How to Invest in Yourself as a Woman This Year

Let’s talk about some really simple ways to invest in your life

Personal development is all about wanting to become a better version of yourself. One of the ways to become a better version of yourself is by investing in yourself and your future. In this post, I’m going to talk about how to invest in yourself as a woman and change your life forever.

They are relatively easy, but they will have a huge impact on your quality of life. The best investment is in yourself, so let’s talk about some simple tips you can use.

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Let’s talk about how you can invest in yourself

1. Break your bad habits

Bad habits are the ones you do that have a negative impact on your quality of life. These are the habits that are ruining your process of becoming a better version of yourself. They decrease your productivity, drain your energy, and lower your self-esteem.

They are mostly caused by stress and boredom, and they can be anything from stress-eating and nail-biting to watching too much TV. Breaking bad habits can be difficult if you’re so used to them, but it’s not impossible.

The first important thing is to analyze what triggers your bad habits. It’s quite often that we don’t even realize we’re doing something that affects us negatively. Identify the habits you want to quit.

Then identify the reasons behind them. What triggers those habits? What makes you bite your nails? What makes you swear? Identifying means self-awareness, which makes it easier to quit those toxic habits.

Explain to yourself why you need to quit that habit and start slowly. By making tiny changes, you’re not scaring yourself away, and you’ll be more likely to succeed. Also, it may be easier to ditch a bad habit if you are aware of why this change is beneficial to you.

The next step is to replace the bad habit with a good one that has a similar benefit. You can skip it, but I find it easier to quit a bad habit if I give myself something else to work on.

For example, every time you feel like biting your nails, practice powerful affirmations instead. They help draw your attention away from that bad habit.

Breaking a habit is difficult, so make sure to reward yourself for every win to motivate yourself to keep going.

If you want to take your personal development process to another level, read my blog post about 20 toxic habits that are ruining your life.

USEFUL TIP: Changing your environment and the people around you can also have a huge impact on your habits. If you tend to procrastinate while working from home on your couch, change your environment. Go sit behind a desk, and you’ll see your productivity increase.

2. Find a creative outlet

How to invest in yourself as a woman? You find a creative outlet, whether it’s through writing, drawing, dancing, or something else. Creative processes boost your brain functions, improve your mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, and therefore improve your overall well-being.

Your brain needs stimulation to stay healthy. Practicing your hobbies stimulates different parts of the brain, depending on the activity you participate in.

Being creative doesn’t mean only drawing or singing. Your creative outlet can be anything that has meaning and brings you joy. Practicing art is all about making your soul grow.

Explore your creative side. You might think you’re not creative, but we all have some creative traits that we can express in different ways. The goal is to become self-aware and get to know yourself better. Think about what you really like and feel like doing.

USEFUL TIP: According to research, people who are creative tend to live longer lives.

3. Get organized and declutter your stuff

The idea of living a simpler life is what motivates many of us to do a massive cleanup every now and then. Everyone has a little bit of junk lying around the house. This junk might seem harmless, but it actually makes us anxious every time we look at it.

Besides, getting organized helps to ease your workflow and save you more time in the long run. If that’s not a good reason to invest in your life, then what is?

Decluttering your home means you have fewer things to clean and organize, and you’ll be less stressed because, when your home is cluttered, you spend too much time looking for things you actually need. Decluttering your home is also one of the best ways to relieve stress, as you’ll be proud of how much you’ve accomplished.

If you have a lot of clutter and don’t know where to start or you feel like giving your stuff away makes you anxious, start slow. Give away 1-3 items a day (don’t just throw them away, please), and you’ll notice your home looks much cleaner in a short time.

What I’ve also found really useful is creating a sorting system. So I take three boxes: one for things that I’ll keep, one for things that I’ll donate or sell, and one for things that I don’t have to get rid of but want to put away. So, these three boxes make the decluttering process much easier.

I think when it comes to women, the thing we should really work on is our wardrobe. My wardrobe… I don’t even want to talk about it. I’ve made myself a promise to donate or sell clothes I don’t wear, and I want you to do the same.

Get rid of those clothes you haven’t worn for half a year. You will probably never wear them again, so they’re just taking up space in your wardrobe. Use the KonMari method to get rid of unwanted clothes. If it doesn’t spark joy in you, then it’s time to say goodbye.

It might sound weird, but I love getting rid of old stuff. Most of these things don’t bring me joy, and by giving them away, I’m welcoming new, clean energy into my life.

USEFUL TIP: If you don’t know where to start, look at your home as if you were a visitor. What bothers you? What could be thrown away? Start with these items.

4. Working on your dreams is among the best ways to invest in your future

There’s a quote that says, “Dreams don’t work unless you do,” and I find it to be really accurate.

People often say they don’t have time to work on their dreams because they’re too busy working. Well, I say if you’re too busy working all week on someone else’s dream (it’s okay, I’ve been there too), make sure that on your days off you work on your dreams.

I used to work in retail, and it was the worst job of my life. I was only working and super unhappy with my life.

