The older you get, the more you might realize there’s a lot you’ve taken for granted. When you’re younger, it’s easy to fall into step with the status quo and give into the “hustle culture” mentality where your work is the highest (and only) priority.
By now, though, you’ve probably realized there’s more to life than work. Taking steps to focus on yourself and personal development may feel uncomfortable at first but are worth the effort. If you’re ready to start investing in personal growth but aren’t sure where to start, here are the top three places you should focus time and money.
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Get out of debt
Getting rid of any debt should be the highest priority due to the ripple effect debt creates in your life. Not only does it remove the options you have when it comes to your career, retirement, and quality of life, but it also takes a toll on your mental health. Being in debt is seen in society as shameful and comes with a lot of internalized guilt that can lead to additional stress that can eventually affect your physical health as well.
Make it a plan to invest in yourself by deciding you deserve to live a life debt-free. You can use a loan payoff calculator or pay-off strategy such as the Debt Snowball method to help you get out of debt quickly.
Invest in your education
Investing in education is one of the best ways to spend money for personal growth. Education doesn’t need to mean a college degree if that’s not something that appeals to you; it’s more about spending time and money intentionally on something that interests or fulfills you. Decide what topics are most appealing that would also add to your personal growth and see what options are available.
You can start by simply checking out books from your local library if money is tight. If you have more wiggle room in your budget, consider things like conferences, courses, and mentorships that can help you better develop a specific skill set.
Invest in your self-care
The importance of self-care has become more mainstream thanks to COVID-19 and the Great Resignation. If you’ve been affected by either of these or some other traumatic event, then you know the impact stress can create on your life.
Personal growth requires a positive outlook and a willingness to want something better, so taking steps to invest in self-care is critical for achieving this goal. Decide that the benefit of things such as therapy, hobbies, or even days off spent doing nothing is greater than the feelings of selfishness or guilt you might initially feel. Your mental well-being is well worth the investment.
The bottom line
Personal growth is a goal that can constantly be improved upon. If you want to get better at personal growth but aren’t sure how then give one of these three ideas a try and see how it feels. You might just find a new favorite outlet and attain a better quality of life.
