Fix Your Mindset, Fix Your Money

Why do we do this to ourselves? We have lofty goals for the beginning of the new year, and in order to set yourself up for success, you need to have mental stability and financial support. Many of us struggle to feel like our best selves when we are in survival mode. This could be from stress at work, weight gain, or family needs; these are compounded by financial stress. If we can control our spending habits and set our annual savings for the year, all of the things that seem out of control are relative. So today, we will talk about mindset.

Mindset is very easy to fix—JUST DO IT. If you want to achieve your goals, move forward with them. Don’t ask why you can’t do it; this wastes your energy and time and creates mental fatigue. Yes, you might not want to do it, but that’s not enough of a reason. The top tools I use to get it done are playlists, incentivizing, and discipline.

Playlists exude the energy that you are looking for to complete the task. Do you notice that when you work out there are usually no lyrics, just a steady rhythmic beat above your heart rate? When concentrating on creating, I use a Bach playlist; to organize, I’ll listen to Taylor Swift; and to cook, Frank Sinatra. Find a playlist, podcast, or show that allows you to revert to a trance-like state so that you can get out of your head and push forward.

Incentivizing helps when it comes to one-off goals. My dad used to get us Dairy Queen after we finished a day of yard work. With my brothers and sisters, to get them to clean their rooms, I would say, “You have to pick up five things and organize them, and then you can jump on the bed once,” or you could group them and jump on the bed multiple times. As an adult, I’ve seen people write their goals on champagne bottles, use the “buy now” option from their wish list, and finally treat themselves to something special.

Make your bed. This form of discipline is the least favorite but the best thing you can do. Consistency is the key to keeping long-term goals on track. This week, I want you to start with two times a week, then increase to three, until you get to every day, then go back down. Which days were harder for you? Now, with that information, can you create consistency with your task? This can be specific to a time of day or just checking a box. When the Apple Watch created the “close your rings” reminder for the hour, it wasn’t about doing it every hour; it was about doing more than what you had started with. Slowly, those reminders grew into a subconscious decision to move. Discipline is a growing skill, and it’s fed through consistency.

Changing your mindset will need to start by moving from a state of scarcity to a state of abundance. Look at what you have right now. Why do you need more? If you can’t afford what you have, you’ve probably been trying to live outside your means. Focus on small tasks to achieve your goals passively. Next week, we will start with the $1/day challenge.

Remember, you can do anything in this world, but you might not want to do the things that get you there—and that’s what will set you apart. Text me with questions or go to my Instagram @familyretire.

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