Most people have a few characteristics in common. They are hope for the future, the presence of one or more big goals, and an obvious lack of money to realize everything that is planned.
The last point often becomes an insurmountable obstacle. Or rather, we make it so ourselves, choosing the tactic of waiting for a better moment. Here the very hope for better times, which are about to come, does a bearish service, you just need to be patient. Months and years pass, but nothing changes dramatically.
It seems that in the absence of money it is impossible to invest in your future. Therefore, dreams and desires are soon adjusted to the existing reality or are discarded like a child's whim. In reality, each of us can invest in our own future right now, and it does not require an impressive amount of money in a savings account in the bank.
Time is the main resource
The most important resource that many people neglect is time. You decide how and what to spend it on. You can live for the sake of others, following other people's ideas and goals, or choose a more selfish approach, paying attention only to personal interests.
Some people trade their time for short-term gratification, living carefree and unconcerned, not looking too far ahead. Others seek to make the most of their free time, learning, creating, planning.
It is difficult to say which approach is better - we will leave it to the judgment of philosophers. However, there is an undeniable fact. You, like any other person, have a certain amount of personal time that can be invested in your future.
This resource is perfectly combined with certain qualities and character traits. For example, time and discipline allow you to master any skill or knowledge. Time and perseverance achieve desired results. Finally, time and hard work allow you to earn more money.
There are many other, more complex combinations, but it is worth remembering that time cannot be accumulated. Whether willingly or not, for good or ill, you will spend time every day.
Give up bad habits
This investment not only requires no investment, but even brings profit. Quitting smoking and drinking will cut the average check from the store almost in half. To begin with, try to buy groceries separately to memorize how much they cost. All optional and harmful take in other stores. This will allow you to make a visual comparison of receipts.
Naturally, such an investment will have a positive effect on your health. In addition, the refusal of alcohol frees up a lot of extra time. What is not an investment in the future?
There are other bad habits that affect appearance, image, perception of life and, as a result, career growth. It's hard to imagine a department head or board member biting their nails and picking their nose.
If you don't notice anything like that, you don't drink, you're always neat and alert, maybe you should think about establishing new healthy habits. This is exactly the same investment that does not require money, but brings benefits.
Get your body in shape
Use your free time to get your body in shape. Physical fitness is always important. It's not about increasing the likelihood of impressing others, although that's nice too. It's more about how you feel.
First of all, you have one body for life. It will serve you well for many years or it will fall apart long before you retire. It all depends on your lifestyle. One day your body will ask why you didn't pay enough attention to it. Only the answer will be too late.
You don't have to strive for Olympic records - you won't become a professional athlete. But you probably have a few hours a week to spend in the stadium. Unlike fitness clubs, it's completely free. It is best to engage in something that aroused interest once before.
Small sports achievements in the yard are perceived as everyday victories. Thus, playing sports increases self-confidence.
Enrich your speech
You are met by your clothes, which you may not have enough money for. But don't forget that they see you off by your mind. You can pay for its pumping time.
Most likely, your speech is far from ideal - so work on this most important detail of the image. The simplest and most important - get rid of “parasite words” or excessive slang. The latter is appropriate when it corresponds to the environment, hits the target, but has the opposite effect if it becomes the main language of communication, regardless of the topic raised and the status of the interlocutor.
Next, you should puzzle over the words and terms you doubt the meaning of. Don't ask anything or anyone. Acquaintances, coworkers and friends may also be mistaken. So apply the most reliable method - a search engine in the browser.
In the absence of complex words in the lexicon, it is worth thinking about their inclusion in speech. The main thing is not to abuse. New interesting words work like favorite songs. You want to re-listen again and again. The difference is that your speech is also heard by others - very quickly a fresh term will bore everyone and become a cutter. As Socrates said, “nothing is too much.”
Form an environment
Analyze your environment. The people with whom you spend most of your free time, if not determine, then guide your future along a certain vector.
Just like habits, your social circle can be helpful or harmful. Objective assessment is hindered by personal attachment, a bond strengthened by years, memories and emotions. Assessing this or that acquaintance, ask yourself: would you like to be in his place, to live the same life?
Perhaps there are some details, character traits, views or values worthy of imitation. If the answers are unequivocally negative, there is a high probability that this person will not be in your future. The implication is that your communication becomes a waste of time.
It is not necessary to burn bridges, to break off the relationship. The question is in the intensity of communication, in priorities. Try to meet more often with people who give a sense of excitement, make you feel white envy. You thus get free motivation and perhaps useful connections.