Financial Health
Financial health certainly involves money. However, money should not be the measure of success.
What? Money and the things it buys have always been the measure of success. TV shows like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous were not replaced by Not Much Money But Happy. But just about everyone knows someone who has plenty of money but far less health, wellbeing, and happiness.
We certainly understand that money is necessary. Working to earn a fair salary is even healthy. Coveting money or what it brings is not. Like other parts of your overall wellbeing, financial health is a balance. When one prizes money, there is never enough. Ever.
Think about financials in context of your overall wellbeing: Mind, Body, Spirit.
Think About Finances More Broadly
Redefine Wealth
If you do not define what makes you wealthy then your wealth will be defined for you. There are too many examples where someone pursues wealth and power only to find they have poor relationships, poor health, poor spirit, but plenty of money. Allow yourself to live Life on terms that promote your wellbeing.
Simplify
It is amazing what we don't need. When children, Emily and William, went off to college the Perry household downsized. So many things we didn't need finally made it to local charities. There is less in the house and no one misses it... except sometimes Mom. Buy less, want less, be more!
Sharing Is Caring
Teach others about financial health and wellbeing through your own actions. Again, this is not about dollar bills. Sharing comes in many forms. Share in ways that promote your sense of wellbeing. It might be buying ingredients for delicious, wholesome treats to share with neighbors and colleagues. Sharing dollars with your children can also help them appreciate the role of money in their own lives... show them how to share and how to care.
Financial Health Thought For Your Wellbeing
“The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.”
“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
– Will Rogers
Cowboy philosopher Will Rogers blessed us with many folksy insights. The place for money in our lives is one of those insights. The goal is indeed living life on your terms, for your own overall wellbeing. Your life is not about approval from others. Will Roger’s wit is nearly a century old but still so fresh and relevant.
HealthCare Too Articles on Financial Health
There are so many benefits when your financial health is linked to your wellbeing. HealthCare Too has put together articles to help you explore the benefits of good eating and ways to achieve them. Enjoy these articles with our blessing!
2 Ways To Save Money On Natural Cleaning Products
Is There A Better Alternative To Medical Bankruptcy?
Help For Your Financial Health And The Simple Life
The power of gratitude in the workplace — ScienceDaily
Financial Wellness: Aviva Romm, M.D. – mindbodygreen
How To Increase Employee Well-Being And Boost Company Output
Setting Financial Goals
A common framework for goal setting is the SMART goal. Each letter in the acronym represents a component of a good goal.
Specific: A goal should help you focus on something specific. Instead of setting a goal for “having enough money” you can break it down into components. This is an opportunity to focus on more than adding to your stock portfolio. Look at your total wellbeing and pick something specific that would make you happy. Perhaps first a goal to eliminate some spending so you will need less money. Pick something that might benefit you in multiple ways like eating less fast food. A specific goal can become a mastered behavior with practice!
Measurable: Once you have a specific goal you can establish a way to measure it. The measure should be easy to use; otherwise, you won’t use it. Following the earlier goal to remove an expense like fast food, note how many times per week you eat at a fast food restaurant and aim for one less visit per week. Put that money into a jar that you can use for something else to promote your wellbeing.
Achievable: New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. One of the top reasons is that they are so distant that we give up. Make your goals achievable so that they stretch you but not break you. If you are just starting to spend less money on fast food, don’t try to eliminate all fast food immediately.
Relevant: Your goals should be relevant to everything else in your wellbeing. It makes no sense to sacrifice your overall wellbeing for a financial goal. You are a total person and your goals should support you… Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Timely: Put a time frame around your goals to which you can commit daily. A goal that is months or years into the future is more like a wish. Set your financial goals for something you will do daily or at least weekly.
Additional Resources
In addition to our articles you may find these resources useful:
- Taking control of your finances with Dave Ramsey
- Financial Health Institute offers provides innovative educational courses that guide individuals and organizations to become more aware of the ways in which financial stress affects their overall well being and develop strategies to manage resources, reduce stress, and improve health.
- Morningstar’s What Is Financial Health? If you want to work with a financial adviser consider someone who follows a financial health philosophy.