How I Plan To ‘Bring It’ In 2019
January 02, 2019Editor’s note: As we launch 2019, I’ve asked each of our bloggers to reflect on their own personal goals, plans or thoughts on the past or upcoming year. Our hope is that you not only draw inspiration from our sharing over the coming weeks, but also that we are all able to feel more connected through our shared human experience and recognize that no matter where we are on our personal financial wellness journeys, that we all have similar hopes, dreams and struggles. Happy New Year! Here’s what Chris has to say:
As we enter the new year, I really enjoy setting some goals for the various aspects of my life to work on. I’m not so much into resolutions and you won’t find me in the gym the first week of January (I do like to exercise, but do it at home), but a new year lets us all take a fresh look at our goals and work toward a better version of ourselves. So here are some things I will be working on in 2019:
My 2019 life focus areas
My financial wellness
- Spending less on things and more on experiences. As my kids get older (almost 9 and 12), I find the fleeting time with them as kids compels me to want to expose them to experiences. Not to mention, they have more than enough stuff. I plan to do more skiing with them this winter and continue our travels to see National Parks, beautiful beaches, and cities we haven’t visited yet. Even small things like going for a hike or hitting golf balls are time well spent as a family. This is something we started doing in 2018 and will continue to do.
- Continuing to work the budget. This one is not my favorite, to be very honest. But it is so important. I like to revisit household expenses once a year or so to make sure we aren’t overpaying for cable, cell phones, etc.
- Saving for goals. I plan to increase my retirement savings a tad, fund a Health Savings Account (this is a new one for me), and finish paying off my car – hooray! The plan then is to use that money to increase funding for shorter term goals like vacations (see above).
My physical well-being
- Continuing to exercise regularly. 2018 was a good year for me in this area. I was able to start a regular workout regimen, which to be honest I have done about a million times before. But this year I was able to stick with it and even do better with my eating habits. The results have been awesome, and I am super motivated to keep it going.
My mental well-being
- Reading more. I used to read a lot and I’m not sure what happened, but I stopped. I already went to the library to get my library card and my goal is to spend the last minutes of the day reading in bed instead of watching something on the iPad.
My spiritual well-being
- Spending more quiet time. For me, this takes the form of prayer and reflection. Maybe for you it is meditation. But taking time to quiet the mind and reflect and center is something I need more of.
- Giving back. I can do better in giving of my time to make my community a better place. I want that experience for my kids as well. We’ll be seeking out ways to serve together throughout the year.
As you consider your goals for 2019, make sure you focus on all areas of your life. Check in with your goals at least once a quarter to see how you are doing. And be realistic (see this about setting SMART goals) in your goal setting. I wish you all a prosperous and healthy 2019!