While we all know the things we should be doing and practicing to achieve greater balance and satisfaction in life, it certainly becomes all-too-easy sometimes to brush those things aside for another day in the midst of the day-to-day hustle and bustle.
But, of course, the goal in life is to thrive — not just survive. That’s why it’s important to make a commitment to invest in yourself today. Don’t wait until next week or after the holidays. No matter how small of an effort you can give, start now to see the enormous success and dividends you’re bound to achieve before the end of the year.
Not sure how to go about it? Here are four surefire ways to better invest in yourself to improve your overall well-being.
1. Plan for Your Future
Take the literal approach of investing in yourself by putting money toward your own financial future. You have many investment options from which to choose, including stocks, bonds, gold, an IRA or 401K, and/or real estate earnings.
Determining which of the many options is best for your financial goals can be overwhelming, especially if you aren’t well-versed on the topic. That’s why it can be helpful to meet with a financial advisor to get some investment guidance personally tailored to your savings goals.
2. Take Yourself on Vacation
Solo travel offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about yourself, see things through a new lens and push the boundaries of your comfort limits. It can also help inspire you to set new goals, so you return feeling refreshed and filled with a new perspective of the world.
By traveling alone, you inevitably give yourself a chance to slow down and notice the small details and unusual characteristics of a certain location. In other words, you have more time to stop and smell the roses (sometimes quite literally) by taking in the subtleties of someplace new through all your senses in a way that’s often more difficult when traveling with others.
In that vein, treat yourself to the best Alaska cruise or book that European trip you’ve been thinking about for years. Choose a trip that’s been on your bucket list for years, so you can feel even better about the opportunity to check off something big and exciting.
3. Build Healthy Habits
Money and perspective can feel less meaningful if you aren’t in good health. With that in mind, take proactive steps to remain in good health by making healthy eating and regular exercise a part of your daily lifestyle.
Instead of trying the latest fad diet, commit to starting small and making gradual changes in order to create more sustainable healthy eating habits. For example:
- Aim to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Minimize snacking between mealtimes
- Focus on consuming high-fiber foods.
- Limit your intake of processed foods and refined sugary beverages and sweets.
- Stick to whole grains and skip saturated fats in favor of healthy unsaturated fats.
- Structure your meals to include a combination of protein, greens, fiber and healthy fats.
In addition to making better healthy eating habits, find a form of exercise you enjoy doing. By choosing an activity or a sport you like, it will be easier to work it into your daily routine, as it will be less of a chore and more of a treat. Walking, yoga or cycling are great options, no matter your current fitness level.
4. Enhance Your Mental Well-Being
Make meditation a part of your daily routine to enhance your mental clarity and overall well-being. Studies have shown that people who practice daily meditation experience increased focus, reduced stress, less anxiety, heightened self-awareness and improved emotional health.
Love Yourself and Be Happy
Investing in yourself may feel like a lot of extra work and effort at first, but doing so tends to become much easier as you form new habits. By practicing daily meditation, traveling solo, eating healthy foods, exercising and making a financial investment in your future, you can enrich your life and improve your daily experience.