Life Hacks

By Tess Aronson

The 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 Ends With Us, or How to Break Up With Your Phone. There are several reasons that doing so is self-help, care, and develop-

ment. Firstly, it can be meditative. Creating time to put your phone aside and sit quietly with a book gives you time away from social pressures and to reflect. On a similar note, finding podcasts or playlists to listen to, perhaps while cleaning, cooking, or going on a walk, is also calming and educational. One book/audiobook that is particularly useful in the area of self-growth is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It is helpful if you are looking for small changes to make to your life that actually make a big difference, physically and emotionally. Another form of self-help that cannot be spoken more highly of is therapy. Many people have found it to be a space to share and reflect on their feelings, thoughts, and goals in a healthy and productive way, and to understand how all these things influence their actions and who they are as a person. Although therapy is absolutely a different experience for each person, in the experience of many, it provides a space to grow. These are just a few of the many ways to practice self-help and encourage self-growth, and is in no way an exhaustive list. Remember, self-help and development are completely dependent on your individual goals, desires, needs, and personality, and the best place to start is simply agreeing to commit to focusing on yourself and setting aside time to explore different paths and try different things.

Art by Christiana Im