Tag: self improvement

Money

by growingtakata
Hope is not a strategy

Money is not my God. I don’t want to be the richest person in the morgue.

I want my freedom and my choices to be made on preferences unrestricted by money.

We each make our own choices with money and here are some of mine:

  • I pay my credit card off in full every month
  • I don’t buy coffee out the house (unless on holiday or it’s a long day away from home)
  • I (mostly) limit eating out to holidays
  • I save 50% of my income
  • I try to not buy much stuff
  • I don’t get status from paying five times more for designer brands
  • I pay my mortgage down
  • I happily pay for experiences and especially love travel – this is my biggest annual expense
  • I don’t do ‘small treats’ because they add up to a lot of waste and limited upside
  • I buy what I want and don’t always buy the cheapest

Each month you should pay yourself first. Put as much as you can into a stocks and shares ISA. Then pay your mortgage (I think you should buy and not rent though there can be exceptions to this). Then pay for essentials. And limit ‘additional’ spending to 1 or 2 % of your net worth.

If you combine the above, you should gradually increase your net worth and therefore the amount you can ‘enjoy’.

There are lots of blogs explaining how to be better with money, my two favourites are

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/blog/

https://theescapeartist.me/

It is an interesting and fun way to spend time finding cheaper ways of having a ‘similar’ experience.

For example, there is no better restaurant than a bench next to the River Thames or a blanket on a green.

Spending money does not make you happy, the experience of the moment does and often that can be free/cheap.

I wish you good fortune! Built on a powerful and sustained money strategy.

Fitness

by growingtakata
The barest minimum

No matter where you are in your fitness journey, you are not the unhealthiest person in the room.

I hope you are blessed with legs or arms that function with minimal pain. If so, congratulations, you have everything you need to increase your level of fitness.

No matter how long it has been since you last did any formal exercise, you can start now.

Start small and be consistent. A daily 10 minute walk is better than a single 2 hour stomp that is never repeated.

Trainers help but are not essential. A beautiful view is helpful but not essential. A water bottle is helpful but not essential. An activity tracker is helpful but not essential.

You just need to stand up and walk about. And make a note of what you did.

Then repeat.

That’s it.

Everything else is a bonus, you can join a gym, you can get a personal trainer, you can join an online course, you can increase your chances of committing. These are your choices to make.

Getting fitter is not easy, but it most definitely is not complicated.

I am cheering you on your journey. You can do anything you put your energy into.

Checking in

by growingtakata
Did you do what you said you would?

If you have a clear idea of what you are working towards. Have you taken the necessary steps to get there?

If yes, we’ll done, congratulations, you are building momentum and should be feeling proud of yourself. Developing personal accountability is powerful stuff.

If no, no judgement. What got in the way? Excuses? I’ll do it tomorrow thinking? Genuine blockers like ill-health?

Right now is a new minute, a new chance to commit one minute to a task.

Stop reading this and go and take one tiny step towards what you really want.

If you just don’t do it, maybe it’s a good time to rethink your focus.

Only you can do you.

You can do anything.

Yes, you can.

Planning for success

by growingtakata
Be courageous

It helps to be clear about what you want.

It helps if you have a heartfelt reason for wanting what you want.

It is brilliant if you know what steps to take to get what you want.

The internet can help when your next step is not clear.

You can do and change anything you put your mind to.

All it takes is effort, energy and focus.

What are you prepared to prioritise for three months?

New Year New Me

by growingtakata
Dreams do come true

Who doesn’t love a blank sheet of paper? A world of possibility of hope and anticipation.

I will always be a better version of me in the future. I am not consistently a better version of myself today.

I crafted 5 values for 2023, they are:

  • I iradicate inertia – I always get started, take the first step, do it now and know how to fit it in today
  • I find the fun – I always feel relaxed and seek enjoyment in the moment, learning, sharing, connecting, making a story
  • I do my best – I keep going and know I have given my best energy, time and focus in all situations
  • I do the right thing – I always do what should be done.
  • I shine my light – I dazzle everyone with my light and laughter, people always feel better spending time with me

Consistent application of the above will get me to a better version of me.

