Could your self-care make you money? 5 strategies to invest in yourself for financial growth

When you think of investing, you probably imagine a chaotic trading floor. Or maybe you think of cryptocurrency, which has dominated investment news recently for its enormous boost in value. Possibly, you think of your own portfolio of ETFs (and if you don’t have your own portfolio, click here for our top 10 tips for starting your investment journey).

There is one invaluable, yet often over-looked, asset that may not jump immediately to mind – you. Do you invest in yourself or are you undervaluing yourself?

Why should you invest in yourself?

This week I had a conversation with my mum, who works harder than almost anyone I know. With long hours spent in front of a screen, she often comes away from work mentally drained but physically unable to settle. She was finding that she was bored in the evenings, but couldn’t switch off from work to enjoy her own space.

She recently started going to Reformer Pilates classes, and at first, she had to be pushed out the door each Wednesday as the midweek slump hit her at 6pm. In the last few weeks, she has found that, although pricey, her weekly session on the Reformer boosts her mood, helps her to sleep better, stretches out her aching spine and has improved her concentration for the rest of the work week.

Investing in yourself is one of the best long-term decisions that you can make. While it may not have immediately visible financial benefits, the benefits of investing in yourself will pay dividends through better health, resilience in a rapidly changing labour market and longer-term life satisfaction.

5 ways you can invest in yourself

Invest in your health

Recently, I watched a video on TikTok where a fitness professional outlined all of the things she does every single day to manage her cortisol levels. I was awed as she walked for hours to get 10,000 steps, cooked every meal from scratch using entirely seasonal ingredients and then headed for her daily Pilates class. I promptly proceeded to do none of these things and binge-watched Married at First Sight Australia (IYKYK).

But looking after your body will pay off in the future – going to the dentist regularly, sleeping well, exercising at a level you can maintain and eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables could help to keep medical bills down in the future and allow you to maintain a more productive and energetic lifestyle. In hindsight, instead of being overwhelmed by the fitness professional’s never-ending list of ‘non-negotiables’, I realistically could have gone for a walk and taken a multivitamin. You don’t have to do it all once – small changes make all the difference.

And if your weekly meditation class and meal delivery service are expensive – well, so is long-term medical care and I know which I’d prefer to invest in. Look after your body and it will look after you.

Invest in your skillset

As a teacher, I like to let my students know that learning never stops – and, in fact, some of the most valuable learning will happen long after you have hung up your school uniform and thrown away your Geography copybook. Continuous learning and skill development keeps you adaptable and competitive in the best ways – you will have the knowledge and the confidence to grab new opportunities as they come.

Get curious and learn a new skill. Invest in expanding your knowledge, both professionally and personally. This could involve signing up for a course, attending workshops or conferences, reading books, or listening to podcasts. It can be related to finance, entrepreneurship, personal development, or any area you’re passionate about. You may be surprised how your financial growth blossoms along with your confidence.

Invest in your support network

Did you know that ivy will suffocate the plants it grows over? It’s not instantaneous, but over time the ivy will creep over the stem and petals until it smothers the flower. You might not be a delicate flower, but you still shouldn’t let yourself be surrounded by ivy.

Prune the people in your life – it may sound harsh, but if you have a friend who is constantly encouraging you to spend money you don’t have or making you feel bad about yourself for trying to upskill instead of hitting the bar every weekend, maybe they aren’t a true friend. Instead, work on building a support network of friends, mentors and positive communities who can help to support you and your financial growth. The insights, experiences and conversations you can gain from this will help you to cultivate a life you’re really proud of.

Invest in your mindset

Self-reflection and self-compassion are two of the greatest tools in our investment arsenal. Each week, take time for self-reflection to assess your progress, celebrate your achievements, and learn from setbacks. Keeping a journal is a fantastic way to track your behaviours and feelings across the week, and identify any limiting beliefs or self-imposed barriers that may be hindering you and your financial success (and click here to avoid hampering your financial journey).

Give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them. Never make excuses for yourself but always be kind to yourself and you can’t go far wrong.

Invest in your legacy

Morbid moment: we are all going to die. Obviously, I hope that for all of us Fearless Girls, it will be after a long and happy life (I personally would like to go aged 112 in a beach hut with a coconut in my hand). When we do eventually go to the great beach in the sky for our eternal coconuts (can’t keep ya girl away from those coconuts), what impact will we have left behind?

Legacies are deeply personal – it could be that you want to leave a solid financial footing for your children and their children. If so, you should make your investment portfolio a priority (click here to find out why). It could be that you want to know you have impacted at least one life for the better – in this case, you could donate to a charity that speaks to you and seek out opportunities to volunteer your time.

Really think about your values and personal code of ethics when deciding on your legacy, share your personal insights and talents and you can’t fail to leave a positive mark behind.

When you invest in yourself, the initial costs may seem steep, but it offers unlimited returns. As you expand your capabilities, you not only increase your financial value, but you also build a healthier, more inspiring and enriching life for yourself. So sign up for that online qualification you’ve had your heart set on, schedule a networking event and book in for a Reform Pilates class – it’s all approved by this Fearless Girl (and her Fearless mum). And we can all raise an eternal coconut to that.

How do you invest in yourself? Let us know in the comments below or tag us on Instagram @fearlessgirlfinance_