I found a side job that let me quit my full-time job, and I started working on this blog. I’m working really hard on this, so I know I’ll eventually get to where I want to be. So will you, if you make time to work on your dreams.

Working on your dreams is one of the best ways to invest in yourself. Every day, you have the choice to either keep dreaming or start working on those dreams. Don’t waste your valuable time thinking. Take action. Remember, it’s never too late to start. NEVER!

If you fail, you can always get up and keep moving. Failing does not make you a failure. It gives you an opportunity to learn from your mistakes. It’s up to you how you cope with that failure.

I know you might be scared, but that’s okay. I’m scared every time I publish a blog post because I’m not a native English speaker. Does it prevent me from blogging? Hell no! Fear should motivate us to push harder and not give up.

Set daily goals that inspire you and are connected to your dreams. Or if you have a budget list, work on it. Stop comparing yourself to other people because everyone’s path is different.

It’s a toxic habit to have that will prevent you from reaching your full potential.

The most important thing to remember is that when you’re old, you won’t regret the things you did or the things you failed at; you’ll regret the things you didn’t do.

USEFUL TIP: Use visualization to attract your dream life. This is something a lot of people don’t believe in, but visualization does work. It needs patience, time, and belief, but it does work.

5. Invest in building your mental strength

Some people find it easier to cope with the lemons that are thrown their way, and for some people, it might be a little harder, and that’s okay. Luckily, mental strength is something that can be improved.

Just like we go to the gym to be able to lift heavier things, we should also exercise our brains to be able to overcome more difficult challenges. We need to make personal development our number one priority.

If we’re mentally strong, we’ll also be able to live the life we want to, have positive self-esteem, and have high confidence. Difficult challenges give us an opportunity to rise above the difficulties and come back stronger than ever.

Work on your self-esteem and confidence. An important part of it is reprogramming your negative thoughts. Instead of blaming yourself for your failures, look for explanations. Why did I fail? How can I become better and fix that mistake?

Step out of your comfort zone and do something new (and scary) every day. Create goals. Achieving goals increases your self-esteem and confidence because you see what you’re really capable of, and it motivates you to keep pushing.

USEFUL TIP: Get rid of toxic people in your life. It might sound harsh, but the people who surround you have a huge impact on how you view the world.

6. Spend less time with technology

I get it. Technology is everywhere. It greets us when we wake up, and it’s next to us when we fall asleep.

However, technology, when not used moderately, will strain your eyes and mess with your sleep schedule. It can also lead to bad posture if you’re using your laptop on your couch, for example.

If you’re wondering how to invest in yourself as a woman and spend less time with technology, first delete the apps you don’t really use or need. They will only tempt you, and you’ll end up using them, although they do you no good. Turn off your notifications.

You don’t need to know right away when someone tags you or likes your photo. Every time you feel like grabbing your phone, read a book instead.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your phone throughout the whole day, assign certain times to use your smart devices. Keep in mind that this time should certainly not be around when you wake up and when you go to bed.

Spending less time on technology allows you to spend more time with people. This is beneficial for your mental health. Instead of watching TV, spend some time with your loved ones who actually have a good impact on you. Pursue new hobbies and relationships that don’t involve technology.

USEFUL TIP: Change your phone background to important reminders that help you stay on track. If your background says something that motivates you to put your phone down, you’re halfway there to living a life where you don’t depend on technology.

7. Take care of your finances

Taking care of your finances is a good tip, as you never know what obstacles life might throw your way. What if you lose your job or something happens to your health? You have to be prepared for any kind of situation.

I hear a lot of advice about putting some money aside or saving for the future, but it can be pretty hard to save some money if you’re earning just enough to pay the bills and buy some food.

You can try to lower housing costs and be more careful about food spending, but another option to consider is starting a side hustle.

You can either sell crafts, start a blog, or come up with something totally different.

Think about what you’re good at, consider how to differ from your competitors, and set clear goals that will help you succeed. Starting a side hustle means you’ll earn more money, which also helps you get out of debt if you have any.

What you can also do is create a strict budget and stick to it. Start meal planning and buying groceries once a week. I know it’s suggested a lot, but it really helps save you money and time.

If you have any debts, get rid of the high-interest debt first. There’s no need to pay crazy fees for a longer period of time.

You can also invest in yourself by investing money. A lot of people are afraid of investing simply because they don’t know how it works (including me). Some people might also be afraid of investing because they feel like they’re giving away their money.

USEFUL TIP: Ling from Finsavvy Panda has written a great post about how to make money with online surveys, so make sure to check it out.

8. How do you invest in yourself? You educate yourself

Read educational books and watch documentaries to keep your brain engaged. Analyze everything you read, using your critical thinking. Keep in mind that not everything you read and see is true, so choose your sources wisely.

Knowledge means power and opportunities. I try to read at least one book and watch at least one documentary per week, and so far I’ve succeeded. Remember, every small step you take leads you toward a better life.

