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Are you constantly downloading meditation tools, habit trackers, or productivity apps like Notion, only to feel guilty when you don't have the time to use them properly? For high achievers, slowing down often feels harder than working a 12-hour shift.
Keti Diasamidze, a 33-year-old UX Writing Lead and university lecturer, knows this struggle all too well. After relocating to Northern Europe, she realized her brain was always running at full speed. She wanted to build a self-care routine but hated the idea of adding another demanding task to her schedule. That changed when she discovered Headway.
If you want to focus on self-growth and microlearning without feeling overwhelmed, Headway provides 15-minute book summaries that fit right into your busiest days. Here is Keti's honest story about how she finally learned to take a break.
Try Headway and start your own microlearning routine today!
Disclosure: This story was created in partnership with Headway. The author is a real Headway user who received a free gift in exchange for sharing their honest experience. Views are their own; individual results vary.
Why I did not trust the self-improvement process
I'm one of these girls who had to always succeed, be a high scorer, and I never actually had time to enjoy my small wins. I'm 33 now, quite successful, and self-confident. I'm in a good spot when it comes to trusting my brain and expertise, but that came through constant learning, trying, failing - sometimes dramatically, and yet, I somehow managed actually to like myself.
Let's call this challenge 1.
Also, 6 months ago, I moved to a new country. And yes, I'm going through this typical "U" shaped adaptation curve. I came from a warm, loud, and extremely oversharing culture; now I'm in northern Europe, and my everyday life here feels... different. Here's challenge 2.
So, of course, I'm not giving up my confidence now. I'll keep learning, but just in a way that doesn't make me feel like I'm not enough or I'm doing something wrong. I want development that supports me and my rhythm, a plan that doesn't shrink me. And here's another one, challenge number 3.
I have another one to mention: I didn't believe in book summaries. I genuinely do enjoy reading - fiction, sci-fi, history... and never the "5 steps to..." kind of books (Challenge 4). And, if you remember my statement that I didn't really like self-improvement books, I'd say downloading an app full of those wouldn't really appear as a big help at first.
But I did it and will tell you why: I might not want to read all of it, but I do believe in shared experiences, and I also know that even a single simple insight can shift my entire perspective. So, here is the cornerstone: Maybe I don't need a whole book.
Maybe I just need some core highlights, aka that might inspire me and give me something small to think about, even just for a day. And I've learned the hard way: one day always counts. Here is how it went for me.
📘 Discover core insights that shift your perspective on Headway.
Giving book summaries a fair chance
Step 1: I downloaded the app. Didn't have many expectations, though.
My friends are using Headway. I've heard them listening to it quite a lot - especially when we are on the road, feeling emotional, and open to new adventures. That's when it touched me, and I decided to give it a chance.
I liked that the app asked me what my main interest was, and I confidently picked 'Create Wealth,' 'Achieve Life Balance,' 'Increase Productivity.' Very corporate of me.
📘 Choose your own personal growth goals using Headway.
Listening to my first audio lesson
Step 2: Actually using the app. Of course, I didn't start right away.
I downloaded the app, and I felt like I already achieved something, so I got back to it only after a week. I started listening to a random book the app suggested while doing my nails, still thinking about 12 different things at once.
At minute 6, I realized I was fully immersed.
📘 Fit a quick audio lesson into your busy schedule with Headway.
Changing my focus from management to relaxation
Step 3: Dedicating myself to digging deeper and getting honest with myself.
Even though I liked the selection the Headway app provided me, I still wasn't fully sure that was the information I needed in my life. Maybe time-management skill improvement is not my main priority right now, as I'm a corporate girlie and I already feel quite confident about my management skills in general.
So, I decided to freshen up my app priorities a bit.
My actual problem is that I cannot relax. Never. Even when I don't have time-sensitive projects, even on my vacation, even during a night out. My brain is always focused, and I am starting to hate this - and that became my new focus.
📘 Shift your focus toward self-care and mental well-being on Headway.
Discovering radical self-care in minutes
Step 4: Welcoming my first microlearning experience.
Without any research or review scrolling, I just typed "Relax" in the search bar of the app. Of course, if I must do my own research, it means you're asking for too much dedication from me, and I will just let the app suggest.
I saw the title "How to Not Always Be Working, a Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self-care". Sold. I made several highlights, such as "Understanding what work means helps you create a boundary about it". Simple, but it changed my brain chemistry. And that's how I got dedicated to the process.
📘 Highlight quotes and save key takeaways easily using Headway.
Building a 30-day habit without the extra effort
Step 5: Adopting a habit without any extra effort.
After liking my first book, I decided to dig deeper into the same topic. Then found some other books on mindfulness and being here and now. Want my honest opinion? Not everything resonated. But the ones that did, stuck with.
I started thinking about those points, while subconsciously transferring them into a habit - and that's how I realized I was doing the same little breathing exercise for 6 days in a row. So, I decided to make it 30.
I'm halfway there now, and I'm already thinking about what's next - but I don't call it a goal, just something that might help me feel better.
My next focus? How to adapt to a new culture without stressing over small stuff.
That's how it went. No dramatic turns, I just genuinely enjoyed receiving compressed information on various topics. Now I know how to use the app, and I also know that if my priorities change, I can rely on Headway to open some new perspectives.
Will I keep you updated? probably not. But here's my verdict: microlearning and stress-free learning through short summaries feels effortless, fun, yet surprisingly effective. Even if you have high standards, you could always develop some new ones.
More stories by Headway users
If you found Keti's experience relatable, check out how other professionals are building better routines:
From Non-Reader to Book-a-Week: How Microlearning Cemented My Reading Habit
How I Read More Books in a Year Without the Overwhelm with Headway
📘 Build a habit without the extra effort by downloading Headway.
Build your own stress-free routine with Headway
If you set high standards for yourself, taking a break can feel like you are failing. Finding the time to actually rest and focus on your mental health often ends up at the bottom of your to-do list.
The most practical way to start focusing on your well-being is to absorb small, helpful ideas instead of forcing yourself to read long self-help books. This is exactly how Headway supports people with busy schedules. You don't have to study for hours to see results.
You can listen to a short audio lesson while commuting, read a five-minute summary during your lunch break, or pick up a quick mindfulness trick while doing your nails. The microlearning app hands you the core principles you need to grow at your own pace. Test Headway out today and see how a few minutes of microlearning can help you truly relax.
