Published on the Utah Statesman website on February 3, 2010.
This week's edition of "Watching Your Wallet" is a follow-up to last week's "Time is Money," and I will be expounding on the concept that our financial worth depends on more than what we earn and spend, but on other factors, such as how we spend our time and how we are improving ourselves.
I've found it easy to pummel my way through college to finish, but often find myself forgetting things like really learning and improving myself through my education. Sometimes we get so caught up in staying on top of our reading schedule, papers, studying for tests, completing worksheets and assignments, and working early and late to pay the month's rent, that we forget why we are actually in college – to learn and, for lack of a less cheesy term, to grow as individuals. We plow through all we have to do, not realizing that what we are doing should be enriching us as individuals to help us become productive and engaging members of society and the workforce. In addition to trying to benefit and learn from what we are taught in our classes, we shouldn't forget to also improve ourselves in other areas to increase our quality of life and, in a roundabout way, to someday hopefully increase our paycheck.
However, this lovely idea of self-improvement may seem rather nebulous and, frankly, impossible. I mean, between all that we do as students how do we fit "self-improving behaviors" into our schedules? And you're also wondering how this is supposed to increase your paycheck some day. Well, yet again, thanks to Trent Hamm from www.thesimpledollar.com, we have a five ideas of how we can improve ourselves as individuals and why it will someday help pay the bills.
1. Improve Your Health
This one really doesn't require a whole lot of explanation. Improving your health will make you a happier individual and live longer. You don't have to take my word for it – go read any article about healthy eating, exercising and other behaviors to see why. Walk more, eat less junk, engage yourself in a fun physical activity and your quality of life will improve.
2. Improve Your Knowledge
Clearly, as a college student, you are demonstrating your desire to learn. But when was the last time you read a book for your own enjoyment and interest? I know it sounds absolutely impossible, but read something instead of surfing Facebook, watching yet another episode of "The Office" or taking a nap. I'm not perfect at this, but I'm trying. It wasn't until a book captivated me at the beginning of the semester that I realized I actually do have time in my schedule to read. I'm just wasting the time doing unnecessary, dumb things. Another excellent way to learn is to have an engaging conversation with someone. Instead of talking about your obnoxious neighbors or how much you hate your professor, talk about current events, things you are learning in your classes, your hopes. No, you don't have to do it over tea and crumpets, and no, it doesn't have to be a planned, weekly conversation. Just try to expand what you talk about, and you'll improve your knowledge of all aspects of life. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
3. Improve Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are things such as communication skills, time management skills, creativity and leadership. Things that will help you as an employee, in relationships and simply working with people on all levels of life. These skills can be developed through all sorts of activities, but not by playing video games or seeing how many movies you can watch in a single weekend. Join a club, play board games with your roommates or volunteer for service activities. It doesn't have to be painful, just find things you enjoy doing that improve these types of skills.
4. Improve Your Personal Nature
Of all the suggestions, this one sounds the cheesiest, but Hamm suggested we figure out who we really are and what we value. Take a look at things such as your relationships, possessions, health, activities, etc., and ask yourself how you feel about them and what you want to change. This sort of introspection, as Hamm calls it, and acting on what you've evaluated, will improve yourself as a human being.
5. Improve Your Relationships
By now you've probably noticed that without a phone call, text or a visit every so often, most friendships just don't last on their own. Our relationships with others are incredibly valuable in all aspects of life, and it is worth the time and energy to maintain them. Get back in touch with people you haven't talked with in a while, improve your relationships with your family and friends you care about and take the time to become a better friend. As Hamm said, "Those relationships are invaluable, and any time spent maintaining them will pay off in surprising ways over time."
Hopefully, these suggests help you capitalize on the college experiences, which can help you better yourself and recognize areas of life that you can convert into behaviors that will help you improve as an individual. This improvement as an individual will not only better your quality of life, your relationships and your health, but it will make you a more valuable, qualified and creative potential employee.
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