As an investor, you have many options available to help you create wealth and achieve financial freedom. Some of the most common options people use to build wealth are stocks, bonds, and real estate.
But, what if the best opportunities available don’t come directly from these investments or from the mouths of financial professionals, and instead they came from making the decision to invest in yourself?
When you go grab a cup of coffee with a friend, you’re investing in that relationship. Just like choosing to volunteer means you’re investing in a charitable organization that’s helping others. Likewise, when you make the conscious decision to learn something new, you’re choosing to invest in yourself.
Making an investment in yourself is all but guaranteed to give you a good rate of return. Unlike other types of investments, it’s not subject to the economy, the state of the markets, or other factors outside your circle of control, like inflation. Instead, the results you get are based only on the time and effort you’re willing to put into it.
Choosing to invest in yourself is one of the most profitable investments you’ll ever make. Not only will it help you reach your financial goals and achieve success, but it will improve your quality of life for years to come, too!
Here are 5 ways you can invest in yourself and see your life change for the better!
#1 – Your Health
Regardless of how much money you have, it’s difficult to fully enjoy life if you’re sick. Sure, you may have enough money to cover your medical treatments, but you likely wouldn’t have the energy, mobility, or capability to do everything that you want!
Your health is one thing that money can’t buy. However, you do have the ability to influence it. You can reduce your risk of having poor health through the actions you do and don’t make.
One area of health that many people struggle with is their eating habits. For them, it’s common to make impulse buys while they’re shopping. They may satisfy their cravings by loading up on sweets and processed foods. But they may not realize that these treats contribute to feelings of tiredness, stress, and mood swings!
But, by eating right, you’ll be investing in yourself. You’ll feel better having stable blood sugar which will give you more energy and allow you to focus longer!
Exercise is another activity you can do to invest in yourself. Its benefits include stress relief, better emotional wellbeing, and increased confidence; all of which will help you navigate the ups and downs on the path to your dreams!
Many people also find it difficult to get enough sleep. They’ve bought into society’s belief that busyness is a “Badge of Honor” and the more they can cram into a day, the better their life will be.
But, according to an article on WebMD there are many negative consequences when you don’t get enough rest. A few include impairing your judgment, making you more accident-prone, and affecting your ability to learn!
Financial wellbeing is another component of your health. Poor financial wellbeing is generally associated with high stress, poor focus, and increased irritability. The good news is most all of these will fade away when you take charge of your finances, create a budget, and start building your cash runway!
#2 – Invest in Yourself by Setting Goals
Goals are important because they provide you with direction. They help you to discover what you truly want and give meaning to your life.
Without goals, you’ll be more likely to float through life and have little purpose. Often, you’ll end up spinning your wheels and hoping for success, but in the end, you’ll just be wasting your precious time.
Choose to invest in yourself by setting goals. Make ones that challenge and push you into doing something new and difficult.
As your commitment to them grows, you’ll face new obstacles that move you outside your comfort zone. You’ll be forced to grow, develop, and learn new skills to overcome these challenges in order to achieve your goals!
Learning to set and pursue goals is an important skill to learn. It’s a process that you can repeat in your personal, professional, and financial life which can ultimately lead to having a greater sense of life satisfaction, too!
#3 – Take Breaks
According to an article on US Travel.org, American workers left 768 million vacation days unused in 2018. The study also found that almost one-third of these days were for paid time off which cost workers over $65 billion in lost benefits!
In Corporate America, many managers ridicule employees who take time off and go on breaks. Often, they think it decreases the worker’s productivity, focus, and ability to meet deadlines.
When in fact, the opposite is true. Most employees who take breaks end up being more productive, too. They’re able to step away, recharge, and come back fresh to rethink problems from a new perspective!
One study done by The Energy Project found that most workers go from being fully focused to fatigued every 90 minutes. The longer that workers are handcuffed to their desks, the more it affects their ability to make sound decisions and do their jobs effectively!
Also, failing to invest in yourself and taking time off leads to burnout. You’re more likely to experience feelings of being overworked and underappreciated, which can lead to other physical and mental health issues, too.
Challenge yourself to take more breaks. Try stepping away from your desk more often and using all your paid vacation time each year. You’ll find that you’ll feel more relaxed, restored, and ready to get back to work!
#4 – Learn New Skills
The world is in a constant state of change. The skills that helped you make money in the past won’t necessarily be the ones that will help you do it in the future.
In order to keep up with an ever-changing world, you will inevitably need to learn new skills. Try reading, listening, and studying new things each day. After all, learning is just a way of exercising your brain and we’ve already covered what happens when you don’t exercise!
A common excuse that many people give is that they don’t have the time to learn new skills. But, everyone has the same amount and these individuals need to learn to use theirs more efficiently.
For example, most people engage in some sort of mindless activity each day. For you, it could be doing yard work, house chores, or running errands around town. You could turn this wasted time into productive by listening to books, podcasts, and discussions on topics that are important to you!
FREE Resources You Can Use To Invest In Yourself
#5 – Hire Help
There are two main ways to learn new skills. The first is by doing it on your own and learning through trial and error. Often, people find that it takes months or years before they finally figure it out!
The other option is to get help from a mentor or coach. These people are your partners in success and help you achieve the very thing that you want. Often, they’ve already done it themselves and already know what works. Their experience accelerates your learning curve which saves you time and money!
Most people know what they need to do to get fit or become rich and wealthy. Yet, they don’t do it. Instead, they continue doing the same things, hoping that they’ll get different results. But, they don’t.
The reason most people don’t achieve their goals is that it requires change and change can be hard. But, with a coach, it’s easier. A coach is there to guide you through the process of change. They help you transform and have breakthroughs that ultimately leads to your success!
When you invest in yourself you’re taking responsibility for your life. You’re choosing to grow, make yourself better, and work towards reaching your full potential!
It’s no one’s job but your own to invest in yourself. Get started today so you can reach higher success, be of greater service, and find out just how far you’re able to go!
What’s the best way you’ve found to invest in yourself? Comment below.