Dr. Meg Jay, author of “The Defining Decade,” coined the term identity capital, describing it as “the currency we use to metaphorically purchase jobs and relationships.” In other words, it is what we do to invest in ourselves. It’s about owning up to your choices and becoming the person you want to be.
Challenge yourself to build identity capital and invest in yourself and your future. Here are 51 ways to build identity capital:
- Rid your life of toxic relationships.
- Identify goals you want to achieve in the next month.
- Give back to a cause that matters to you by volunteering your time.
- Stop doing things you don’t truly enjoy.
- Make a commitment and see it through.
- Keep your resume up to date.
- Stop delaying the things you want to do.
- Write a letter to 80-year old you. What do you hope to have achieved by then?
- Spend quality time with people you consider family.
- Attend a workshop for something you’d like to know more about.
- Ask for more responsibility at work.
- Identify your natural talents.
- Read books from multiple genres.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others.
- Take a break from social media.
- Dedicate a few hours each week to a hobby that you enjoy.
- Plan a vacation to a destination filled with history.
- Learn a new skill; practice it for six months.
- Look for a new job that will help you learn new skills.
- Listen to TED talks and podcasts for inspiration.
- Start a blog and connect with like-minded individuals.
- Set a fitness goal and work to achieve it.
- Keep a gratitude journal.
- Try your hand at writing a novel.
- Go to therapy.
- At least once a month, try something you’ve never done before.
- Cook your way through a professional cookbook.
- Establish a side hustle and earn extra income.
- Schedule a meeting with your boss and ask for feedback.
- Eliminate time-sucks in your life that aren’t productive.
- Spend a weekend cleaning out your closet and de-cluttering your home.
- Start a collection of something you enjoy.
- Plan, start, and finish a home improvement project.
- Try your hand at a Pinterest DIY project.
- Start a scrapbook.
- Learn calligraphy.
- Make a bucket list for the year; actively work to check off the boxes.
- Evaluate your finances and set financial goals.
- Wake up and start your day earlier.
- Stop procrastinating.
- Go for a hike and spend time outdoors.
- Learn a new technique for something you already know how to do.
- Take a class in a subject you always wish you had.
- Map out what your dream career path looks like from beginning to retirement.
- Catch up with an old friend (you’ll see how much you’ve grown since then).
- Learn a new language.
- Go to the ballet, opera, or a show.
- Do something you’ve always been afraid to.
- Move somewhere new.
- Attend a networking event.
- Allow yourself to daydream about who you want to be… then go be it.
How have you built your identity capital over the past year?
About the Author
Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.
Website: genthirty.com