Although it remains unclear which direction energy commodity prices are heading, there is every reason to be confident that sooner or later the energy prices will return to a more stable level, and the economy will rebound. In the meantime, people can make positive changes in their personal and professional lives that will help beat the blues of a sluggish year.

There are many ways for employees to become more valuable assets to the company in which they work. Individuals working in a competitive and shrinking market will no doubt agree that there is no time like the present to add to a skill set that will be valuable in 2010 and beyond.

There are a lot of ways to get value out of the downturn. One is to invest in higher education. This year will be marked by slow growth and sluggish operations. During this time of relative inactivity, employees who choose to make a positive investment in themselves will be preferred by their employers.

Self-improvement can be as simple as learning a foreign language or joining an MBA (or other degree) program. Before adding to a list of credentials, however, it is a good idea to discuss plans with a supervisor or mentor to determine which degree or training would most benefit the company in the long run. One option is to become proactive and ask for a 5-7% cut in salary, take a day off each week, and pursue higher education or other interests that will make you a more marketable asset to your company.

It is always advantageous to polish office or software skills such as MS Project or Excel. Now is the time to take the initiative. There won’t be time when the next boom arrives.

Invest time in out-of-the-box R&R. If higher education is not an option, it might be possible to invest time in learning new tricks. For example, a drilling engineer might choose to spend time learning about financial planning.

There is an enormous amount to learn in this industry, and many technologies developed for other industries could be brought to bear in oil and gas. It could be a good time to learn more about wind energy or aerodynamics or even biology. Take advantage of this downturn and spend time exploring new skills. Knowledge is always valuable.

Invest in good health. There is no better time to improve one’s health than during a time of stress. Join an inexpensive fitness club or simply create a plan to ride a bike on a weekly schedule.

The most important thing about health regimens is to start with something manageable and to remain consistent. Many times, planning for unrealistically great things results in a mediocre outcome. Stick with something achievable.

Maintaining good health can help in avoiding the expense of visits to the doctor or buying prescription medicines. Many successful people have achieved success by putting personal fitness before the fitness of the company. It is much more difficult to operate a business from a hospital bed!

Volunteer. Volunteering helps people feel better, and today, volunteers are needed more than ever. Volunteering is also a great way to get a better perspective on our own lives.

The two most important benefits of volunteering are 1) that it shifts the focus from self to others and allows individuals to see that becoming involved in the world can bring about meaningful change, and 2) it is the perfect antidote to boredom.

For those with some extra savings or those whose employers are willing to provide temporary leave, this might be the time to take a break from life/work routine and volunteer abroad. The benefits are often dramatic and surprising.

Invest time in research. With retail prices dropping, it is a great time to look into buying a product or service. If the focus is not on an indulgence, but on buying something that is really needed, the savings are certainly worth the investment.

It might interest an employer to see how the industry and/or an individual company can save resources. Saving resources ultimately results in saving money and creating wealth. Find out how to print pages using less ink, how to print duplex, or how to use less water while doing household work. Find ways to save money on overhead expenses in the workplace. Every company appreciates employees who treat company resources as they would their own.

Will employers support these ideas? Most employers will support — and many will actively engage in — enabling employees to pursue these types of programs. Ideas introduced by individual employees could even spark a company-wide initiative toward improving employee morale, fitness, and fiscal responsibility. The company that is proactive today will yield a much higher return than the company that is reactive tomorrow.