Coming into a new year is the perfect time to reevaluate certain aspects of your lifestyle and determine ways to better yourself. Last year most likely brought about a significant amount of change to your day-to-day lifestyle, which is why it is so important to put your health first and keep your finances in check. Here are a few ways you can protect both your health and your wealth in 2021.
Protect Your Health:
Mental, emotional, and physical health are so important because they make us who we are. Make it a priority to care for all aspects of your health to ensure that you are operating at your highest level.
1. Prioritize Routine Care
Prioritizing routine care is not only beneficial for your physical health but your mental wellbeing as well. By ensuring that you are up to date on your doctor and dental visits, you are making a cognizant effort to catch any small problems before they escalate, providing you with added peace of mind. While you can put off routine visits due to the pandemic, check with your individual provider to see if they have telehealth appointments available to virtually discuss any concerns you may have.
Be sure you are not only visiting the doctor regularly but also implementing preventive health measures into your everyday life. You can take preventative measures by working out (walking for 20 minutes a day), staying hydrated, and eating healthier foods in order to keep your mental and physical health on track.
2. Declutter
Decluttering your life has a huge impact on your emotional wellbeing, which then trickles down to your physical wellbeing. If you are living in a messy space, it is more likely that your mind will feel disorganized as well. It is important to reside in an orderly space to maintain emotional and mental wellbeing. Decluttering your living environment helps reduce stress and anxiety while promoting a sense of accomplishment. Many of us have a significant amount of stuff but we have no idea what to do with it and we don’t want to throw it out for one reason or another. There are many different resources available to provide you with tips and tricks on how to organize your space and make it feel less overwhelming.
3. Continue Working on Yourself
There is always room for improvement and as humans, we are constantly changing, growing, and evolving. More so, it is so important to be self-aware and realize that there is always room for growth. Personal development can have a huge impact on your mental health and overall wellbeing because it allows you to reach your fullest potential while understanding yourself on a deeper level. Whether this is through strengthening relationships, inner self-exploration, or understanding how to accept change, these are huge strides that can help you to be your best self.
Protect Your Wealth:
4. Re-evaluate Your Investments
Ever since the pandemic hit, the financial landscape has changed dramatically. Due to this change, it is important to re-evaluate investments you may have such as index funds, stocks, and your 401k. In the new year, take some time to reconsider your current investment strategy while also setting some financial goals for yourself. One of those goals could be to determine how you want to allocate your disposable income differently such as increasing your 401K contributions or finding ways to earn passive income.
5. Protect Your Assets
One key way to protect your assets is to ensure you have adequate insurance coverage. Even though insurance could be viewed as an extra expense, it is important to understand that insurance protects your finances in the event of an unexpected circumstance. Having the correct coverage keeps your most important assets safe while protecting you from financial hardship and legal challenges. For example, purchasing a life insurance policy is especially important when you own a business or have dependants This is because life insurance financially protects your business and/or your loved ones if you were to pass away.
Moreover, if you are a homeowner, you most likely have a homeowners’ insurance policy already. However, one consideration going into the new year is to look into your current possessions and determine if they would adequately be covered under your policy. For example, higher-priced items you own such as wedding rings, art, or antiques, might not be covered by your current homeowners’ policy so you want to look into a special insurance policy, also known as a “scheduled policy” to protect these items.
6. Save Regularly
One of the best ways to protect your wealth is by building up your savings. Having an emergency fund readily available in the event of an unexpected occurrence could help save you financially in the long run. If you were to suffer from job loss or be faced with a large, unanticipated cost, you will have the funds readily available as opposed to having to use credit cards, take out a loan, or borrow money from someone you know. As a rule of thumb, it is best to have enough money saved up to pay for 3-6 months of your living expenses. This will allow you to make other arrangements, find a new job, or pay a bill in order to get back on track.
Protecting both your health and your wealth is one of the ways you will become the version of yourself that you’ve always wanted to be. By taking small but impactful steps, you will ensure your long-term health and wealth goals are accomplished.