Sign up for online courses. Sites like Udemy or Coursera have tons of both free and paid courses available for every niche possible.

edX has partnered with over 160 universities to offer you free online courses, so take advantage of it. You can also try attending seminars and workshops that are hosted by professionals.

USEFUL TIP: Whenever you have a question or a new word in mind, Google it. Keep your brain curious. WikiRoulette lets you read one random Wikipedia article at a time. It’s fun because it will broaden your knowledge of topics you might not even be aware of.

9. Skill-developing

Skill development means both learning new skills and strengthening your current ones. Learning and training keep your brain in good shape and broaden your opportunities in life. You’ll be more successful because most skills come with better earning potential.

It’s actually in correlation with educating yourself. Start with core skills. I’m going to give you an example.

If you want to master your blogging skills, you need to master your language skills first, because blogging is mostly about storytelling. If you try to master everything at once, you’ll get exhausted. Take small steps.

Don’t be afraid to get a professional mentor who’s good at your chosen topic. It can be costly, but it will be beneficial in the long run. The only investments you’ll never regret are the ones you make in yourself.

USEFUL TIP: Study a new language. It improves your opportunities drastically, as you’ll be able to communicate with even more people. I use the Duolingo app for that. It’s totally free and lets you learn over 30 new languages online.

10. Plan your days

Not planning for the day is a mistake most people make. We set goals for the next month or for the next year, but we should also set goals for each day.

So you wake up and think, “What a beautiful morning. Today, I’m going to let inspiration guide me through this day.” This is wrong because the motivation to do things comes from the actions themselves.

We have a certain plan and we follow it, and this sense of achievement leads to more motivation. That’s why it’s important to develop a daily routine and stick to it.

Stop procrastinating and manage your time. Coming up with a daily to-do list should not take more than 10–15 minutes, but it will result in a day that’s more productive. Make sure to start working on the hardest task first, as it’s usually the most stressful one.

Another good tip to use is dividing your goals. Break your goals into smaller chunks and create a to-do list around these chunks (write down things you need to do to achieve these goals).

If you’re interested in learning how to be more productive throughout the day, make sure to read this post about some good productivity hacks.

USEFUL TIP: There’s a cool app named Forest: Stay focused. Just like the name says, it helps you stay focused. Whenever you want to focus on a certain task, plant a tree. When you leave the app halfway (to check your messages, for example), your tree dies.

The harder you work, the bigger the forest you’ll have. If that doesn’t motivate you, what will? An app called Freedom will block certain apps for a certain period of time. The desktop version of that program is called SelfControl.

11. Keep your mind, soul, and body healthy

How to invest in yourself as a woman? You nurture your mind and body. It is a cliche, but you have only one body and only one life, so make it count.

Eating junk food might taste good right now, but if you eat it too much, it will have a bad impact on your health. You might not feel it right now, but you’ll certainly feel it as you get older. It’s a fact.

Happiness is a choice, so choose to be happy. Take care of your mental health by practicing gratitude, keeping a positive mindset, and celebrating small wins.

Surround yourself with people who make you feel good and inspire you. Don’t give a damn about what other people think, because their opinion does not define who you are.

USEFUL TIP: Keep a journal to help you track your emotions and thoughts. It also helps to keep you motivated and grateful.

12. Spend on experiences instead of things

Traveling is one of the best investments you can make for yourself. Collect memories, not things. Explore and travel. Go to places you haven’t been before. Every time you reflect on those memories in the future, you’ll immediately feel grateful and happy.

USEFUL TIP: Look at that clutter around you. That clutter used to be money. And that money used to be time. Use your time wisely.

13. Set SMART goals

SMART goals stand for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals. Make sure to write down your goals, as it helps enormously with achieving them.

Useful tip: After setting a goal, work toward it and, after some time, measure your results. Is it working? Do I need to change something to work on this goal more effectively?

14. Expand your network and build relationships

Expanding your network and building new relationships is extremely important because it gives you more opportunities and helps to improve your communication skills.

Try going to conferences, work meetings, and industry-related meetings. If you’re a blogger, they often have those PR events where you can also find new contacts. Another option is to build your network online—Facebook is full of groups for bloggers who are looking for ways to connect.

My main advice is to make sure that you’re there for the people who are always there for you. Don’t take anything for granted.

USEFUL TIP: Remember, the people around you have a huge impact on your life and how you view it. Make sure to surround yourself with people who provide your life with value.

15. How to invest in yourself as a high-value woman? You challenge yourself

To invest in your life, you have to do difficult things that you’re afraid of. Fear should motivate us, not make us give up on our dreams. What will happen if you fail?

Absolutely nothing. Don’t think about what other people will think, because they don’t know what’s best for you. You will only regret the things you did not do.

USEFUL TIP: I use the five-second rule, which means that whenever I think about doing something that scares me, I give myself five seconds to get up and start acting. This way, I don’t have any time to make excuses.

So that’s how to invest in yourself as a woman

That’s it for this blog post. How do you invest in yourself? Let me know in the comments. I’m curious to know!