The following six invest-in-yourself suggestions are a continuation of Me Amoeba’s previous post, Time is Money: Invest in Yourself. Click HERE if you missed it. The investment options below don’t have to cost much, but you will have to spend some time on them.
- Continue your education. Almost without exception, gaining knowledge is good. I say “almost” because I once read an interview in which the famous artist Georgia O’Keefe confessed she wished she hadn’t gone to art school. Don’t limit yourself in thinking that an education has to come from a university or an accredited program. Check your community for local classes or online for instruction on anything from laying tile to reiki.
- Identify what you want out of life. Many of us get swept up in our daily lives that we forget about the big picture. The more alien this idea sounds, the greater the chance you’ll need some outside assistance to help you figure it out. Life coaches can be a great resource in helping you identify what it is you want. Some people already know and others may be working toward it. Kudos to everyone anywhere in this process. Like they say, it’s easier to attain something when you know what that thing is and what it looks like.
- Set personal goals. Identifying a goal isn’t enough. Succeeding will not only give you the pleasure of achieving said goal but it will also increase your confidence. Take the time to design a plan of action and put it in writing. You may want to solicit motivation from mentors like Bob Proctor or enroll in programs like the 100 Day Challenge. Then follow through! And remember how great you’ll feel when you loose that 20 pounds or pay off those credit cards or send out those four essays for solicitation.
- Move your body. Remember to care for your primary vehicle. Exercise forces us to breathe, delivering oxygen to our cells for optimum, all-around performance—body and mind. Our bodies are designed to move so its your responsibility to find a physical activity you enjoy. Join a rock-climbing club or the pool, take a dance or martial arts class, do yoga, jog or walk, join the gym, or all the above. I know memberships cost money but spending now will likely save money on health care later.
- Rest and relax. All work and no play imbalances us, and imbalance leads to illness. Any athlete will tell you that rest is as important as an individual workout. We also need to rest the mind, to schedule down time to process, recoup, and prepare for more. Think of how rejuvenated you felt after returning from your last vacation, or few successive days off.
- Schedule quiet time. Take time to quiet the mind. There’s a living entity deep within that often gets ignored. Learning to listen to our soul can have profound impact on our outlook and direction in life. The goal is to shut out the mind and listen to the heart. In doing so you can meet the objectives of several investments listed above–including exercise if you incorporate deep breathing.
So, as you can see, time really is money. The more time you spend on yourself, the greater return on your investment. And it’s not selfish if you consider it product development: the new and improved you! Who knows … that attitude adjustment, increased energy, and clear intent may just earn you a raise.
