Ways to invest in yourself

It took me a while to learn exactly what was meant by investing in yourself. Initially I thought it meant treating yourself at the end of each month to a takeaway or a new pair of shoes, but now I’ve learnt to see it in a completely new light. 

Investing in yourself doesn’t involve buying something materialistic which provides immediate and short-lived pleasure. To invest in yourself is to be aware of what you can add into your life, commit to it, and then reap the benefits of how these new habits can help you to learn and grow both physically and mentally. 

In this article I am going to give you some ideas on how you can begin investing in yourself both with and without money. Whilst some of these ideas may at first seem unnecessary or a waste of time, after doing these things myself I am fully aware of their benefits and believe they are far from it. The way I see it is that the only person responsible for you, is you. There is no one else who knows you better than you know yourself, and so why not take the time to open your mind to new ways of reaching your goals whether they be emotional, physical, financial or spiritual. 

1. Try Out Counselling or Therapy

Before you skip this one and think “I don’t need counselling” or “I wouldn’t have anything to talk about,” you’re wrong. Before having counselling myself, I always saw it as something that people only have when they’re at their lowest point and to be honest, that’s exactly why I had counselling. However, since having it I couldn’t recommend it more. Now I have sessions from time to time just to have a chat about my life and not even necessarily the negative parts. You won’t experience it until you try it but there is a great sense of freedom which comes from talking to a complete stranger about your life.

Even before the pandemic, the NHS saw an increasing amount of people in the UK reaching out for psychological therapies. Between 2018 and 2019, there were 1.6 million referrals and that is only based on those who went through the NHS, ignoring those who already attended private counselling. What I am trying to say here is that counselling and therapy isn’t just for those who are struggling, it’s for anyone and everyone. We all live in a world where there is always something going on whether it be something small like a bad hair day or something a lot bigger like moving to University. No issue is too big or too small for counselling and that’s why this is my number one way of investing in yourself. 

2. Join the Gym

You might already be aware of the evidence behind how exercise improves our mental health and so I don’t want to drown you in the numbers which surround it, but the simple fact is that exercise, anything from a 15 minute walk or an hour in the gym, helps to relieve stress whilst improving our self-esteem and overall mood. 

This is not me saying that you now need to completely transform your lifestyle and go to the gym 7 days a week for 2 hours each time, but it is me saying that small changes will contribute to an even bigger one. Joining the gym has been a life changer for me, it has given me something to focus on and for me, it’s one of the only times in a day where all I think about is the weights I’m lifting and I forget about everything else going on around me. 

It can be so daunting when first joining a gym but take it slowly, go with a friend and plan your workout before you go. Whether it be a run on the treadmill, HIIT, or weightlifting, moving your body is one of the most basic and vital ways to invest in yourself and improve both your physical and mental health. 

3. Listen to a Podcast

Now for a freebie!! Podcasts are an amazing way to take time for yourself and there is such a range of podcasts which can help you in so many different ways. Podcasts are available on Spotify or Apple Music but if you don’t have a subscription to one of these platforms, a lot of podcasts are recorded and posted onto YouTube to watch for free. They also range in length so whether you want a quick 10-minute listen or something a lot longer, they cater to everyone and their interests. 

Here are some of my favourite podcasts which help me in all different ways:

Career and Education: The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Every Monday Steven Bartlett – the founder of Social Chain – records a podcast with other successful CEO’s and they give you an insight into what it means to really be a CEO. 

“I want to give you a look into what it’s like behind the scenes, being an entrepreneur, the deep, dark thoughts that nobody else will share with you and anything else that’s playing on my mind” – Steven Bartlett 

@steven

Relaxation and Personal Life: The Girls Bathroom

Sophia and Cinzia are two best friends who are most well known for their YouTube channel. In their podcast they discuss all things to do with girls, boys, relationships, friendships, and all the drama which comes with them – think modern day Agony Aunt

“we want to help you with your dilemmas, by drying to make sense of these boys wasting our time, the girls trying to make our lives difficult and all the things in between” – Sophia and Cinzia

@thegirlsbathroom

Focus and Goals: The High Performance Podcast

This podcast is hosted by sports broadcaster Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, a leading organisational psychologist. Together, and with some amazing guests, they talk about resilience, focus, principles, communication and so much more. 

“an intimate glimpse into the lives of high-achieving, world-class performers who have all excelled in their field…Find out what non-negotiable behaviours they employed to get them to the top and keep them there” – Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes

@highperformance

By implementing even just one of these three simple ways to invest in yourself, it is undoubtable that your outlook on life will change. Of course, with investing comes commitment but the results make it worth it. We invest so much time into our work and relationships so why not take the time to see how you can develop your own goals and learn to be the best version of yourself because with investment comes opportunity and with opportunity comes growth!

• gym
• podcasts
• self-care
• self-improvement
• self-love
• therapy