30 Ways To Invest in Yourself in Various Areas of Life

One of the best ways to look after yourself is by paying attention to what you need in life for happiness, success, and overall growth. When you pay attention you can then dedicate time to invest in yourself in various areas of life.

Investing in yourself is one of the best decisions you can make to enhance your quality of life today and in the future.

Invest in Yourself Meaning

What does it mean to invest in yourself? It really comes down to working on yourself by dedicating time, effort, and finances to various areas of your own life.

Investing in yourself can encompass everything from learning new skills in your career, mastering your finances, or intentionally looking after your mental health. 

This looks a little different for everyone, but the key to investing in yourself is to take a look inward at what you need in life to move forward and set yourself up for success and happiness in the future.

It’s essentially a path to creating your best self in your professional and personal life.

Investing in yourself means making a commitment to grow and this can be achieved by:

• Reading from expert sources
• Taking courses
• Learning from friends and family
• Allowing yourself to follow your heart
• Making time for reflection
• Talking to professionals for advice
• Having an open mind

Why is Investing in Yourself Beneficial?

There are so many positive benefits when it comes to investing in yourself, such as:

• Personal growth: Providing you to see yourself and the world through a different (more positive) lens.
• Career growth: Allowing yourself to reach and exceed your career goals whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder or becoming a business owner.
• Financial security: By continuously improving your knowledge around money, you can increase your earning potential and make smart investments setting you up for future success.
• Increased Confidence: As you work on and conquer new goals, your confidence grows, enabling you to step out of your comfort zone to do even more to support yourself in the future.
• Contentment in life: Investing in yourself regardless of what you’re doing gives you purpose and helps you look forward. This can be very rewarding and provide happiness and contentment
• Health & Well-being: This Is the most important as without your health and wellness you’re not able to benefit from everything else mentioned above.

Now, let’s get into some examples of how to invest in yourself. 

We’ll be doing this by looking at the following areas:

• Professional
• Personal growth
• Financial
• Relationships
• Health & wellness

Ways to Professionally Invest in Yourself

Investing in yourself professionally is imperative to your career success, helping you stay competitive, and increasing job satisfaction.

Here are a few ways you can invest in yourself and your career.

1. Uplevel Your Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are critical to be successful in your career. You can be the smartest person in the room, but without good communication skills you’ll be misunderstood and could even be seen as weak, rude or ignorant.

Good communication includes everything from email communications, the way you interact in  meetings, how you present to a room of people and your non-verbal communication such as eye contact and body language.

To improve communication skills you can enroll in a corporate training, sign up for an online course or read some popular communication skills books. 

Here are two great ones:

• Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
• 4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication in Love, Life, Work–Anywhere!

2. Learn New Skills

The job market constantly evolves, and so should your skill set. Seek out professional designations or certification programs to add to your expertise. 

Use online platforms like Skillshare or LinkedIn Learning for convenience to stay up to date.

The great part about learning new skills is it can set you up for success in your current career/job or it can give you skills to start your own business, whether it’s a side hustle or a full-time venture.

3. Become a Subject Matter Expert

Deep dive into a niche within your field. Attend specialized seminars or earn advanced training, positioning yourself as the go-to expert. 

This commitment can lead to better job opportunities and a stronger professional network.

4. Keep up with Industry News & Trends

Stay informed about your industry’s latest developments. You can:

• Read trade publications
• join professional organizations
• Attend industry webinars. 
• Follow leaders on social media
• Understand new technology (AI for example)

This knowledge ensures you’re a valuable asset who contributes current, relevant insights. It’s also extremely helpful if you’re interviewing for a new job.

5. Use SMART Goals

When you set goals it’s important to make sure they are SMART, meaning:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

This makes it much easier to track your progress and reach your goals.

Most companies already use this method for setting goals, but if you are unfamiliar with it here are some SMART goal setting worksheets to help you out.

By setting clear objectives, and the steps to achieve them, you’ll be able to track progress and hold yourself accountable effectively.

This is important for quarterly and annual reviews when you might be up for promotion.

6. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Growth occurs outside your comfort zone, the problem is that this may seem scary to some. But do your best to start small and work your way up to harder things.

