{"id":894,"date":"2009-06-15T10:14:46","date_gmt":"2009-06-15T18:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/invest-in-youself\/"},"modified":"2013-08-20T08:12:41","modified_gmt":"2013-08-20T16:12:41","slug":"invest-in-youself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/invest-in-youself\/","title":{"rendered":"For Real Self-Improvement, You Need To Invest In Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n

One great question to ask if you\u2019re interested in self-improvement is \u201cAm I investing in myself?\u201d\u00a0 \u2013 particularly when you\u2019re feeling stuck, or when your progress towards your goals hasn\u2019t been so fast as you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

So what does \u201cinvesting in yourself\u201d mean? This depends on what your goals are, but these are three big areas you might want to invest some time, money and thought in:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your appearance
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your skills
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your health<\/p>\n

All of these are important for success in many walks of life. Here\u2019s why, and some ideas how you can invest in each.<\/p>\n

Investing In Your Appearance<\/strong><\/p>\n

This might seem a very shallow thing to put at the top. Unfortunately, like it or not, we all tend to judge on appearances. In some jobs or roles, looking the part can make a real difference to how others perceive and treat you<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Just as importantly, your appearance can have huge effects on your self confidence<\/em>. Have you ever been at an event where you misjudged the formality and ended up very under-dressed or over-dressed? I\u2019ll bet you felt awkward and out of place. Conversely, you might well have taken extra care over your grooming before a big presentation, and felt more confident as a result.<\/p>\n

Investing in your appearance might mean:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Saving up for a good suit
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Getting up ten minutes earlier to have time to look your best for work
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Asking a fashionable friend for advice on your usual \u201clook\u201d
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Losing some weight (also important for health reasons)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Taking some time to revamp your wardrobe, ensuring you have clothes that mix and match well<\/p>\n

If you feel that your appearance is the big area you need to invest in, Trent from The Simple Dollar has some strong advice (particularly if you\u2019re in a fairly traditional job) in his article on The Value of Personal Appearance.<\/a><\/p>\n

Investing in Your Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of us have a certain skill set, often based on our jobs (current and past), our hobbies and our day-to-day experiences. Employers tend to be interested primarily in skills \u2013 what you can do. Some of these will be very specific to particular jobs (technical skills, such as being able to program a computer) and other skills are \u201ctransferable skills\u201d that you can use in many careers as well as in day-to-day life (such as public speaking or presentational skills).<\/p>\n

Clear five or ten uninterrupted minutes when you can sit down and list your skills<\/em>. Put down little things as well as big ones \u2013 being able to bake the perfect cake is a skill!<\/p>\n

What skills could you develop, with the investment of a little time or money? Could any of these form the basis of a new career, a side business, a fulfilling hobby, or something you could offer to your community?<\/p>\n

Some ways to invest in your skills are:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read a book that teaches you something new in a particular area
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Attend a local course
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take part in an online course
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask someone to mentor you
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Schedule regular time to practise<\/p>\n

Investing in Your Health<\/strong><\/p>\n

Too many of us are storing up health problems for later life \u2013 one that could cause financial problems or give us a huge reduction in quality of life. It\u2019s much cheaper to focus on staying healthy than to take preventative action once something\u2019s gone wrong<\/em>. If you\u2019re in good health, you\u2019ll perform better at work, you\u2019ll have more energy to work towards your goals, and you\u2019ll generally feel happier!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just think about your physical health, either; mental health is just as important (and, indeed, your mental and physical health can\u2019t be considered in complete isolation). By investing some time and money now, you could save yourself a huge amount of both in the future. Here are some ideas to get you started:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you\u2019re over or under weight, start taking action
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get some exercise each day \u2013 great for your body and mind
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take good care of your teeth (dental hygiene, and regular visits to your dentist) \u2013 tooth\u00a0 pain can be crippling
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you work at a computer, learn about RSI and how to prevent it<\/a>.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eat a healthy, balanced diet, focusing on fruits, veggies, wholegrains and lean proteins.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t smoke, take drugs, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.<\/p>\n

What areas could you invest in? Is it worth spending some money or some time now in order to improve your position in the future?<\/p>\n


\nGot a Self Improvement Question? Click Here!<\/a>
\n\"\"
\n<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter! <\/a><\/p>\n

Related Articles: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Real Key To A Healthy Life <\/a><\/p>\n

What Does It Mean To Live A Balanced Life <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One great question to ask if you\u2019re interested in self-improvement is \u201cAm I investing in myself?\u201d\u00a0 \u2013 particularly when you\u2019re feeling stuck, or when your progress towards your goals hasn\u2019t been so fast as you\u2019d like. So what does \u201cinvesting … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[9,5,21,7,6],"tags":[3120,62,3119,1851,4629,2019,4640],"yoast_head":"\nFor Real Self-Improvement, You Need To Invest In Yourself - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"So what does \u201cinvesting in yourself\u201d mean? 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