversation.
Dinner.
A walk.
Focused time can matter more than being physically available but mentally somewhere else all day.
What to Do After a Bad Day
Personal development becomes particularly useful when things aren't going well, because there will be bad days.
You'll snap at someone.
Work will frustrate you.
Your kids will have big emotions.
You'll get behind.
You'll feel completely overwhelmed.
The goal isn't to never have one of those days. It's learning how to recover from one.
Analise suggested stepping away from the immediate frustration when possible. Then ask:
What is actually upsetting me?
Am I tired?
Have I eaten?
Am I dehydrated?
Do I need quiet?
Fresh air?
Movement?
Help?
Rest?
Sometimes the answer to your existential crisis is lunch. Not always. But sometimes. 😂
And that's useful information. If you're burned out, your body may be asking you to slow down before it forces you to. Like we've said before, you don't have to earn the pause.
After you pause, make sure you start again the next day, don't let one bad day derail your personal development growth.
Examples of Self Development Goals
If you want a quick list of examples of self development goals, try choosing one from each area that matters to you:
Mindset goals
Practice gratitude once a day
Notice negative self-talk
Replace one limiting belief
Celebrate progress more often
Emotional goals
Name emotions more accurately
Pause before reacting
Ask for help sooner
Practice self-compassion after mistakes
Habit goals
Read five pages a day
Journal twice a week
Take a short walk
Use your phone less during family time
Relationship goals
Listen without multitasking
Communicate needs more clearly
Create one intentional family ritual
Set healthier boundaries
Business or career goals
Speak more confidently about your work
Build a consistent marketing habit
Learn one new skill
Stop comparing your timeline to someone else's
You don't need all of these. Pick the one that feels useful now. Make it a habit (usually takes 2-4 weeks) and then come back and choose another one to work on.
Goals for Personal Development FAQs
What are good goals for personal development?
Good personal development goals are specific enough to act on and realistic enough to maintain. Examples include reading regularly, improving emotional awareness, practicing gratitude, setting better boundaries, increasing confidence, learning a skill or becoming more intentional about how you use your time.
What are examples of self development goals?
Examples include journaling a few times a week, reading five pages a day, taking a pause before reacting when you're frustrated, creating healthier work boundaries, practicing gratitude, improving communication or making more time for hobbies and interests outside of work or parenting.
Why is personal growth important?
Personal growth can increase self-awareness, confidence, emotional regulation and intentional decision-making. It can also improve how you navigate relationships, parenting, business and stressful situations because you become more aware of your patterns and how you want to respond.
What are some good personal development books?
The best personal development books depend on your goal. Books such as Atomic Habits, The Energy Bus and The Power of One More were discussed in my conversation with Analise. Look for books that directly support the area you're trying to improve rather than trying to read every popular self-help title.
How can I work on personal development when I don't have much time?
Use time you already have. Listen to a podcast while driving or doing chores, read a few pages before bed, journal while having coffee or take five intentional minutes when you're feeling overwhelmed. Personal growth doesn't require hours of uninterrupted time.
Is personal development selfish for moms?
No. Personal development can help you maintain a sense of identity, regulate emotions, communicate more effectively and model healthy growth for your children. You can love motherhood deeply and still have goals that belong to you.
How many personal development goals should I have?
Start with one or two. Too many goals can turn personal growth into another source of pressure. Choose the habit or area that would make the greatest difference right now, practice it consistently and add something new later if it still feels helpful.
Final Thoughts: Growth Doesn't Have to Be Dramatic
Personal development doesn't require a dramatic transformation. You don't need to wake up tomorrow as the most emotionally regulated, productive, confident version of yourself.
You can just start paying attention.
To your thoughts.
Your habits.
Your reactions.
Your boundaries.
Your energy.
Your dreams.
And what actually helps you feel more like yourself.
Your goals for personal development can change as your life changes.
They can pause when a newborn arrives.
They can shift when your business grows.
They can become smaller during difficult seasons.
They can get bigger when you have more capacity.
That's not inconsistency. That's life.
Keep it simple. Choose something meaningful. Do it often enough for it to matter. Give yourself grace when you miss a day. Then come back.
Because most personal growth isn't one giant breakthrough. It's a lot of very small choices that eventually change the way you live.
Episode References:
Meet Analise
Follow her on Insta @analise_gorgeous
Check out the Mommy Mindset Podcast
Come say hi!
Give us a follow if you're ready to take life from good to great, you'll be the first to know when we share more about motherhood and business. If it really resonated, the kids and I would do a happy dance if you left us a review 💗 ~ Brittany
0:00 Intro 1:00 Introductions 3:21 Defining personal development 7:40 How to get started with personal development 12:50 Small changes make a huge impact 15:50 Leading by example with children 18:40 Our favourite part of podcasting 22:00 Parenting & self-help techniques 24:30 Work-life balance and how we make it work 29:00 Picking yourself back up after bad days 34:30 Wrap up
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