6 Ways to Invest in Yourself

Invest in yourself is the most common advice you will get if you ask any successful person on one piece of advice that will change your life. Tony Robbins claims that the most valuable advice he ever received came from Jim Rohn, one of his earliest mentors. “Find a way to add more value than anybody else does, and you’ll never have to worry about anything,” Rohn told him. “Every day, work harder on yourself than anything else, because if you become more intelligent, more valuable, more skilled — you can add more value to other people.” Other successful people would no doubt agree with these sentiments. As quoted by the most famous investor of all time, Warren Buffett, “the best investment you can make is in yourself.”

Exercise Regularly

Hands down, getting enough exercise every day is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

According to Michigan State University – and countless other scientific and academic sources – daily exercise has been linked to more energy, more productivity, reduced stress, improved brainpower, better memory, and even increased creativity. It’s the best way to maintain a healthy weight, improve your mood, ward off disease, combat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and improve your focus. Harvard Business Review states that the benefits are so great that regular exercise should be part of everyone’s job description. You’ll be a better worker, a better team player, and a better problem-solver when you make exercise a habit.

You don’t need to join a gym to exercise. You can exercise by going for a walk, doing yoga, or working out at home. Go dancing, swimming, for a hike, or take the dog for a long walk. It doesn’t really matter what type of exercise you do as long as it’s something you enjoy and can do most days.

Set Goals

You may love them or hate them, but the truth is that setting goals will help you accomplish more. Once you’ve identified a goal and written it down, you’re more likely to change your behavior and take actionable steps to achieve that goal.

Goals help clarify what you want. Instead of having a vague dream or occasional wishful thinking, setting a goal helps uncover what you truly want and, more importantly, it’s the first step in figuring out what you need to do to get it.

Manage your Money

The best things in life may be free, but there’s no denying the importance of money.

Get your spending and saving under control now! Debt is no fun at all and it is dragging you down. Until you’re debt-free, your money is not truly yours.

Eradicating debt is the first step in controlling your finances so they can’t control you. Then you’ll become less stressed, sleep better, and have more peace.

And don’t forget about stashing away cash so you can fund your dreams!

Saving enough money to pay cash for what you want will give you the ability to quit a job you despise, start a business you love, or simply have the financial freedom you want. Having extra cash for both emergencies and possibilities is an amazing investment in yourself.

Learn A New Skill

Another great way to invest in yourself is to keep learning throughout your life. Learning a new skill not only keeps your mind sharp, but it also adds yet another tool you can use to perform better in your career, qualify for a promotion, or even start your own business.

First, think about what new skills would help you succeed in your current career or a career you’d like to have in the future.

Relax

Don’t forget to relax. Your downtime is an investment in yourself. This is the time that you recharge your batteries. Study after study shows that you can improve your creative processes and your productivity when you learn to take a break. Spend time each day — even if it’s only 20 or 30 minutes — relaxing. Even if all you do is take a true lunch break (no working through lunch!), you might be surprised at how much more productive and creative you are.

Not only can relaxation help you invest in your business and career, but it can also help your health. Relaxation reduces the stress and anxiety that can impact physical and mental health.

Break Your Bad Habits

We all have bad habits. Some of us shop too much, while others drink or smoke too much. Some of us don’t get enough exercise, while others eat too much fast food or procrastinate. You might bite your nails, spend too much time on your phone, watch too much TV, or obsess over your worries at night. Only you know what your bad habits are. They’re the negative behavior patterns that hurt your physical, emotional, or social well-being. And if you’re like most people, you have a long list of things you’d like to stop doing.

Making an effort to break your bad habits can be incredibly liberating, and when you replace a bad habit with a good one, such as exercising consistently or getting enough sleep, it can transform your life.

Once you learn to invest in yourself, you’ll reap the rewards, and feel the effects of long-term success.