Out with the Old and in with the New. I don't know of too many people this year that are not in agreement with "Good Riddance 2020". Then we have the New Year Resolutions. Those time-honored lists of things we wish to do differently in the New Year.
A few antidotes to new habits: It takes approximately three months for a new practice to become old hat and apart of your routine. Some can argue it takes 30 days to get a pattern to be established, but it does take a full three months before it becomes a mindless act of routine. So that in mind, let's rethink our New Year Financial Wellness with some getting started tips.
One: Take a moment to treat yourself to that new accordion file holder, or freshly colored files, a new calendar, new file labels, a new marking pen or pencils, something reasonable to inspire you to get organized for 2021. We all remember the excitement of new school supplies, why should that be any different now?
Two: Have a timer. A disorganized office does not happen overnight. Don't expect to clean up that mess in a few hours. Give yourself reasonable time limits to focus on one task and step away and come back the next day and do the same, whether 15 min, 30 min or an hour. Granted, you don't want to be tackling 2020 files in 2022, but setting small daily limits with a reasonable calendered end date makes any task far more manageable. A tip from Fung Shui writer Karen Carter, take post-it notes and apply them to each area that needs sorting or clearing, add a post-it for each 15 min you think that pile or area will take. Now add up all the post-it notes and you have a solid idea of the amount of time it will take you to address that task.
Three: Goal setting in writing and a visual board. Write down your goals for a year, 2, 5, and 10. Nothing helps in reaching a reasonable New Year resolution that a realistic goal. Use a visual board as a personal cheerleader to reach those goals and include someplace "Is this a Want or a Need?" "How does this reach my goal?" put these quotes on an index card and keep them in your wallet and read it every time before you reach the checkout and reexamine your cart. Better yet, tape them to your credit cards or have them as a phone screen saver.
This New Year Newsletter is full of financial literacy and budget planning. All "fresh start" reads as you map out 2021. We are also bringing back our Money Mindset Makeover starting January 20th, 2021. Look for program updates and registration on our website in the coming week. We wish you a very Safe, Healthy, and Happy NEW YEAR!
We are here to work out your 2021 Spending Plans and navigate your financial health. “For it’s never JUST about the money…”
Elbow bumps,
Leslie Boden
Director
