32 Ways To Invest in Yourself With Definitions and Examples

Updated June 24, 2022

Investing in yourself can increase your well-being, knowledge and skills. If you invest in yourself, you can become a more experienced person and qualified job candidate. Investing in yourself is valuable for self-development, so it's important to learn what steps you can take to achieve this self-improvement. In this article, we define what investing in yourself is and provide 32 ways to invest in yourself.

What is investing in yourself?

Investing in yourself is the practice of making yourself into a more experienced, well-rounded person through different tasks, goals and activities. This may include reading more, creating a schedule for yourself or taking a class. If you invest in yourself, you may see improvements in your productivity and happiness. You may also gain new skills or create positive habits, which can benefit you personally and professionally.

32 ways to invest in yourself

Here are 32 way you can invest in yourself:

Set goals

To invest in yourself, consider setting goals. Setting goals can help you achieve results by defining what you want to accomplish. If you write a list of attainable goals, you may be more likely to accomplish them. Setting goals can also help you visualize what you want, which can help you process the steps you need to take to achieve them.

Be creative

Being creative comes in different forms, such as making art, playing music or writing. Increasing your creativity can make you a better thinker, which can help you solve problems and innovate. Try to find a creative outlet, such as painting, to help foster creativity.

Be confident

Confidence is often a quality that employers look for in candidates. Having confidence can also make you more approachable. To build your confidence, identify the things that you are good at. Knowing where you excel can help you feel more confident.

Reading is an enriching activity for the mind. Whether it's educational or recreational, reading can help stimulate your thoughts and increase your vocabulary. Consider implementing 20 to 30 minutes of reading a day to increase your reading level.

Write more

Writing some each day can help organize your thoughts, and it can be a healthy emotional outlet. You could try writing poetry, short stories, plays, books or personal essays. Create a writing schedule by setting a timer for 20 or 30 minutes for devoted writing time.

Keep a journal

Keeping a journal can help you write about personal matters specific to your own life. This can be cathartic or relaxing. A journal is also a good place to keep lists or important dates. You can start by buying a journal designed for your needs, such as a bullet journal or a journal with writing prompts, and writing a little each morning.

Eat healthy

Having a healthy diet fuels your body and mind, which can help you be more productive and feel more energetic. This can also improve your cooking skills as you try new recipes. To incorporate healthy eating habits, you can bring your own lunch to work that contains healthy options, such as fruits, vegetables and lean protein.

Work out

Working out can increase your strength, productivity and energy levels. Exercising can also enhance your happiness, and the physical benefits of exercising can help you feel more confident. Any amount of exercise can help you feel better, whether it's taking a walk every day or getting a gym membership.

Practice self-care

Mental health is an important factor of your overall health and well-being. Practicing self-care can come in many forms, including yoga, meditation or time in nature. Self-care can include doing something you love, such as rediscovering a hobby or taking part in recreational activities.

Invest in training

Attending a workshop, seminar or webinar on varying topics can help expand your mind and skill set. You can choose to attend a talk on something you're already familiar with to improve current skills or an unfamiliar topic to learn something new. Try scheduling a workshop once or twice a month.

Take a course

Consider taking a class or investing in college, certification or licensure. Educating yourself can make you more appealing to employers. It can also change and expand the way you view life, which can help you become a well-rounded individual. Advancing your education can lead to many opportunities, including employment or pay raises, so it may be valuable to take additional classes or to obtain a higher degree.

Learn new skills

Learning a new skill can increase your knowledge and abilities, which can be helpful as new tasks or challenges arise. New skills can include practical skills, such as time management, or physical skills, such as working with tools. Set a goal of learning a new skill every quarter by enrolling in classes.

Hone previous skills

Working on your current skills is just as important as learning new skills. Practice or keep up to date on skills you've learned in the past. For example, continue learning how to play an instrument or continue studying a language you partially know.

Get organized

Organization can help manage your life. Being organized can include physical organization, such as tidying up your office. It can also include event organization, such as keeping a calendar of dates and appointments. Organization can help you decrease your stress while increasing your efficiency.

Create a budget

Handling your finances by creating a budget can help create a sense of security in your life. If you have a budget, then you can use your money wisely in order to pay your bills and plan for entertainment and travel. Consider using a spreadsheet or finance program to budget your finances.

