Self-Improvement Wasted My Time

Just like millions of others, I fell into the self-improvement trap when I was 15.

It started with TikTok videos; back then, Reels didn’t even exist.

I’d spend hours watching YouTube videos on waking up early, searching for the best self-improvement books, testing every habit hack, and tracking every single thing in my life.

How to set tasks, track goals, time-block, and optimize focus. I did it all.

Some things stuck, like my love for Notion, but most of it? A complete waste of time.

I was hooked on watching influencers and self-improvement gurus preach their routines: taping their mouths shut for better sleep, cold plunging every morning, buying ergonomic keyboards to boost focus, and stacking one “life-changing” habit on top of another.

I kept at it for years, convinced that if I just followed the right system, I’d unlock success.

But then it hit me: the only people truly benefiting from all of this were the ones selling courses, books, and coaching programs.

The truth is, most self-improvement isn’t about you; it’s about them.

The Cons of Self-Improvement

The biggest lie of self-improvement is that you can optimize your way to success.

I spent countless hours consuming self-help books and motivational videos, hoping they’d transform my life. Spoiler: they didn’t.

I’m not saying all self-improvement is bad. But most of it? Just recycled advice wrapped in new branding.

I read book after book, only to realize they all said the same things in different ways.

Some were useful—Atomic Habits had real value, but others, like The 5 AM Club, felt like they stretched one simple idea into an entire book just to make money.

Then there’s the financial cost. Books, YouTube Premium, subscriptions to habit-tracking apps, it all adds up.

But the real cost? Your time.

Time is the most valuable asset you have, and self-improvement convinces you to trade it for endless consumption instead of action.

What They Tell You vs. What You Should Actually Do

Self-improvement influencers push the same formulas: cold plunges, skincare routines, journaling prompts, reading 50 books a year, optimizing every minute of your day.

But here’s the problem: you’re just one person. You can’t do it all, and trying to will only lead to burnout.

These people are successful not because of their routines, but because they’ve found what works for them. And now, they package it into content that makes you feel like you need to do the same.

You try to implement their systems, fail, and then restart the cycle with new advice. It’s exhausting and ineffective.

The Real Solution: Take Action

Most people get stuck in self-improvement because they don’t know where to start.

So they search, and searching leads them straight into the self-help rabbit hole.

Here’s my advice: stop overcomplicating things.

Instead of trying to perfect your habits, just take action. Experiment and see what actually works for you.

• If waking up at 5 AM makes you miserable, don’t do it. Maybe you’re more productive at night, so work with that.

• If your morning routines feel forced, simplify them. My own? I wake up, pray (you can meditate), read a little (or not), and then start working. No fancy rituals.

• If time-blocking stresses you out, drop it. Just focus on getting important things done.

• If your bed stays messy for a week, who cares? What matters is what you do, not how aesthetic your morning looks.

The truth is, our grandparents lived successful lives without self-improvement books, habit trackers, or YouTube videos.

They focused on the basics: hard work, discipline, and consistency.

Everything else is just noise.

Self-Improvement Isn’t the Enemy

I’m not saying self-improvement is bad. It’s not. But too much of it can be harmful.

The key is to find what works for you and ignore the rest. Don’t let the self-improvement industry make you feel like you’re never good enough.

You don’t need to wake up at 5 a.m., take cold showers, or read 50 books a year to be successful.

What you need is to take action.

Keep it simple. Focus on the basics. And most importantly, don’t let self-improvement consume your life.

If you want to invest in yourself, start with the basics.

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Thank you for reading.

— Osama aka Ols