Set Yourself Up for a Healthy and Successful 2022
Let’s talk about some goals you can choose to improve your physical and financial health. 2021 is coming to an end. Honestly outside in 2021 was only mildly better than that disastrous 2020. However, there were some bright spots. I got to travel at the end of November and my financial picture looks as good as ever.
I also started working with a personal trainer and am loving the journey of getting stronger. I encourage you to add your bright spots in the comments below. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions as you can create new goals at any time. If you see an improvement you’d like to make, make the change as soon as you can. That will guarantee you success year after year.
Get Your Money Together
This is a great goal with tons of options to start. Any one of these can make a big difference in your life, decreasing stress and setting you up for a better future.
#1 Decrease Your spending
Look for ways to decrease the money leaving your pocket. And it doesn’t have to be something too exciting. Just take one expense you wish could be less or that you could eliminate and search how to get it done. Some easy opportunities are shopping around for car insurance, canceling some subscriptions, or saving money on food.
READ MORE: How to Save While Buying on Amazon, 5 Reasons You Need to Start Meal Prepping Today, Use Brand Loyalty To Actually Save You Money, and many more tips. Just click HERE!
With the money you save, you can give yourself breathing room. The greater the gap you create between your income and your expenses, the more you can save, pay down debt, and invest (in that order – though you can do it all sort of at the same time).
READ MORE: How To Take Steps Toward Financial Freedom Without Being Rich
#2 Increase your income
Nowadays there are tons of opportunities for most to make extra money. It does require time though so that is something to consider when deciding if this is a good goal for you.
One way to increase your income that doesn’t require much time is to get yourself a raise. And if you think that no one is getting raises in this pandemic, think again! I posted the following on my Instagram (you can give a follow if you’d like) in December of 2020, deep into the pandemic.
In order to achieve these sorts of results, you have to put in the work. I discuss some of the basic things you can do to work toward this goal. Learn more by clicking HERE.
Another way you can make extra money with a little effort is by renting or selling what you don’t use. These can be things that are small, like electronics or clothes you don’t use, or things that are large, like a car. And they can be sold anywhere on websites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, etc. So if there’s anything at home that you feel someone could make use of, check out THIS POST to see where you might be able to rent or sell those items.
Got a little bit more time? The internet has made the gig economy a booming market. This means signing up for services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Taskrabbit, etc. In my experience with Uber Eats, I made $20-25/hr and they pay weekly.
#3 Decrease Your debt
Most Americans have some experience with debt. I know I have! They are great debt reduction plans but you have to PLAN! Why? Because routine breeds results! Some very popular methods are the debt avalanche and the debt snowball. Check each of them out HERE as well as the steps you can take to become debt-free.
Get Your Health Together
What’s the point of money if you feel too sick to spend or make it? “Health is wealth”. While everyone’s health is vastly different, staying on top of your health increases the chances of you living a healthy, happy life. Why? For the most part, you can avoid getting sick with chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, etc, and catch other unavoidable things early.
#1 Eat Better
Healthy eating doesn’t mean you have to chuck everything in your fridge or pantry right now. I mean, if you can do it, more power to you. But for most people, that’s not a reasonable goal. For most, it means is that you make changes that add up over time. You can decrease your portion sizes, use less salt or butter in the food you prepare, and/or add whole foods to your diet. Also, drink more water.
READ MORE: 5 Reasons You Need to Start Meal Prepping Today
#2 Start Exercising
This is one of the best things you can do for your health that could potentially be free. Who doesn’t like hearing the words free?! So if you don’t do any form of exercise, walking is an easy start and it’s free. But exercise doesn’t have to be walking. It can be anything that raises your heart rate for a period of time that you choose. So for some, it could be gardening, dancing. For others, it could be biking, going to the gym, or kickboxing. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that interests you so that you can stay motivated to work out.
READ MORE: Home Workout Equipment – how to make your home gym successful
#3 Get Preventative Care Done Routinely
Routine medical and dental care can catch problems BEFORE they become disruptive to your life. Do you have a primary care provider and a dentist? Do you see the primary care doctor at least once a year and the dentist at least twice a year? Then you’re in good shape. Some insurance plans cover these preventative visits COMPLETELY.
If you don’t have insurance, there are resources. Reach out to your local hospital or public health department. If you don’t know who those people are, a quick internet search should help you find the answers.
A yearly physical is where a licensed practitioner (doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) examines you and performs bloodwork to see what’s going on inside. The practitioner should know your medical and family history so they can discuss what you are a risk for. Your bloodwork will also give more information on how you are doing health-wise. Get familiar with your numbers and follow the recommendations given.
READ MORE: Numbers You Need to Know – Health Edition
Routine dental visits include a cleaning by a hygienist, possibly X-rays, and a dental exam from the dentist. You’d be surprised how important mouth care is and how many diseases routine care can prevent.
READ MORE: Why It’s Important to Get Your Teeth Healthy Now
Also, if you’re a woman, you should have an OB/GYN that you see yearly.
READ MORE: Breast Cancer Awareness – Important Facts You Need to Know, 3 Reasons Why Chadwick Boseman’s Death Shocked This Nurse (a post about colon cancer)
Pick one goal. Pick them all. Just know that only you have the power to build a better life for yourself. In making these changes, you can create room in your life for the things you truly want.
Marie
It’s so important to set realistic goals at the beginning of the year and actually put in the work to achieve them.