5 Ways I’ve Invested In Myself

5 Powerful Ways I’ve Invested In Myself.

“The best investment you can make is in yourself”- Warren Buffett. 

“An investment in self-development pays the highest dividends.”- Debasish Mridh

Investing in yourself is one of the most powerful and worthwhile investments you can make. Whether it is acquiring a new skill, developing your soft and/ or technical skills, improving your fitness or strengthening your mind.

Why is it that self-investment is so powerful? Investing in yourself sends a message to you and to those around you, that you are worth it. When you prioritise time to work on yourself, your mind and your body, the universe rewards you with new opportunities.

I made a commitment to myself around 12-18 months ago that I would spend more time investing in myself, before giving all my energy and time away to others. Some of these changes have been simple habits to develop, whereas others have taken more effort.

So, here are the top 5 ways I have invested in myself:

1. GYM MEMBERSHIP

This is not a new habit for me, however something I have changed and adapted over the years. I have always considered myself to be an active person and have always participated in a variety of sports- from swimming, to tennis, to netball, to crossfit, to running and everything in between.

I’ve learned that the most important aspect of sticking to a workout regime is to do something you enjoy. I tend to get bored easily in a gym, and the thought of running on a treadmill is enough to make my eyes roll. Mixing up workouts keeps my body guessing and most importantly, keeps me engaged.

For the past couple of years, I’ve found that F45 Training has really worked for me. F45 combines elements of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Circuit Training & Functional Training. I schedule in my classes online and it helps to keep me accountable. My F45 membership costs around $264 per month but I find I get my value for money by attending at least 5 classes per week.

Other forms of exercise I enjoy are long coastal walks and cycling on the weekends, interval running/ hill sprints and visiting my besties gym Crossfit 168 for an intense crossfit session whenever possible.

Working out keeps my body and mind right. It’s a great source of stress-relief for me and a great investment in my overall health and well-being.

2. RISING EARLY

I never used to be a morning person, but training myself to wake-up at 5:30am sets my day up for success. Rather that waking up tired and groggy, rising early enables me to make the most of each and every day.

Before I was a morning person, my day would look like this:

7:00am: Wake up feeling tired and groggy, snooze for at least 15-20 minutes.

7:20am: Rush to get up, have a shower & get ready.

7:45am: Drive to work whilst eating breakfast in the car, (yes I’m embarrassed to admit this) but often spilling food or coffee on my clothes. Stuck in terrible peak-hour traffic.

9:00am: Arrive to work feeling flustered, stressed and in a bad mood.

Since becoming a morning person, my day now looks like this:

5:30am: Wake-up with purpose and on a mission.

5:35am: Make the bed.

5:45am: Meditate.

6:00am: Leave for the gym. Have an easy, stress-free commute whilst listening to a podcast.

6:45am: Workout

7:30am: Shower & get ready.

8:15am: Eat a leisurely, wholesome breakfast.

8:30am: Start my work day empowered, uplifted and feeling like an unstoppable force.

Sure, it has taken a bit of discipline to make the change to becoming a morning person, but the benefits have been life-changing. Waking up just 1.5 hours earlier has enabled me to accomplish so much more in the day and help to set me up for success.

My mornings are now centred around investing in my mind and my body and I’ve never felt so good.

3. MEDITATION

Meditation is one of the newer habits I’ve developed and I’m no expert, however I can certainly feel the benefits of practicing meditation on a daily basis. Even a quick 10 minute session of simple breathing exercises can help set your day up the right way.

I personally like to use the Headspace app, although there are a ton of various exercises and sessions you can find on YouTube if you’re unsure of where to start.

Meditation has increased my self-awareness, enabled me to be more present and mindful and has also helped me to effectively manage stress. Meditation has enabled me to feel more centred and grounded. It has helped me to feel more in control of my thoughts and in turn, in control of my day.

4. PODCASTS & BOOKS

If you read my earlier post, you may know that I set a goal for myself to read at least one book per month and listen to at least one podcast per week. This has no longer become a goal, however a healthy and necessary habit.  Swapping trash radio for podcasts during my morning commute has truly become one of the best and most beneficial habits I’ve developed.

Podcasts and books have opened up my mind to a whole new world of information and knowledge I never thought possible. I’ve found myself laughing, crying and sharing my insights and recommendations with just about anyone who’s willing to listen. Podcasts and books have become a driving force in developing my mindset, habits and routines.

If you would like to view my podcast recommendations, you can find them here.

I personally prefer to read non, fiction, personal-development books. Some of my recent favourite reads include:

• The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason.
• Shoe Dog, Phil Knight.
• Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss.
• The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss.
• What I Know For Sure, Oprah Winfrey.
• Feel the Fear & Do it Anyway, Susan Jeffers.

5. COURSES & COACHES

In the technologically-driven and fast-moving world we now live in, if you don’t find a way to continually up-skill yourself, you will fall behind. My blog has taken my work and focus into a different direction, and has forced me to up-skill myself particularly when it comes to technology. Some of these technical skills I’ve had to learn include:

• Web development
• Web design
• Social Media
• Copyrighting
• SEO
• Coding

I’ve had to teach myself these new skills by searching online (google is my friend), watching YouTube videos and completing online short-courses. I’m certainly not claiming I’m an expert in any of the above mentioned skills, but I’ve learnt that in the online world, it’s adapt or die. Coursera and Udacity are great online tools to utilise.

In addition to technical skills, my work has required me to invest in soft skills training and development, such as leadership skills and presentation skills. I am about to embark on some presentation skills training and whilst this is something which is out of my comfort zone, I’ve recognised this is a skill that is becoming more and more necessary for me to master.

HAVE YOU INVESTED IN YOURSELF?

The biggest investment you can make is the one you make in yourself. What are some of the ways you have invested in yourself? I would love to hear your thoughts- leave your comments below!