Don’t worry. I’m not going to suggest that you do ALL twenty ways to invest in yourself. Let’s not get carried away. But I do hope that you’ll pick and choose from this list of ideas and begin to invest in your health, your personal development, your relationships, and your mental health.
So, let’s get right into it.
Invest in your health.
The first way I want to encourage you to invest in yourself is by taking care of your body. Don’t be intimidated though. I’ve come up with five simple ways to invest in your health.
Get a gym membership.
It doesn’t have to be a “new year, new you” moment to get a gym membership. Don’t wait on it if getting to the gym has been on your “to-do” list.
Get a massage.
There’s a host of benefits when it comes to treating yourself to a massage therapy session. According to Mayo Clinic, here are some of those benefits:
- Reducing stress and increasing relaxation
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension
- Improving circulation, energy and alertness
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
- Improving immune function
Not to mention, you get a little “me time,” while you’re at it. 😉
Eat healthy.
Don’t let this overwhelm you if “eating healthy” seems too broad. Start by changing out some snacks to more healthy options like berries, bananas, oranges, or avocados. Take it one step at a time. Need a quick grab-and-go option? Check out these protein bars!
Drink more water.
We all know how important hydration is. But how much should we be drinking? According to the University of Missouri, you can calculate this by taking your body weight, dividing it in half, and drinking that amount of water in ounces.
Get outside.
Getting outside in nature is not only great for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Make a point to get outside every day, even if just for a quick 20-minute walk.
Invest in your skills
Another way to take care of yourself is to improve your skills (or even learn new ones). Here are five ways to accomplish this.
Read more.
One way to invest in yourself and your mind is by reading more. Not only will this keep your brain sharp, but you’re also sure to learn something new!
Take a course.
Are you looking to pick up a new skill? There’s no shortage of online courses. You can check out coursera™ which has a variety of free online courses to choose from!
Listen to podcasts.
If you’re looking for a free option to skill up, make listening to podcasts part of your daily routine. Listen when you’re in the car, going for a walk, or doing household chores!
Create a mastermind.
Community, collaboration, and accountability are everything when you’re seeking to be the best version of yourself. Find people who are on the same road as you and schedule a weekly or monthly meeting to keep one another accountable and share ideas on how to move forward!
Network more.
I can’t emphasize the power of networking. This doesn’t mean that you must attend networking events. Always look for opportunities to connect with those around you. You wouldn’t believe the doors that begin to open.
Invest in your relationships.
This life is all about people and connections. Investing in the people around you will fill your cup as much as it does theirs. Here are five ways to invest in your relationships.
Connect with people more.
Make it a goal to light up every room or space you walk into. People will wonder why you have such a bright demeanor and will want to connect with you. You’re sure to attract your kind of people. 🙂
Go on regular date nights with your spouse and kids.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, make time to go on date nights with your spouse. And don’t forget about the littles. Some quality time with them on a daddy/mommy-daughter/son date will fill up everyone’s cup.
Eat around the dinner table.
To piggyback on date nights, connecting with your family around the dinner table can strengthen those family bonds. You can even get conversation starter cards like TableTopics™ to get to know each other on a deeper level.
Practice listening skills.
It’s always a good idea to practice being a better listener. Check out this Forbes™ article on “10 Steps to Effective Listening” to learn more!
Treat a friend to dinner or coffee.
Has it been a minute since you’ve had quality time with friends? Reach out to them and ask them out for a coffee. Believe it or not, investing in others is a way to invest in yourself as well!
Invest in your mental health and well-being.
Caring for your body also means investing in your overall wellness. This includes mental health. I encourage you to make this a priority! Here are five ideas to get you started.
Explore more.
Exploring doesn’t mean you have to search far and wide for adventure. Be a tourist in your own hometown! Visit local landmarks, museum, restaurants, events, and more! Your own backyard can allow you to explore and have fun!
Date yourself.
Have you ever heard of taking yourself out on a date? Going on a solo walk or heading to the park by yourself to read, journal, or meditate can do wonders for your soul. You can even wrap up the day with a meal at a favorite spot in town!
Meditate.
When life gets crazy and overwhelming, you know it’s time to slow down. Meditation can help with that, and New York Times™ has three different meditation apps that can help. Check it out, and don’t forget to take time for peace and quiet.
Get organized.
When there’s so much clutter in our minds, there’s no need to keep clutter in our lives, as well. Getting, and staying, organized impacts your mental health more than you’d think. Shape™ talks all about it in their article, “How Cleaning and Organizing Can Benefit Your Mind and Body.”
Go on a social media detox.
There’s so much noise on social media. It’s easy to fall into the traps of information overload or “compare and despair” mentality when you’re scrolling. Go on a social media detox for a few days, weeks, or even months! See how it impacts your mental health. 🙂
Invest in yourself and grow!
I hope that this post has encouraged you to take a step or two in the direction of growth! It’s so true that we can’t pour out of an empty cup, so make sure you invest in yourself so that you can invest in others. Keep growing, friend!
Do you need to free up some time to put these ideas into practice? Check out my blog on “Three Activities That are Eating Up Your Time.” I think it will help!
