Life Hacks By Tess Aronson
T
he emphasis on selfhelp and self-development seems to be stronger than ever before, and it looks different for everyone. But why is this so? Maybe it is because we are at the age where we actually have to become functioning, self-sufficient adults, or maybe it is a signifier of a change in what society prioritizes. Instead of solely competing and comparing ourselves to others, there is a shift in focus to looking internally and prioritizing self-growth. Selfhelp and development are also closely intertwined with self care, in the sense that they all prioritize focusing on your one’s own needs and wants and sometimes pushing the boundaries of comfort zones. Depending on your personal wants and needs, self-help and development can look like calling a friend or family member, reading a book, giving yourself time to do absolutely nothing and lying in bed, committing to learning how to do something new, going to therapy, or anything else that makes you feel like you are taking your goals and needs into consideration. Although these practices are truly unique to each person as they depend on your personal goals, interests, and willingness, here are a couple examples of what may be considered to be self-help, development, and care. One thing—perhaps the most obvious, accessible, and trending one right now—is finding time to read. If you are on any social media, you have probably heard about all the trending authors like Colleen Hoover, Sally Rooney, or books, like It EndsWith Us, or How to Break UpWithYour Phone. There are several reasons that doing so is self-help, care, and develop-
THE BULLETIN -
16 - nov/dec 2021
