Goals for New Year
I never believed in creating resolutions, however, a new year is an opportunity to set new goals for myself. In the last twelve months, I realize there are still areas of improvement for me to get closer to my financial goals. Health & Fitness are important for me to
Health & Fitness – Taking Care of My Temple December was eye-opening for me in terms of taking care of my internal temple. My lean physique is misleading in terms of being healthy. I learned after my preventative office visit and blood work that my internal health is driven not only by exercise but also my diet. For so many years, I believed reducing certain foods was enough. This is only half of the challenge. My diet was missing foods with the right nutrients. I will admit the week of Christmas is a week of overindulging. Christmas brings baking cookies with lots of butter, sugar and all the other foods I normally avoid during the year like homemade buttermilk pancakes. Regardless, it was a wake-up call to increase my fruits and vegetables, reduce sugary foods and saturated fats. Now I am taking Vitamin D and B12 vitamins for the 4-6 weeks. Also adding fish oil at meal time once a day. I’m excited to be on track for healthier living. In addition to my annual OB/GYN and mammogram, I realize how important it is to have a yearly physical.
Finances/Building Credit/Investing – Managing finances has been a challenge for the past 7 years. Unemployment and divorce are hurdles that take years to overcome. I wish there was a quick switch but it takes to time to rebuild. One mistake was paying a company to assist with credit building. After a year and a half of wasting money, I decided to take matters into my own hands. The first step was reviewing copies of my credit report and devising a plan to try and pay off creditors. For new debt, being very consistent with paying on time. The benefit of before-tax payroll deductions is another way to invest and save money as a way to reach financial goals. A plan to create additional streams of income is a work in progress.
Self-Care – In 2016, I spent a few days enjoying time for myself. I tried classes at a new yoga studio and finally a chance to try a Soul Cycle class. One thing I missed doing is scheduling the time to really relax. I found my time off from work being filled with running errands or school commitments. A spa day or half-day is long overdue. This is the year when I have to be adamant about not accommodating the schedules of others.
Travel – Scheduling economic ways to enjoy travel. Finding a travel agent to book an end of the year trip. Stay tuned.

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