What Should You Include in a Personal Development Plan?
Have you ever felt like you’re constantly reacting instead of intentionally growing?
It’s something I’ve thought about a lot. When you’re juggling parenting, work, and just staying mentally afloat, it’s easy to lose sight of who you want to become. That’s where a personal development plan becomes more than just a productivity hack — it’s a sanity saver.
Over the years working with parents, I’ve seen firsthand how the most consistent breakthroughs happen when people slow down, clear the noise, and decide what actually matters. That starts with a plan — but not the rigid kind that ends up collecting dust in some drawer.
Start with a clean slate
This is something Dr. Selk always brings up in sessions: You can’t build anything solid if the ground is cluttered. That means getting enough sleep, cleaning up your environment (even just a room), and writing down all those looping thoughts in your head. *Emptying the mental clutter* gives you room to think clearly.
We’ve seen this time and time again — once parents stop trying to stack new habits on top of exhaustion, and instead just *reset*, everything becomes easier. You’ll notice your motivation comes back. Your attention sharpens. You breathe better. It’s simple, but wildly effective.
Pick one priority — not ten
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably written lists of goals before that were so long they turned into stress triggers. Don’t do that. I recommend picking one core focus. That’s it. For six weeks. Maybe it’s reconnecting with your partner. Maybe it’s feeling less anxious. Whatever it is, keep it small enough to not scare you off.
From there, identify what actions feed that goal. Daily walks? A nightly check-in with your spouse? Tracking your thoughts in a journal? Just choose one anchor habit. Then commit to it like your mental health depends on it — because it often does.
One of the most effective techniques for anchoring your day is using a dedicated journal. It's simple, physical, and helps bring wandering thoughts back to center.
Use goal frameworks that actually work
I like the SMART method because it cuts the fluff. Be specific, make it measurable, be honest about what’s attainable, keep it relevant, and give it a timeline. You can check out how to write smart personal development goals if you want to get detailed here.
I find that once someone gets clear on their focus and wraps it in a SMART format, they stop overthinking and just start doing.
Focus on your real growth areas
Your plan should match your life stage and stress points. This isn’t a corporate development seminar. This is your actual life. That’s why I always point people to the areas of holistic personal growth. These include your mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual health. If one of those is clearly depleted — start there.
For example, a lot of moms I talk to are struggling with burnout. If that’s you, maybe physical energy and emotional resilience should be the first categories you work on. Not career development. Not productivity hacks.
Track, review, adjust
What you don’t measure, you forget. I personally use a weekly tracker that asks two things: "Did I do what I said I would?" and "How did it affect me?" That’s it. You don’t need complicated templates. Just use something simple and honest.
Here’s practical examples for planning development at different life stages if you’re not sure where to start. It’s a helpful tool if you’re customizing your approach based on age, parenting phase, or mental bandwidth.
And if you want more in-depth psychology behind why this works, check out a comprehensive breakdown of what makes an effective plan.
Keep it human
Some of the best advice I’ve ever given actually came from asking parents what *wasn’t* working. And it usually came down to trying too hard, too fast. You don’t need a five-year plan. You need clarity on this week.
I always tell people: Don’t confuse personal growth with personal pressure. You are not a project. You're a person. A good plan gives you space to grow without guilt-tripping yourself.
And if you ever feel like you’re stuck or unsure where to begin, you can find *steps to building a personal development plan that works* right here on our site.
If you’re already using the Level Up app, this is a great place to track your habit and goal progress in your daily check-ins.
References
- "Personal Development Plan". Positive Psychology, https://positivepsychology.com/personal-development-plan/
"How to Write a Personal Development Plan". Hays Career Advice, https://www.hays.com.au/career-advice/career-development/personal-development-plan