Want to be healthy and wealthy? Get boring.
There’s a headline that will grab absolutely no-one. Sometimes, however, we just have to learn about things that are relatively unexciting so we can do exciting things. Most great achievements are really just the product of many small positive steps taken along the way.
Want to be healthy? Begin by eating good foods. Want to be consistent in eating good foods? Eat a limited menu of healthy foods that meet your goals for nutrition. I’d love to say there’s a magic diet or nutrition plan that works for everyone, but there simply isn’t. Your body may hate dairy. You may not like tuna. There are a million variables that affect your diet and what represents a healthy diet to you ranging from your age to your genetics to your personal goals for fitness/strength/health. One thing is true, however…eating boring is a fantastic way to achieve your goals. Establish a healthy diet, live within that circle most days, and you’ll achieve the outcome you’re looking for. Sure you can have cheat days. Psychologically, you’ll learn to value those treats even more if they’re only allowed on Saturday or whatever your plan suggests. Eventually you’ll reach a point where you desire your healthy habits and you’ll understand how much better you feel by paying attention to your nutrition.
Exercise is much the same as diet. Establish a healthy routine of exercise and stick with it. There are an unlimited number of ways to exercise, and they’re all better than doing nothing. If you like to run, then run every day. If you like to lift weights, then lift every day. If you’re a cyclist or a kettlebell enthusiast, then do it. Just do it consistently. Find your niche and live in it. Sure you can have off days. You can even take a week off from time to time to relax and enjoy yourself for vacation. Eventually you’ll reach a point where you sincerely desire to exercise and you’ll understand how much better you feel by moving your body regularly.
Achieving wealth is no different. Establish a habit of saving money. Make it a priority just like you would exercise or diet. Live a lifestyle that allows you to save. There are an unlimited number of ways to invest your savings to watch it grow, and you can work with a valued professional to help you work toward maximizing your investments, but the whole process begins and ends with you prioritizing savings. Don’t overcomplicate your savings plan and lose sight of the forest for the trees. Have a healthy routine of saving and stick with it. Sure you can splurge on items from time to time and buy nice things. Life is meant to live. Save long enough, though, and you’ll find joy in watching your money grow. You’ll reach a point where you sincerely desire to save more money and you’ll understand how much better you feel with healthy saving habits.
The term “healthy habits” cannot be used enough in this world. Find joy in being healthy. Find joy in accumulating wealth. Find joy in walking a step. Find joy in saving a dollar. Find joy in eating a healthy meal. When that “boring” process becomes your joy, life gets so much easier. You can’t run a marathon without running a mile. You can’t lower your blood pressure without eating a sensible meal. And you can’t save a million dollars till you’ve saved a buck.
As always, you can find this and many other articles about basic financial planning on our website, www.paducahfinancialconsultants.com. Just click on the “blog” section and the entire library is at your fingertips.