The Self-Employed Slump: How to Invest in Yourself During Lockdown

It could do a lot of good, actually. One of the best things you could do for yourself during lockdown is investing in yourself! After all, when you take the time to develop areas of your life, you’re giving yourself the opportunity for a more fulfilling future.

Have a look at this list of our top pointers on how to spend your time investing in yourself during lockdown.

9 Ways to Invest in Yourself During Lockdown

1. Find untapped business opportunities

We are all for thinking outside the box when it comes to bringing in a little extra money at this difficult time, and we know the benefits that professional investments offer. The good news is, finding new business opportunities may be closer to home than you’d thought.

Whether you’ve got unused storage space in your garage or have an empty driveway waiting to be filled, you could be on your way to collecting earnings from your garage in no time.

Renting out space in your home is a great way to get a leg up during lockdown. Who knows, maybe by the end of it you’ll have reached a savings goal!
 

2. Develop a new skill

Sometimes we need a little reminder - it’s okay to spend money on yourself. Especially if you invest your money in online courses. If you’ve been hoping to improve your knowledge and expertise in a subject this year, what better time than now when we’re all on lockdown?

Skills translate into assets in the professional world, not to mention having a well-rounded set of skills makes life more enjoyable. Learning a new skill can be fun! Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to fix your car on your own, or perhaps paints have sparked interest in the past. Joining an online community in your desired field is a fun way to not only practise a new skill, but to make new connections, too.

3. Practise continual learning

Continual learning is the practise of gaining new skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis, and it’s easier than you might think. Taking online courses is one way to go. Even by following people on social media that coach in finances, you’ll be more consistently exposed to new ideas in professionalism.

Whatever you’d like to brush up your knowledge on, find experts on social media and give them a follow. You’d be surprised at how a bit of exposure each day can inspire you.
 

4. Become an expert in your field

If you’ve been thinking about becoming your own boss, we get it! The flexibility of setting your own schedule is enough to get us on board. Before you start investing your savings into the things you’ll need to get your business off the ground, you’ll want to gain expertise in your field.

Of course, practise makes perfect. And what better time than lockdown to build practise into your routine! While you’re safe at home, prioritise time to developing your expertise.
 

5. Become your own financial planner

Money may be a bit harder to come by these days because of the lockdown. For the self-employed, you’ll want to keep a closer eye on your finances now more than ever. Luckily, Open University offers a free course on bookkeeping and accounting.

A little time spent learning something new can make a big difference in your life - especially when it comes to saving and spending. By learning a bit about bookkeeping this lockdown you’ll have a better grip on your finances, and hopefully know how to grow your savings account, too.

6. Learn a new language

We know there might not be much to do during lockdown, but when it comes to learning a language, a little goes a long way. Like playing an instrument, spending small amounts of time each day practising a language can make a big difference in the long run.

We’re all hopeful lockdown won’t last too long, but while it’s here, if you invest time by practising a new language, it can actually help to pass the time faster andem> could potentially propel your professional life in the future.
 

7. Read books

Pretty straightforward, right? Reading is not only like superfood for your brain, but depending on what kinds of books you decide to pick up, you could find yourself with more know-how than you had before.

There are plenty of books out there for the self-starter looking to make personal and professional investments. Even by listening to audiobooks you could learn something new to add to your routine - not to mention, books seem to make the time pass by faster. Fastforward, anyone?
 

8.Start investing in your health

With all of this mandatory time at home, it’s been a little harder to find an excuse to get some exercise.

Yoga is a great way to get a good stretch and develop a strong sense of self. If practised regularly, it kind of acts like a personal health insurance. When you pay attention to your breath and how your body feels, you give yourself the gift of the present moment - improving concentration and confidence.
 

9. Get creative

Literally. Break out the paints, pens, or whatever creative tools you may have lying around. Creativity can be a great way to express emotion, especially if you find yourself in a slump.

Choose colours that speak to you and just start moving your medium around. This is a healthy and effective way to invest in your emotional and mental wellbeing during these troubling times, so that you can have a positive head on your shoulders moving forward.

And there we have it. These are our top tips on investing in yourself. Be sure to check out our blog for more content on how to keep moving forward during lockdown!