Do you ever just get tired of your financial goals seeming so hard to achieve? I mean, you are putting effort in. You are doing what you think you are supposed to do. Working hard, but the needle is not moving, or not moving much. You feel like, no you believe, you should be much further along than you are right.
Welcome to my world because that was exactly how I felt about my weight…LOL! Yes, I know this is a personal finance website, but hang in there with me on this.
I was doing my Friday morning weight in and the change for the week was exactly .2 pounds. I loss the equivalent of 3.2 ounces! The same as a deck of cards! This was after me consistently monitoring my diet, reducing treats, exercising 4 to 5 times per week and subbing a protein shake for breakfast for almost four months. Actually, I gained weight over this time period. For the sake of my pride, I said it was muscle. Muscle or fat, not reaching my weigh goal after all the work I put in was discouraging.
However, as I contemplated my situation, aka sulked (LOL), a voice in my head said, “You have got to do more or do something different, because what I was currently doing, or the way I was doing it, was not working.
So, what did I do? I made an appointment with my doctor to get my annual physical and well woman checkup. I needed to rule out any unknown conditions. Thankfully, no problems there. Then, I re-evaluated my workout routine and my diet to confirm if I was really doing what I needed to do. I found some places lacking there. Then, I began monitoring the amount and quality of my sleep, plus my stress levels. Again, found some places for improvement.
Again I hear you are saying, “T what does this have to do with me being tired of my personal finance situation?”
Well, if you find yourself feeling the same about your financial journey as I felt about my weight journey, you could be feeling pretty discourage and struggling to find the motivation to push forward. You may even want to give up, but don’t. Just like I had to do with my weight, you must to come to the realization it is time to do more of somethings and/or do other things differently.
You may have to go through an already thin budget and temporarily cutback a little more in order to reach your goal, or if you do not have a budget, take the time to create one. You may need to get professional help (I know someone…LOL) to get a fresh perspective on your situation and provide financial coaching. Also, just like me, you may need to check your stress level and your sleep. Both can affect our mood and influence how and when we spend.
Plus, you have to begin and be consistent with (at minimum) monthly financial “weigh ins”. You have to monitor your progress to confirm your actions are moving you in the right direction, and recognize when to make adjustments. PLUS…financial “weigh-ins” have to be completed EVEN when you know you will not like the results.
Lastly, you have to give yourself time. Life happens, and not always according a planned. Do not despise your small beginnings. Remember, where you are, is not where you always have to be. It is a “red dot” on your financial journey’s map. It is a place to regroup, start fresh, develop a new plan and put it in action.
So let’s get started. Time for us to step up and weigh-in!
Thanks and Be Blessed
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