Some examples of getting out of your comfort zone:

• Attending a networking event and actively introducing yourself to people
• Asking for a promotion and sharing specifics on why this will benefit the company
• Public speaking whether it’s at a large conference or in a general corporate meeting
• Raising your hand for new projects
• Honestly providing feedback and alternative opinions when you feel it’s necessary

Investing in Your Personal Growth

Investing in your personal development is a commitment to enhancing your knowledge, skills, and well-being to reach your full potential. 

7. Focus on Lifelong Learning

Never underestimate the power of continuous learning. This empowers us to grow and take on new experiences.

There are so many ways to learn these days which makes learning accessible for everyone. If you have a will there IS a way.

Here are some great places to learn:

• Reading books: Choose titles that align with your interests and goals.
• Workshops: Look for local or online workshops that offer hands-on experience.
• Online Courses: Platforms like Skillshare provide courses on a variety of topics.
• YouTube: Just search for what you want to learn and there will be videos galore
• Podcasts: Same as YouTube there are podcasts out there that can teach you everything.

8. Use the 80/20 Rule

Employ the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, to maximize efficiency. 

This rule suggests that 20% of the input creates 80% of the results. 

Therefore the idea is to focus on the 20% that give the greatest results and remove your attention from 80% of the activity that only produces 20% of the results.

This can be applied to professional and personal goals. This can help you prioritize and become more efficient in whatever you apply this rule to.

9. Learn to Say No

Getting in the habit of saying no can be tough if you are a people pleaser, however, the goal is to say no to things/people that take away your joy. This is so you can say yes to things that bring you joy and support your long-term goals.

Aim to protect your time by declining things you don’t want to do or that are making it hard for you to look after yourself. Remember – yourself, your family and your life have to take precedence.

10. Set Boundaries

Saying no is just one step to protecting your boundaries however it’s also important to determine what your boundaries are.

Setting clear limits helps you safeguard your energy, peace of mind, and work-life balance.

11. Create a Good Work-Life Balance

Strive for a work-life balance that promotes personal well-being while fulfilling your career ambitions. 

Balance isn’t about equal hours for each aspect of your life; it’s about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy for your personal life.

This is such an important way to invest in yourself as most people do not have a great work/life balance which affects their overall happiness and wellbeing.

Make sure to:

• Take regular time off work. Your vacation days are there to use, not to roll over to the next year.
• Take regular breaks to recharge throughout the day. Try going for a walk at lunch or enjoying a great cup of tea when you need.
• Make time for hobbies in order to be true to yourself and enjoy life. 
• Commit to daily self-care. You can do things that fill you up even if it just says a few minutes.

12. Set Long Term Goals

Your personal growth flourishes when you set and work toward long-term goals. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

• Write them down: Document your goals to keep track of your progress.
• Review regularly: Adjust your strategies if necessary to stay on course.

How To Invest in Yourself Financially

Investing in yourself financially is a crucial step towards a stable and prosperous future. Here are some strategies to enhance your financial well-being.

13. Find a Good Financial Planner

Working with a great financial advisor (planner) you trust can help you find the best investments in the stock market to focus on. This is critical for building your future retirement savings.

They’ll assist you in making the best financial decisions by creating a comprehensive plan that aligns with your income, goals, and risk tolerance. It’s vital to choose someone who’s certified and understands your aspirations.

14. Have an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund acts as a financial safety net for unexpected expenses. 

Aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in case you ever find yourself unemployed or having a financial emergency. This can prevent debt accumulation during unforeseen circumstances and provide peace of mind.

15. Set Financial Goals

Setting clear short and long-term financial goals helps you focus on the now and the future. 

Short-term financial goals can cover things like paying off credit card debt or saving for a downpayment on a house. Long-term financial goals would focus on things like saving for your kids’ education or leaving your 9-5 to start a business.

When you set a goal, and create an action plan you can make seemingly difficult goals much more attainable.

16. Invest in Real Estate

If you have the ability, save up and out your money into a house rather than paying rent.

Even as prices dramatically rise depending on where you live you can also look at easier opportunities such as investing into a REIT or buying a place with one or two friends or family members.

