Investing in yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your personal and professional growth. By taking the time to invest in yourself, you can develop new skills, broaden your knowledge base, and enhance your overall quality of life.

Career and personal development are both huge commitments, and the train won’t keep moving unless you put in the right fuel. Nevertheless, an investment doesn’t need to mean making a major financial or time commitment! Sometimes, it is the small changes in your life that can improve your future in the long run. Ensuring that you read a book every morning on your daily commute, for example, is a great way to keep your brain engaged and requires only a small change in your day.

Great ways to start investing in yourself

In this list, we’ve compiled some effective and practical ways to do so, whether it’s through education, personal development, or simply taking care of your physical and mental health.

• Get moving: Take a pilates or yoga class
• Go for regular walks – it’s a great way to see more of your city!
• Visit family members
• Switch off your devices an hour before bedtime
• Host a dinner party
• Take up journaling or start a daily planner (top tip: Our CEO Emily Aldrich recommends you use a physical planner instead of a digital one, so that it better sticks in your mind!)
• Ask for help, whether that means a cleaner once a week or finding a coach to help you grow
• Spring-clean your desktop
• Improve your time management skills

How to set a plan to invest in yourself regularly

It’s easy to decide to make a change. But many resolutions end up broken for two reasons: 1) you have made far too many resolutions, which makes it easy for you to lose track, and 2) you have no plan for implementing your ideas.

Let’s take “finding a coach” as an example of investing in yourself. Identify first why you want to find a coach. Has someone told you that it’s the quickest way to the job you want? Maybe a coach will help you address a skills gap? Whatever this why is, make this your end goal. Then, work through the steps that you’ll need to secure this coach. You’ll need to first research the right people for addressing your need. Then, consult your network.

Each of these steps will take time, so break the investment into its individual components and spread them across 3 to 6 months (however you feel you need, given your other commitments). Setting yourself these deadlines will ensure that you don’t lose steam along the way.

How to find the time to invest in yourself

Finding the time to invest in yourself can be a challenge, especially for those of us with busy schedules. But making time for development is crucial for your long-term growth and success. One way to find time is to prioritise your goals and make them a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.

We feel that marking them in a physical diary is the best way to make these changes we like the hardback Moleskines because they look great no matter how much you put them through! Into this diary, give yourself thinking and research time—it’s easy to get into a rut when you feel that you have to be “on the go” all the time. Also give yourself time to do something creative or sporty.

Remember that what’s good for the body is good for the brain: A walk in the woods will give both your body and brain a workout!

Everything you do should start and end with well-being. By taking care of yourself, you’ll have the energy and mental clarity to approach challenges with a clear mind and positive attitude.

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We have given our candidates’ reliable and achievable pathways to a rewarding career. Contact us today or send us a message on LinkedIn – we’d love to speak to you.