Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce (47%) yet continue to face barriers to advancement and economic security.
Despite earning 59% of college degrees, women hold only about 11% of Fortune 500 CEO positions and remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles.
The gender pay gap also persists, with women earning just 83 cents for every dollar men earn as of 2025.
At the same time, many professional women shoulder disproportionate weight when it comes to caring for their children and families, leading to higher rates of stress and burnout.
These realities highlight a critical truth: while systemic change is essential, one of the most powerful steps women can take is to invest in themselves.
Why Investing in Yourself Matters More Than Ever
In the face of persistent gender disparities in leadership, the wage gap, and a growing number of women considering leaving the workforce, investing in yourself is crucial.
Building skills, strengthening financial independence, and protecting wellbeing are not just acts of self-care—they’re healthy habits for long-term resilience and success.
Even though it can feel difficult to invest time and money in your growth, I've seen those efforts pay off. If you aren't sure where to start, here are eight meaningful ways to bolster your own self-improvement:
8 Actionable Ways to Invest in Yourself
1. Pay Yourself First
When it comes to personal finance, paying yourself first is one of the best ways to set yourself up for the financial future you desire. What does it mean to pay yourself first?
It means prioritizing saving money as the first step of your budget. This should include saving for emergencies, contributing to retirement (401(k), IRA, Roth) accounts, or saving for other financial goals.
When you decide how much you can save toward your financial goals, automate as many of those savings as possible to make it seamless—and treat it as non-negotiable.
2. Expand Your Skillset
Expanded knowledge leads to more opportunities. Continuous learning and development of new skills is a great way to invest in your professional development and personal growth.
Whether you opt for free or low-cost courses, listen to podcasts, watch webinars, or read industry-specific publications, expanding your knowledge remains one of your most valuable investments. It can benefit your career goals and your personal goals.
3. Discover Your Strengths
It's just as important to learn about yourself as it is to add skills to your resume. Explore various personality and strength assessments such as Clifton Strengths Finder or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
These frameworks can have a positive impact by helping you identify your strengths and learn how to best utilize them. You can also gain insights into what kind of work you enjoy and where you might thrive if you are considering a new career.
4. Bring in a Coach or Accountability Partner
Hiring a coach or an accountability partner can help you take this type of personal investment to the next level. An unbiased third-party partner can challenge you to think outside the box, push you to consider new things you may not have been open to, and help keep you accountable to your goals.
5. Set SMART Goals and Track Them
The biggest thing to remember is that you can't achieve goals if you don't first create them. If the best investment is in yourself, that starts with determining what's important to you.
There are a lot of great apps designed to help you stay on track with new habits, but it can also be as simple as writing down your goals in a notebook or planner.
Make goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Break them into small steps—tracking progress breeds confidence and keeps you motivated.
6. Take Time for Reflection and Recharge
It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane concerns of life and deprioritize your physical health and your mental health.
Sometimes you need to get away from the day-to-day to refocus your mind: consider your values, where you’d like to be in 1, 5, or 10+ years, and how you hope to get there.
Whether it’s a mindful walk to get your body moving, tuning into a podcast, or even taking a short retreat, carving out quiet time helps you reconnect with your purpose and long-term vision.
7. Seek Flexible, Supportive Work Environments
Don't hesitate to seek out a job that allows for more flexibility. As a mom of three kids, I know how hard it can be to balance work and raising children.
Traditional workplaces have shifted in recent years to allow for more flexible schedules and working environments, so seek out the workplace that will support your circumstances.
8. Spend Money to Buy Time
If you think about your time as money, you can start to identify areas where outsourcing tasks makes good economic sense. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to allocate financial resources to the tasks I don’t enjoy.
For example, I pay a little extra to have my groceries delivered, saving me time that I can spend working on passion projects, taking an online course, reading a book, or enjoying more time with family.
It might seem frivolous to pay for someone to clean your house once a week or spend a little extra money on pre-cooked meal delivery. However, if that's valuable time you can spend toward achieving your goals, then consider it an investment in yourself.
Putting It All Together: Your Self-Investment Roadmap
|
Stage |
Action |
|
1. Assess |
Reflect: What matters most? Where are you now professionally or financially? |
|
2. Set Goals |
Identify both short- and long-term objectives (career advancement, financial buffer, wellbeing). |
|
3. Invest |
Combine: financial planning + skills development + wellbeing strategies + external support. |
|
4. Track & Adjust |
Monitor progress, celebrate small wins, adapt as life or job demands shift. |
Remember: Perfection is the enemy of progress. Momentum matters more than having everything figured out.
Even amid persistent challenges—from caregiving burdens to slow leadership progress—investing in yourself remains the most powerful strategy for professional women to thrive. It builds not only individual resilience and satisfaction but also contributes to a stronger, more equitable economy.
If you found this article helpful, I encourage you to explore InspireHer, our women’s initiative at Plancorp. InspireHer exists to provide a safe space where women can be curious and find inspiration. Sign up for our newsletter below for more engaging content and invitations to our special events.
