The best investment you will ever make in life is in yourself.
When you invest in something, you expect returns. The basis for your expectation comes from the fact that this thing is capable of growing in value.
The effort you put into consistently investing in yourself plays a large role in determining the quality of your life now and in the future. Investing in yourself truly makes a difference in your life, your well-being, and your ability to thrive and perform to the best of your ability. The extent to which you invest in yourself not only shapes the way you interact with the outside world, it often reflects the opinion you have of yourself.
5 ways you can invest yourself.
- Educationally.
Take relevant certifications, advanced degrees or extra classes. This can be done online or in person. These are all valuable investments that can improve your knowledge base, run your business, increase your chances of getting a better job or honing your skills.
- Mentally.
Learning new things and keeping your mind active helps to grow and maintain your mental ability. If you do not make it a point to keep learning, you may become outdated and obsolete in a world that is constantly changing.
Read books and e-books. The art of reading improves your memory, your focus and expands your vocabulary.
- Physical wellbeing.
You have probably heard the saying “you are what you eat.” You should make healthy food choices as often as possible.
Rest and relax as often as possible. Get regular check-ups, take appropriate vitamins. Exercise regularly, this creates a healthy mind and a healthy body. The benefits of exercise include disease prevention, better mood, increased energy, better sleep, lower body-fat and weight.
- Socially
Your family and friends are valuable, and it pays to stay in touch with them and give them your time. This will deepen your relationship with them and show them you care. Invest time and effort in staying in touch with them regularly, whether in person, via telephone, email, WhatsApp or skype, etc. You will be happy that you did in the long run.
- Financially
You must have an idea of how much comes in and how much goes out of your account every month. It is important to tithe and save part of your income diligently. I suggest that you decide what percentage of your income you want to save and set it aside each month or every 2 weeks. Do not touch that money, except in extreme emergencies.
Once you have accumulated enough savings, it is important to invest part of that in assets that will appreciate. It could be as simple as an interest-bearing savings account, stocks and real estate.
Invest in yourself so much that others will want to invest in you. In the words of Zig Zigler, “An investment in yourself pays the best interest.”