Personal development involves continuously working on yourself by learning, improving, and growing, and that includes opportunities to further your career, hobbies, or other activities. Fortunately, there are plenty of self-development opportunities in and around Washington, D.C. In fact, the area is one of the best places to live if you wish to improve your life skills.
Perhaps you want to focus on your well-being or general career development to have a competitive edge for the city’s fastest-growing jobs. Maybe sharpening technical skills is your priority, or maybe you’ve got something else in mind entirely. Whatever your personal or professional goals are, this guide will help you identify opportunities in D.C. to take them to the next level.
What is Personal Development?
Because by nature personal development is, well, personal, it’s fairly difficult to define it in concrete terms. Often used interchangeably with the term “self improvement,” personal development means something different for everyone:
- Personal development is putting in the work to learn, grow, or improve.
- For many people, it means learning a new language or hobby.
- For others, it could be getting better at time management or a job-related skill.
- It’s also important to note that personal development is not a one-time thing but a lifelong process.
Although it sounds like a cliché, there is always room for improvement no matter how talented you are at something — whether it be naturally or through carefully fine-tuning your skills. Knowing where your strengths lie and what areas of your life could use improvement can help you in many aspects, from furthering your career to reducing stress levels and deepening relationships.
D.C. Personal Development Opportunities
This is exactly why taking advantage of personal development opportunities in Washington, D.C. is so important. The city has several options for every personality type, learning style, and budget, including individual classes and seminars, ongoing courses, online tutorials, and more.
Here’s a quick look at some of the top providers, what they offer, and how their offerings might help you on your journey of personal development
Thinkful DC
Thinkful is an innovative online accelerator designed to help people with career advancement, job-related education, and professional networking. The company offers online classes and webinars, many of them free, to improve your opportunities for workplace growth, confidence, and success. There are even regular in-person happy hours and workshops for connecting with others in the area who share your growth mindset or perspective. Check out Thinkful’s free online offerings or contact the company directly for more in-depth online learning options to further your life goals.
VIP Innovations
Professional life coach Eva Jenkins offers one-on-one career and personal development coaching sessions through her VIP Innovations brand. Jenkins prioritizes goal setting and creating a strategy for achieving those goals. She specializes in helping clients improve factors like communication skills, self-confidence, and healthy work-life balance to make a difference in their lifetime work habits. In order to get started with VIP Innovations, call for a free consultation. Phone and in-person sessions are available.
DC Accelerator
The application-based DC Accelerator is a nine-month development program for young professionals. You may also apply if you’re a graduate student. DC Accelerator offers monthly training sessions and workshops, as well as bi-weekly professional coaching in a pod format with CEOs and entrepreneurs. Events are held either virtually via Zoom or in person at the Busch School of Business on the Catholic University of America campus. The program costs $30 per month.
Global Language Network
Learning another language has a host of benefits, including boosting memory and problem solving skills. Many experts also say that being bilingual is one of the most critical skills you need in today’s world. Because of that, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the more popular self development goals. Global Language Network (GLN) is a nonprofit whose mission statement is “to use language as a tool to help fix our world.” Choose to learn one of over 20 languages in an accelerated 6- or 12-week class format. Currently, most classes are being offered online only.
SalesBoost
With course offerings such as “Maximizing Your Time,” “Managing Stress,” and “Personal Development – Invest In Your Personal and Professional Development,” SalesBoost is a comprehensive resource for all things personal development. Its classes are offered on an unlimited basis via a subscription service, and discounts are given for annual plans. Classes are held online for the most part, with regional in-person training and networking events held periodically. The company also provides several free resources that are available to the public, including an ebook library, podcasts, and webinars.
Volunteer Opportunities in Washington, D.C.
You probably already know that the list of reasons to do volunteer work is lengthy. Aside from the benefits of helping other people and giving back to your community, however, volunteering can actually go a long way in helping with your own personal growth and development goals. It may:
- Boost your self esteem and confidence
- Counteract depression and anxiety
- Strengthen work ethic
- Help you develop new skills
- Improve resilience
- Assist those who struggle with decisions better problem solving skills
- Challenge your existing mindset
Volunteering also gives you a platform to hone new skills and discover hidden talents. Regardless of what your interests are and whether you’re an amateur or a veteran when it comes to volunteer work, you’ll find an abundance of volunteer opportunities throughout the D.C. area.
Set Yourself Up for Success at one of our Apartments
There is no question that you have to be proactive about pursuing personal development, but your home environment can be another major contributing factor. Having a stylish, well-appointed apartment home in the heart of Washington, D.C. that you love has multiple wellness benefits, from helping you feel less anxious to boosting your productivity and beyond.
We have several apartment communities throughout Washington, D.C., each in a premium location and with premium amenities. Choose from studios or one- or two-bedroom layouts in some of D.C.’s most desirable neighborhoods, including Cathedral Heights, Mount Pleasant, Foggy Bottom, and more. Contact our team today to speak with one of our leasing experts about our availability. We look forward to meeting you soon!
