Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
The concept of investing in oneself may sound simple but for many Americans – it’s not. Taking the time to focus solely on you is one of the biggest ROIs in life. By changing the focus from others to you gives the opportunity to learn a new skill, organize finances or develop more professionally. With any of these options, you are taking that official step of investing in the future. Take this post as your Brainy Money family telling you that it is okay to give attention to yourself before you give it away to others, whether it is money, talent, or time.
Take Control of Your Finances
First; make sure your finances are in order. When you accepted a life of financial upheaval, there lacks the opportunity to live out your dreams. Now is the time to get your spending and saving under control! Take a deep breath and remind yourself that each deposit you make into your savings or retirement accounts is the same as buying yourself that dinner out or a pair of new shoes. Things to consider…
• Until you are debt free, your money is not truly yours
• By eliminating debt, you control your finances
• Saving money can help you feel less stress, sleep better and overall have a better sense of peace
Patience along with willpower is needed to set money aside and leave those funds alone so they grow and you can enjoy rewards later on in life. Need help making that happen, check out our budgeting course today!
Mission To Save
What are your dreams in life? Have you taken any time to stash away cash so one day you can live out your dreams instead of what you are doing right now? When you have that extra cash for both emergencies and the ability to live out your dream, is an amazing investment in yourself. Consider opening a tax-free savings account or have your money automatically drafted. To learn more on how to set up your accounts, read our recent on saving post here.
Grow your mind
Try to carve out an hour to develop yourself intellectually each day. You can utilize this time for reading, goal setting or whatever you need that hour for and remember – it is just for you. Either early in the morning or late at night, this time is set aside to accomplish what you want to do with your time and not the needs of your partner/spouse, children or of the home.
However, if you are like me, with three toddlers, an hour is a luxury and may find at first this task a little daunting. In the beginning, try carving out 5 minutes each day for you to become focused on what you need to accomplish that day. Then extend it 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and so on. For the past six months, I have started my day around 5ish each morning to work on my writing, set my day’s to-do list and catch up on reading articles or books in my profession. Is it early? Heck, yes it is but it does give me some time to focus on myself before my attention is stretched five different ways to take care of my young family.
Peace Of Mind
Joy does not come from money but, there is something to say when you have that peace of mind when you know that your finances are in order. Investing in you allows that opportunity to give attention to new goals or skills. This effort and energy, you will spend on developing the new you does result in success in days to come. The first step is to set a personal goal and follow through. The task is not always as easy as it sounds but at the end of the day, it is rewarding.
In conclusion, try to look forward and not backward. Too often we want to enjoy the fruits of our labor right now and fail to think about the future. Life is a constant balance and we are here to help guide you through the process – all you need to do is take the first step.
