There’s a lot of advice on the internet that is geared toward teaching people the best ways to invest their money. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds and 401k’s all are things we’ve become familiar with either through personal experience or simply by reading the newspaper.

While even the un-savviest of humans know that investing money in something that can show long-term returns is a smart financial decision, I think too many forget what the best thing to invest in is - yourself.

You can invest in yourself in many different ways, and all of them are smart long-term bets. With financial investments, some can be home runs and others can turn sour. In business, chances are that hot new idea of your’s isn’t going to be “The One” (but eventually you’ll find it). Even investing in other people, whether it be through personal relationships or raising children, rarely comes back around to benefit you as much as focusing on yourself.

Don’t let this come off as “self-centered” - that’s not the intent. Other investments, especially relationships with other people, are invaluable. However, investing time, money and energy into yourself is never a bad decision and it’s something we should all aspire to do more.

How can you invest in yourself? Let me count the ways:

1. Learn - Broadly speaking, every time you learn something new you are improving your intelligence and worldview. Learn through reading, learn through trial and error. Even better, learn through experience.

You don’t have to sit down and burn through a textbook on electrical engineering to make this kind of investment. You simply have to have a curious intuition and an open mind about trying things. Incapsulate yourself in information and life experiences and you’ll always be progressing, not idling.

2. Be Healthy - It’s hard to argue that there’s anything more important in life than your own personal health. Without it, you can’t do much of anything (including learn). Eating healthily and maintaining a respectable body weight is a long-term investment in your life quality and happiness.

Be active and stay fit. Hedge your bets when it comes to health problems by making smart decisions at the dinner table. It’s an investment in your future.

3. Laugh - Laugh as much as you can. Really I just mean be happy, and probably the best way to accomplish that is to do what makes you happy. Give yourself a little “me” time and don’t ever continue to do something in life that isn’t fulfilling (e.g. a job you hate, a relationship that sucks, etc.).

4. Maintain Appearence - Oh Nate you’re so vain. Maybe, but investing time and effort into your appearence isn’t a bad idea. People are consciously and unconsciously making decisions based on other people’s appearances all the time.

Better looking people get revered and promoted more often than ugly folks. The guy that smells like a foot isn’t exactly upping his chances by avoiding the daily shower. This is probably especially true for women - invest in your appearence. It can pay off. I’m not going to lie.

How do you do this? Part of it has to do with #2, and after that it comes down to personal grooming, the clothes you wear, and the way you act. It’s the subject of another post I suppose . . .

I think those are a good start, but they’re only my opinion. The only piece of information that’s important to take away is that you understand that investing in yourself is something you should actively practice and value. 401k’s are nice but they don’t matter all that much. You do.