Whether you’re a full-time entrepreneur or part-time side hustler, chances are you lead a busy life.
Between work (all kinds of it), family, hobbies, a social life, and just a little time to relax every now and then, it can be hard to pack everything you need into a day when there’s only 24 hours available.
But it is important that we try to make room for one more task in our hectic schedules. Business owners and those who have established side gigs need to make time for self improvement.
Pay Yourself First
Good money management habits tell us we need to “pay ourselves first.” This means that when we receive income, our first priority should be in making contributions to our savings and investment accounts.
If we can’t provide for ourselves, it’s very difficult to provide for others.
The same concept applies in other areas beyond finance. You need to “pay yourself first” when it comes to advancing in your business, career, or side hustle by planning for self improvement projects.
No, this doesn’t mean you need to head out to the bookstore and start browsing the self-help section (unless, of course, you feel like that’s an appropriate place for you to get started).
Instead, consider the ways you can productively better yourself in some way.
What Does Self Improvement as a Full- or Part-Time Entrepreneur Look Like?
All entrepreneurs can benefit from self improvement when it comes in one of the following forms:
- building on existing skills
- learning new skills
- boosting your self confidence
- increasing knowledge on running your own business (whether you do it full- or part-time)
- adding to your understanding of personal finance (especially as it relates to investments in the market or your business/hustle)
- digging your well of ideas and inspiration deeper or making it more sustainable
- trying out new systems, methods, or approaches that make creating extra income more efficient
Taking the time to build your skills or add new ones to your repertoire will make you better-rounded, and more capable of handling more of what life (or your business) throws at you. And it’s always a great idea to have other avenues to pursue if your current income streams start running dry.
The value of building your self-confidence can’t be understated, either. This may happen as you build skills or increase your knowledge. Or it may come from pursuing some completely non-biz-related hobbies and activities.
The same can be said for finding new sources of inspiration and ideas. You may find making time to step away from your work allows you to refresh or see things with new eyes.
And self improvement doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. You’re already strapped for time, so take advantage of free resources to avoid strapping yourself for cash, too.
Finding the Time to Work on Being the Best You Possible
Self improvement is all about becoming a better person, one that is more capable or understanding, or in a better position from which to help others.
Hopefully, putting it this way will help encourage you to pursue bettering yourself — it’s definitely a worthy use of your time!
But if you’re having trouble finding that time that you need, consider these ideas for fitting in a little self improvement here and there:
- instead of unwinding by watching a few hours of TV, read a book that inspires or teaches you something new
- when you have 15 or 20 minutes to kill, avoid social media — practice something you’re trying to master instead or take that brief time to jot down a few thoughts in a journal
- dedicate a specific block of time on specific days to personal endeavors; schedule your personal development time the same way you do projects with work
What self improvement projects would you like to make time for this week?
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I spend some time every morning working on improving myself. I read a LOT of books, probably one every few days and I am really noticing the benefits crossing over into my business world.
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