How to Invest In Yourself
Can you believe how fast 2024 has flown by? With the end of the year in sight, there’s that familiar rush to hit all our annual goals. TikTok has this trend called the “winter arc” where people double down on their goals in the last quarter of the year. Personally, I don’t feel called to participate. Instead, I’m feeling more reflective of this year’s major themes, and for me self-investment has been the most prominent theme.
This year I’ve spent a good amount of time, money, and energy investing in becoming a better version of myself. Here’s what I learned.
Investing in Appearance: A New Perspective
When I first started podcasting while still working in corporate, how I looked wasn’t a priority for me. But as my career became more public-facing, I realized that investing in my appearance could really move the needle for me professionally. I’ve noticed that looking more put-together has led to more viewers, better brand partnerships, and a huge boost in my confidence.
A game-changer for me was the style challenge I did earlier this year. Through the challenge I learned how to get creative with my existing wardrobe and sharpened my styling skills. I didn’t necessarily need to spend a bunch of money on a new wardrobe, I just needed to be more intentional about how I worked with what I already had.
I also committed to getting better at my makeup game, especially for how much on-camera work I do now. Alongside budgeting for things like Invisalign, a few tiny tweaks really elevated my confidence this year.
Investing in My Physical Well-Being
Physical health has been my jam since college. I know it’s key to supporting my mental and emotional well-being. But let’s be real—keeping up with workouts can be tough with a busy schedule. I made the leap and invested in a high-end gym membership as a birthday gift to myself and so far it’s been a worthwhile investment. The cost keeps me accountable to go regularly and get my money’s worth, and I’ve already seen and felt the benefits of being more consistent and pushing myself physically.
This year, I found myself struggling to get good meals in. Recently I decided to invest in a meal prep service and it’s been so helpful. I started ordering meals from Factor to have for lunches and dinners during busy weeks when I don’t have time to prep or cook.
Mental Health Investment: A Continuous Journey
I’ve been going to therapy off and on for years, but this year I decided to stick with it and go consistently. Instead of going and venting about what’s happening in my daily life, I’m working with my therapist to help me process past events from my life that are holding me back, and it’s been a really helpful investment. I’m definitely still in the thick of doing “the work” but I know a year from now I’ll be so glad I did.
Liked this conversation? Catch up on these self-investment episodes:
- Episode 186: Easy Ways to Boost Your Confidence So You Can Level Up
- Episode 236: How to Become Your Highest Self: Essential Glow Up Tips with Jaz Turner
- Episode 247: How to Stop Caring About What Other People Think
- Episode 253: How to Win At Life: The Mindset Shift You Need to Level Up in Life
- Episode 256: How to Become A Better Public Speaker
- Episode 258: What I Learned During My 30-Day Style Challenge
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What are some ways you plan to invest in yourself? Have any prior investments you’ve made in yourself paid off?