17. Improve your Money Mindset

Changing your attitude towards money is foundational for financial growth. Cultivate a money mindset that’s focused on financial growth and abundance rather than scarcity and excessive spending. 

Also educate yourself on financial literacy to make informed decisions that will positively benefit your future.

18. Financially Invest in Yourself

Make financial investments in areas that promise personal and monetary returns. 

Consider:

• Furthering your education
• Starting a business
• Taking relevant courses for your business
• Growing your savings 

Invest in Relationships

Investing in your relationships can lead to improved well-being and provide a supportive network for both personal and professional growth. Remember, enriching these connections takes intention and action.

19. Prioritize Friendships

Make time for close friends whether it’s talking on the phone, seeing each other in person or making plans for future events. These are the things that fill your cup and lead to fun and happiness in life.

20. Dedicate Time with Your Spouse

This is especially important if you have kids and/or are working demanding jobs. Make sure to schedule quality time whether it’s for a regular date night, weekends away or a daily morning coffee before you start your days.

21. Improve Your Relationship with Yourself

Be kind to yourself, make time for self-care, practice self-love, work on turning negative self-talk into positive, celebrate your progress and wins. These are just a few things you can do to love yourself more.

22. Heal Relationships

We all have those relationships we want to heal. To do this it might be taking the first step and forgiving past grievances, improving communication or going to therapy. 

This doesn’t mean you need to fix all relationships but the ones that matter deeply to you.

23. Focus on Close Bonds

When you have a close bond with someone make sure to prioritize them in your life. Also make sure to express your gratitude to them on a regular basis and let them know they are important to you and loved beyond measure.

24. Have Quality Family Time

Just like relationships, creating quality family time is a great way to invest in your daily contentment.

Make family plans such as board game nights, hikes, family dinners, sports or whatever your family loves to do.

Examples of Ways to Invest in Your Health & Wellness

Investing in your health and wellness is essential for a fulfilling and balanced life. Here are some effective ways to prioritize your well-being in various aspects:

25. Prioritize a Good Sleep Schedule

With a sleep schedule, the idea is to keep it consistent so you can get enough sleep every night. Aim to go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning. STATS

To invest in your sleep:

• Create a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. 
• Prioritize a relaxing bedtime routine: avoid screens before bed, and ensure your sleep environment is calm, quiet and relaxing.

26. Support Your Mental Health

Supporting your mental health is just as important as physical health. So, investing your time to your overall emotional well-being can have a positive effect in all areas of life.

• Invest in your mental well-being by practicing mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. 
• Seek professional help when needed and surround yourself with supportive and positive influences. 
• Taking time for things that fill your cup – hobbies, relaxation, and self-care
• Get in the habit of practicing gratitude (something that has been a primary component in my personal mental health support)

27. Regular Exercise

Find an exercise routine that you enjoy and do it regularly.

It might be walking, running, yoga, or spin classes. Another great way to get exercise is to incorporate it into your daily routine – take the stairs, do housework and yard work, do some squats while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Exercise is of course paramount to long-term health but it is also a key factor in boosting mood and reducing stress.

28. Eat Healthier

Invest in your well-being by consuming a whole-food balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Stay hydrated and aim to eat healthy food 80% of the time and you’ll be on the right track.

30. Dedicate Time for Self-Care

Give yourself a break by recharging with some good quality self-care. This can be as simple as creating time in your calendar to doing your favorite hobby, working on some self-care worksheets, or using affirmations to boost your confidence.

The key to self-care is to think about what you mentally, emotionally and physically need and then make time to do this.

Next Steps to Invest In Yourself

We covered a lot of potential ways you can invest in yourself to create your best life. So now it’s time to think about what you want to prioritize today.

To help you do this you can set SMART goals – which you can do for any area of life (Here’s a SMART goals worksheet you can use to help out)

You can also just think about the areas in your life you’d like to change or enhance and invest in yourself there.

What’s the best thing you’ve done to invest in yourself?

I’d love to hear all about it! Share in the comments section below 🙂

More Resources To Help You Invest in Yourself:

• 11 Ways To Create a Life You Love
• 50 Things to Let Go of to be Happier This Year
• 25 Best Ways To Challenge Yourself To Grow In Life