What are your values for 2023?

Act Different

by growingtakata
Delicious

There are simple (not easy) things we can do to be the best version of ourselves.

I am sure you know most of them.

Here is a list of what I am working on:

  • Cold water dip (I detest the shower version so have a cheap-ass tub in the back garden full of ambient temperature water) every morning – feels amazing!
  • Sunlight as soon as possible (sleep with curtains open, do exercise indoors or outdoors then get outside)
  • Reducing meat consumption (have been a vegan and vegetarian and now don’t put a label on it) by eating more vegetables
  • Focus on four areas of my life to ‘grow’ or ‘improve’ (currently: brain, body, business and buddies)
  • Keep a tracker of all the great things I do in a day/week/month
  • Drinking more fluid (sparkling water for me please) each day (means I don’t quench my thirst with alcohol)
  • Exercise every day, increasing slowly so I don’t hurt myself (difficult with my all-or-nothing nature)
  • Wake up naturally as often as possible
  • Track and manage my net worth to reach my financial goals (I know where I am going and how I am going to get there)

If you’ve not brought cold water dips into your life, I would recommend giving it a try. I tried cold showers having been inspired by a friends friend I met camping. After a few very challenging weeks followed by giving up, I listened to a video by Russel Brand which helped me realise I can manage cold water by jumping in a tub of water. I have been doing it daily for about two months now, I throw a few ice packs in but it is essentially ambient temperature. As the months get colder I can feel the difference, BUT, my mood has improved and I react less angrily to stimuli. I travelled for work and ran a cold shower to keep it up, it’s not as nice but I feel the benefit immediately – woken up – and over the long term – I can do anything!

How do you make sure you are moving in a good direction?

Rules to live by

by growingtakata

I’ve been thinking about character. I read that good character is important and as an emotionally driven person my feelings can impose on my actions. I ruminated on character being driven by a set of principles or rules. Looking for a set of rules to live by? Try these:

  1. Obtain everything ‘new’ to you by borrowing or getting second hand from someone else.
  2. Minimise buying food that requires a reliance on single use anything.
  3. Do one thing for someone else’s benefit everyday, look for the opportunity without seeking thanks.
  4. Be kind to every person you look at, smile first, say hello, be courteous, move out of their way when walking, let a child press the button etc…
  5. Live frugally, save at least 50% of your income per year.
  6. When you regularly save 50% per year, donate money to charity increasing 1% each year to 10%.
  7. Eat mainly plant based foods and limit meat and dairy to a maximum of once per day.
  8. Read books and apply the knowledge.
  9. Be compassionate.
  10. Find your tribe and help them.
  11. In all endeavours bring your full energy.
  12. Say thank you as frequently as possible.
  13. Don’t throw food away, buy mindfully and use it all. Take all leftovers from restaurants/meals out/home meals with you.
  14. Think kind thoughts about yourself and develop positive self talk. Speak in your head with the same kindness you talk to loved ones.
  15. Be as honest as possible while prioritising kindness.
  16. Commit to being, feeling and expressing unending happiness each minute of every day.
  17. Meditate daily.
  18. Move your body daily.
  19. Sleep well and ensure you pay as much attention to sleep as you do to what you eat.
  20. Purposefully balance time and energy for your mind, body, emotions, career, finances, relationships and fun.
  21. Tidy your living space for 10 minutes everyday.
  22. Remove one thing per day from your stuff.
  23. Know your calorie intake and expenditure, ensure your weight is set in the direction you intend. You are where are because of the last three months of eating habits.
  24. Strive to adhere to the rules and keep a sense of perspective.

I do daily affirmations and as part of that read my annual goals. I wonder if I added my life rules would that lead to better days?

Only one way to find out.

What rules would you write? Would you add more or take some away?