Invest in Yourself
For a better future and a better present, invest in yourself. Make a commitment to personal and professional growth, better health, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling life. Here are some ways to invest in yourself, many of which won't cost a dime.
Invest in your skills and knowledge.
Lifelong learning is a key to self-improvement. Many jobs require ongoing skill development just to keep pace with constant change. Beyond that, learning can expand your horizons, open new opportunities, and be a source of joy and satisfaction in and of itself. Think creatively about ways you can keep learning, whether it's another language, a new skill, or new perspectives on the world. Options include
- Classes and degree programs
- Webinars and workshops that may be available to you at no cost
- Online training, from formal programs to posted videos and tutorials
- Reading or listening to books, articles, blogs, podcasts, and informative programs
- Travel
- Museum visits
- Learning new skills from coworkers and friends
Invest in your health.
With a healthy body, you'll have more energy and more to give—now and in the years to come. Make healthy habits part of your routine, including
- Regular physical activity and exercise
- Healthy eating, including a variety of nutritious foods with a minimum of added sugar and salt
- Healthy sleep habits
- Routine medical checkups and visits
Invest in your emotional wellbeing.
Happiness is one goal of emotional wellbeing. Others include the ability to handle strong emotions in healthy ways and connect with others on an emotional level. To build self-awareness and emotional maturity for greater happiness in life, you might try
- Recognizing the signs of stress and finding effective ways to keep it in check
- Countering negative self-talk with positive and confident thoughts
- Journaling
- Practicing gratitude
- Meditation or mindfulness practices
- Working with a coach or therapist
Invest in your creativity.
Find ways to bring more creativity into your life, for your own enjoyment and to hone your ability to find new solutions to problems and challenges. There are lots of ways to exercise your creativity:
- Make things—with woodworking, ceramics, jewelry, sewing, or knitting.
- Learn an instrument or return to one you played in the past.
- Join a creative group—to sing, play music, or act.
- Draw, paint, or sculpt, or try your hand at another visual art.
- Write—stories, poems, memories, or even a book.
- Invent your own recipes.
- Design your own clothes.
Invest in healthy relationships.
Social connections and supportive relationships are closely linked to overall wellbeing, including emotional and physical health. Invest in yourself by cultivating important relationships:
- Stay in touch with family and friends. Make time to connect, listen, and enjoy each other's company.
- Choose which friendships to maintain. Friendships that are a drain on your energy and make you feel bad about yourself are not worth keeping. Focus on the friendships in which you care about and encourage each other, listen as much as you talk, and offer support when it's needed.
- Expand your social and professional network to include people who lift your spirits, challenge you to be better, and expand your knowledge and skills.
- Find a mentor.
The time you spend improving yourself, learning new skills, broadening your perspectives, attending to your health, gaining emotional maturity, and strengthening relationships will pay you back many times over. Investing in a better you is the way to reach a better future and enjoy a better life now.
Morgan, H. (Reviewed 2024). Invest in yourself (B. Schuette & Z. Meeker, Eds.). Raleigh, NC: Workplace Options.