Welcome to the Black Girl Burnout podcast. Kelly here. And today I want to talk all about how to

opt out of self-improvement traps. I'll admit this is something that I've struggled with.

I'm somebody who really is focused

on being the best version of myself and constantly striving to be better. But there can be a danger to

that. So if you're somebody who's always on a self-improvement journey, I want to talk about two

potential self-improvement traps that are anything

but self-improvement, but actually are sneaky ways that we can keep ourselves locked in the

struggle and not able to opt out of it. Like I said for myself, if you know me, I'm always trying

something different or having a routine, adjusting one.

I know that my morning routine, and I've said this many times on this podcast, is essential.

Literally my therapist, if I come in in any kind of a way or I'm more anxious or stressed,

the first thing my therapist will ask me is, are you doing your morning

routine? And usually the answer is no. So I have learned that having routines, working toward

improving myself, and having some kind of stabilizing improvement goals are essential for my mental

health. However, as I've also said, I struggle with

perfectionism, and it can be really easy for me. As a former workaholic who's partially in recovery,

it can be really easy for me also to overload myself with self-improvement.

So the first self-improvement trap we're going to talk about is all about how our obsession

with self-improvement can be a mask for our own insecurity and dissatisfaction with our lives.

That a lot of times we're telling ourselves

to improve our lives, to get on this new routine,

or to start a new workout, or any name a different thing,

...