10 ways to invest in yourself this year
It’s a new year, and many of you may be making — and already breaking — New Year’s resolutions. Or, maybe you have never been one to make personal resolutions, opting instead to live blissfully unaware of ignore areas of your life that might need some work. Or, you set lofty goals and, by February, you have lost your drive to reach them, realize they’re unattainable, or discover they’re budget busters.
Why not incorporate small changes by making positive investments in yourself that can have a profound impact on your well-being, happiness and future self?
There are plenty of zero- or low-cost ways to empower yourself without going broke — and without setting resolutions. Besides, by investing in yourself, you’re sending a powerful message to everyone around you that you know your value.
Break away from toxic relationships. Whether it’s friends, family or co-workers, surround yourself with people who are positive and supportive — removing negativity from your life will do wonders for your attitude and anxiety.
Manage your time. Spend a week auditing your daily schedule. You may be surprised to learn that you spend too much time watching TV or scrolling through social media. Your time is valuable, so create a schedule that enables you to find and then devote time to things important to you.
Read a book. Visit your local library to check out and read at least one new book every month. Or, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you have access to thousands of free books as part of your membership.
Listen to podcasts. You may think you don’t have time for podcasts, or that they’re only for those interested in climbing the corporate ladder. Thousands of free podcasts explore topics such as history, finance, crime, motherhood, insects — and everything in between. My commute to work is less than 10 minutes, so I listen while I get ready in the morning.
Never stop learning. I can’t write about investing in yourself, reading books, or listening to podcasts without also encouraging you to learn something new. Watch a Ted Talk, enroll in a class at your local community college, find a free course online, or even visit your local hardware store for a DIY project class or cooking store for a skills class.
Practice gratitude. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about things for which you’re grateful. You’ll improve your psychological health, reduce stress, and become happier.
Eat healthier (and I don’t mean diet). A friend recently told me that she thinks about how many hands prepared the food that’s in front of her. If it’s more than five, she won’t eat it. Whatever your system for watching the types of things you put into your body, by focusing on your health, you’ll reap the benefits in all other areas of your life.
Purge at home and work. Clutter is linked to an inability to focus and increased stress. Choose one drawer, closet, cabinet, room or cabinet per month to clean out.
Start a side business. Two years ago, I started a side hustle on Etsy, and I donate all profits to my favorite charity. While donating to a good cause is positive on its own, I learned new things about SEO and targeted advertising that helped me in my role at work.
Become the boss of your finances. Aside from homeownership, I have tried not to carry a large sum of debt. Seth Godin wrote about compounding debt in his blog and how hard it can be to catch up. There were times when I ate PB&J every day for lunch. Or, stretched leftovers, clothes, and shoes as long as I could. And there’s no shame in that (after all, crunchy peanut butter tastes pretty darn good). Also, I began contributing to a 401K at age 24. I didn’t add much, but over time and with every salary increase, I increased my contribution by 1%. Now older and wiser, I’m thankful that I heeded the advice of my mentors more than 20 years ago and began that retirement fund. The older you get, the harder it is to fund your 401K appropriately so that you’re in a position to retire comfortably.
It’s your future. Invest in it. Invest in you.