Start saving

A savings account is a valuable resource to have in case of emergencies and unforeseen expenses. Savings accounts also allow you to save money for larger purchases, such as a house or a car. Start saving by putting away some money from each paycheck or reducing unnecessary spending.

Travel

Traveling can expand your worldview while also giving you a break from your day to day routine. Traveling can also help you relax and regain your motivation. Consider making it a goal to visit one or two places a year within your budget.

Explore different cultures

Learning about different cultures can help increase your knowledge of the world around you. Experiencing new customs and meeting diverse groups of people can make you more empathetic and understanding. You can do this by traveling, trying new foods, listening to music or watching plays or movies from different cultures.

Learn a new language

Being bi- or trilingual can be useful in the workplace, but even studying a new language can help in different situations. For example, knowing a few phrases or words can be useful for communicating briefly with international clients. Try spending some time each night learning a new language so you can improve steadily.

Invest in relationships

Creating relationships and friendships can help you build a strong community, which is valuable for support. Investing time and energy in your relationships can help you become a better friend or coworker. To do this, make time for the people in your life by having dinner, attending events together and talking regularly.

Create a daily and weekly schedule for yourself

Creating an outline or schedule for your week can help you become more organized and punctual. Consider purchasing a calendar for your desk and write your weekly events on it. This way, you have a visual reminder of all of your events or appointments.

A daily schedule can help optimize your time and productivity. To do this, consider buying a planner to write out a daily schedule. You could also use an app on your device to create a timeline for yourself. A daily schedule could include:

Your wake time
Meal and break times
Work hours
Meetings
Exercise schedule

Maintain your sleep schedule

Getting a full night of sleep is important for increasing both your productivity and energy levels. You can enhance your sleep by setting a nighttime routine. This can help you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, which helps you get enough sleep each night.

Have a morning routine

Waking up early each day can be beneficial because you have more time to get ready for the day. If you create a morning routine for yourself, you can structure your mornings so that you have time to shower, get dressed and have breakfast before you start work. This practice can reduce feelings of being rushed in the mornings, allowing you more time to prepare for your day.

Make memories

Try to make lots of memories and have new experiences. Although experiences can go by quickly, the memories you make while experiencing things can last forever. Some experiences you can try may include:

Hiking
Camping
Going to concerts
Traveling
Spending time with friends

Invest in your appearance

How you appear can affect your mood and how you view yourself. Investing in your appearance can also help you feel confident. This may include getting haircuts regularly, exercising or buying new work clothes. Try to style yourself in clothes that fit well and make you feel your best.

Improve your communication skills

In your workplace, you communicate with your manager, coworkers and clients. To improve your communication skills, try practicing a speech or pitch you need to present for your job in front of friends or family. You can also join a public speaking group or take a writing class.

Network

Networking can help you build connections in and out of the workplace. The more connections you make, the more opportunities you may generate, which is important for building your career. Try to attend work events or industry events in order to meet new people. You can also network through social media.

Create an achievement list

An achievement list is a list of activities that you want to do during your lifetime. Examples may include visiting national parks or monuments, learning a new language or writing a novel. You can start creating your own list by thinking of ten things you want to accomplish.

Stay current

Staying current can mean watching the news, keeping up with trends or trying to learn new things. Doing this can help you stay educated and aware. Try watching or reading multiple news sources. Use different sources to remain unbiased but informed on current happenings.

Take breaks

Taking breaks is important for self-care. You may need breaks in order to manage your schedule and stay energized. Consider working for 15 or 20 minutes and then taking a five-minute break. You could also take breaks from working by doing something fun yet enriching like reading or writing.

Related: 7 Tips for Personal Growth

Find a mentor

A mentor can guide you and inspire you to work hard and try new things, such as applying to different jobs or practicing new habits. A mentor's job is to help you achieve your goals in ways that are realistic for you. To do this, your mentor might create an action plan for you. Try looking for a mentor in your workplace or even at a networking event. You might also consider hiring a life coach or career coach.

Keep track of your results

Investing in yourself can result in many accomplishments, mentally, physically and financially. To see these results, it's good to track them. That way, you have proof that investing in yourself is having a positive impact on you. Consider keeping a log of your goals and achievements to help you visualize your progress.