Adding to Life

There are often so many areas of our life that we want to effect positive change. It can be overwhelming to begin especially when our lives can seem so full and hectic. We either don’t know where to begin or we begin following a plan that was not well designed for us as individuals. These plans often support stopping or restricting us from doing something that we are habitually doing. There are of course some circumstances where this is key especially when it deals with safety and extreme health related issues. Separate from these issues however, this restriction message does not necessarily support a long-term positive change in how we behave. There are a number of reasons. One reason being that the thing we are choosing (or being told) to restrict is not necessarily something we actually want to live without. Another reason being that the support for this restriction is not necessarily in place in all aspects of our life. So how can we effect positive change? Let’s consider a few personal finance scenarios:

• You want to decrease spending – Don’t start with giving up discretionary line items like going out to dinner or buying a new shirt. Instead start saving on a monthly basis for short-term goals such a vacation, holiday gift or even buying new clothes for special occasions. You might even consider opening an additional savings account to just save for the purposes of a future goal. Over time, you might ultimately decide to decrease some of your discretionary spending but you will arrive at the decision a little differently. You will have also built a positive savings habit in the interim.
• You want to set up a budget – Don’t start with setting a restrictive budget. Start with tracking expenses. You can’t set a budget that will last based on the needs and values of your family without understanding your family’s actual spending behaviors. You need actual data. Ideally you want to track everything by month and by category. If this is too overwhelming. Start with three categories such as groceries, utilities and entertainment. Make sure you track at least one expenses for the home (utilities), one expense consumed by the family (groceries) and one expense that is fun (entertainment). As you become consistent with tracking these three categories, add a few more categories. You will ultimately begin to have increased awareness and relationship with how you spend money – both which support a budget being successful.
• You want more time with your family – Don’t start by stopping some of your favorite hobbies. Take some time each week (or day) to journal. Reflect on what you want for yourself and your family. What are the stress points? What are creating the stress points? What are things that are taking your time that you are not great at doing or you do not enjoy doing? Can you delegate any of these? What are you great at? What do you love doing? Focus on investing time in you and your family by eliminating the tasks that you are not great at or bring you high levels of stress stress.

This same type of thought process could be used for bettering our health and mindset as well. If you want to eat better, don’t immediately give up your favorite snack or dessert, consider drinking 20 oz of water before you take a bite. If you want to accomplish a big goal, don’t tell yourself now is not the right time, instead consider reading one positive story about success per day.
These small steps may not seem significant but they add up and effect positive sustainable change that will help support a financially independent and healthy life. So next time you want to restrict something, first add something positive to your life. You might find over time that some of the less than ideal habits begin to feel cramped by all the positivity. Center on positive change.

There are often so many areas of our life that we want to effect positive change. It can be overwhelming to begin especially when our lives can seem so full and hectic. We either don’t know where to begin or we begin following a plan that was not well designed for us as individuals. These plans often support stopping or restricting us from doing something that we are habitually doing. There are of course some circumstances where this is key especially when it deals with safety and extreme health related issues. Separate from these issues however, this restriction message does not necessarily support a long-term positive change in how we behave. There are a number of reasons. One reason being that the thing we are choosing (or being told) to restrict is not necessarily something we actually want to live without. Another reason being that the support for this restriction is not necessarily in place in all aspects of our life. So how can we effect positive change? Let’s consider a few personal finance scenarios:
• You want to decrease spending – Don’t start with giving up discretionary line items like going out to dinner or buying a new shirt. Instead start saving on a monthly basis for short-term goals such a vacation, holiday gift or even buying new clothes for special occasions. You might even consider opening an additional savings account to just save for the purposes of a future goal. Over time, you might ultimately decide to decrease some of your discretionary spending but you will arrive at the decision a little differently. You will have also built a positive savings habit in the interim.

• You want to set up a budget – Don’t start with setting a restrictive budget. Start with tracking expenses. You can’t set a budget that will last based on the needs and values of your family without understanding your family’s actual spending behaviors. You need actual data. Ideally you want to track everything by month and by category. If this is too overwhelming. Start with three categories such as groceries, utilities and entertainment. Make sure you track at least one expenses for the home (utilities), one expense consumed by the family (groceries) and one expense that is fun (entertainment). As you become consistent with tracking these three categories, add a few more categories. You will ultimately begin to have increased awareness and relationship with how you spend money – both which support a budget being successful.

• You want more time with your family – Don’t start by stopping some of your favorite hobbies. Take some time each week (or day) to journal. Reflect on what you want for yourself and your family. What are the stress points? What are creating the stress points? What are things that are taking your time that you are not great at doing or you do not enjoy doing? Can you delegate any of these? What are you great at? What do you love doing? Focus on investing time in you and your family by eliminating the tasks that you are not great at or bring you high levels of stress stress.
This same type of thought process could be used for bettering our health and mindset as well. If you want to eat better, don’t immediately give up your favorite snack or dessert, consider drinking 20 oz of water before you take a bite. If you want to accomplish a big goal, don’t tell yourself now is not the right time, instead consider reading one positive story about success per day.
These small steps may not seem significant but they add up and effect positive sustainable change that will help support a financially independent and healthy life. So next time you want to restrict something, first add something positive to your life. You might find over time that some of the less than ideal habits begin to feel cramped by all the positivity. Center on positive change.

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Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Registered Investment Advisor.
kliola@concentricpw.com | www.concentricpw.com
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