Exploring ways to keep yourself and your relationships healthy, should be a priority in your life. Below are 13 ideas for investing in yourself. These ideas provide some insight on how to have a positive outlook on life as we are in our mid-lifestyle. Positive attitudes are not easy and just like everything else in life that is good, it takes a lot of effort to be the BEST you!

How to be the BEST you?

Set goals! Invest in yourself!

A New Year brings resolutions. Most resolutions demand that you make a change immediately, for instance on January 1st (or January 2nd if you are having a New Year’s Party and want to enjoy it!). Goals on the other hand, come in many forms, not a one-size fits all. You can have a goal for the day, a goal for the week, month, year or even more! A quick google search proves that most resolutions only last 1 month, but goals are the key to making things happen! Be realistic, avoid resolutions and set goals to help become the BEST you.

What kind of goals should I set?

The focus here is not your ordinary, new-you advice. Traditionally, changes are usually centered around weight loss, exercise, heart-healthy diets, budgeting, retirement savings etc. While these are all important and deserve attention, the spotlight here is aimed at what we cannot see but can feel instead.  Put your emotional health in the forefront. Make changes that are challenging but will help you grow spiritually and emotionally. Care for the whole you!

Exploring a personal growth “BUCKET LIST” of goals…

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13 Ideas for investing in yourself…

• Keep Learning! Learning from other’s experiences is probably the most significant gift that can be given. Pioneers have paved the way for us. One of my favorite things to tell my kids is that they will make tons of mistakes on their own, no need to repeat the ones I have made.
• Simplify decision making. My business coach, Jennifer Allwood interviewed Jen Hatmaker on one of her podcasts. The takeaway? If someone asks you a question and the answer is not a “HELL YES!”, then it should be an automatic NO! Jennifer also shares the message from Lysa Terkeurst’s book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands – Saying yes to something that you do not want to do, ultimately means you are saying no to something that is important to you! It takes time to complete a “yes” task, time that may be better spent elsewhere. Value yourself and your time!
• Spend time alone. Quiet is a good thing – no tv, no phone, no radio – just you and your thoughts. You get the idea, complete silence. Learn to be comfortable with no sound and you will learn a lot about yourself.

More ideas for investing in yourself…

• Explore your faith. This could mean going to church and actually listening to the sermon, not daydreaming. Or not going to church and seeking answers in your own way.
• Live in the moment. While we are programmed to always be thinking of the next “to-do” on our plates, we are missing the present. Life was spent in this mode because our schedules were overflowing, but today is different. Now we have the luxury of being able to stop and smell the roses, or in my case, the skunk because I love that smell!
• Spend more time with family and friends. Our families may now be in the season that we have just finished and they are busy themselves. Make visiting easy for all – meet them where it is convenient and everyone will benefit from this. Above all, be present in their lives. Furthermore, schedule a game night, a dinner out or a walk with friends; they are experiencing the same lull in life that you are. While you are with your peers, make sure to share these 13 ideas for investing in yourself so they may grow also.
• While you are spending time with all of your loved ones, take lots of photos. Looking back on these memories is a mood booster; a great way to spend on a rainy day or when you have the grandlittles over!

Keep the ideas coming…

• Write in a gratitude journal. Aging gives us all sorts of physical challenges that we were not accepting or ready for. Being thankful for the little things in life puts everything in perspective.
• Keep your sex life roaring! Don’t use age as an excuse! The act itself may evolve but it is still satisfying! Wanting to grow old together and actually loving each other is a great way to lead by example for our children.
• Turn off the news! Bad media sells and the good stories are few and far between. Many seniors struggle with fear because of the news and do not want to go out of their homes. Perspective of the world is blurred because we are being told what others want us to hear. Evil does exist, it always has, but make a conscious decision to believe in good over bad.
• Find a mentor. Even at our age, someone we can look up to and model ourselves after is valuable. Again, learning from others and trying to be the best you is a great goal!
• Make new friends or reconnect with an old friend, the old-fashioned way. Not through social media but actually talking to someone in person. Whether it be at the grocery store, doctor’s office or at the golf course – a new friend is just what you need to brighten your day!
• Read a book or listen to an audio book. Fiction is always one of my favorites because I get swept away into the story. Janet Evanovich always gives me a laugh and lightens my mood when I read her Stephanie Plum series about a New Jersey heroine. Looking for a good motivational book, try Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick; learn how to rid yourself of the negative thoughts in your mind.

In Conclusion…

Preparing for retirement with a savings and a 401K account is important, but having money won’t mean a thing if you don’t invest in yourself first! Remember these 13 ideas for investing yourself and gather love along the way!

Please take a moment and read about me then tell me your best advice about Empty Nesting.