"Financial Planning: Early and Ongoing, Makes Cents"
Financial planning is an ongoing process that supports our current needs while helping to prepare for long-term financial goals. It helps to amass and maximize assets as well. Financial Planning Month is a time of year dedicated to taking a strategic look at our spending habits, budgets, and the like. Of course, this should be conducted throughout the year to help ensure various financial matters are in order. It’s never too early to plan for our financial futures, starting as young as possible is a crucial ingredient of the secret sauce. Creating a solid foundation in financial literacy is just as important. In fact, once you’ve secured a "basic understanding" of some terminology in and around personal finance, it’s time to safely kickstart your financial planning journey…and yes, it’s a journey!
Many would say the first stop along the way evolves around budgeting. The most ideal situation is always having a firm idea of where your money is going. This could be done by utilizing a spreadsheet or stepping up to a reputable software application to help you track. Your expenses should be meticulously accounted for to rid wasteful spending. Staying abreast of your fixed and variable expenses are extremely important throughout the financial planning process, too. Ultimately, paying these bills in a timely manner is vital to ensure additional cost from late fees or penalties are not incurred as well as helping to keep your credit standing up to par. The assistance of a Financial Planner will certainly educate, inform, and help keep you on course throughout the journey. This conversation with Ms. Laticia Sunshine expands on many of these financial planning-related elements and a few others. Happy planning...it should become a part of your lifestyle!
*All original work attributed to “Chris Jones” ©️ 2021 "Chris Jones"
According to the World Health Organization, World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.
"World Mental Health Day" (October 10, 2023)
"The Nuances of Self-Care and Self-Improvement"
Two of the topics we're observing in September are Self-Care Awareness and Self-Improvement. This feature article captures the benefits of related activities while explaining their stark differences. Let's address self-care first. The primary objective is to remind us that taking care of ourselves is a necessity. Many of us are accustomed to putting others’ needs ahead of our own, but it is critical to remember we cannot effectively lift others if our own vessel is somewhat sinking, or outright, neglected. Self-care is extremely personal and is accomplished across the spectrum in the physical, mental, social, and spiritual realms.
It has no boundaries and is more expansive than simply taking a walk or getting a massage, even though these activities are helpful. Actively monitoring your diet, taking mental-health days (or hours) from work, short exercise breaks during your core working hours, and even spontaneous weekend getaways, are prime examples of self-care that pushes you a step further. Remember, it is not being selfish or self-centered; self-care is focusing on your own life in lieu of exerting the bulk of your energy and attention on others. Studies have shown, the lasting benefits of routine self-care will allow you to experience a more abundant life. Here is a great article breaking down some positive attributes.
Self-Improvement on the other hand, is about personal growth and development...being intentional about making yourself better. It is usually interchangeable with self-help. In fact, experts have created an astronomical market that covers a variety of self-help and improvement related subjects. For instance, self-improvement activities range from reading more books for additional wisdom, to stretching your current abilities by learning something new via workshops, seminars, etc.
Finding a mentor or a certified coach is an ideal route to take as well. They often devise plans incorporating goals and objectives to help guide you while monitoring your achievements along the way. Strategically networking with subject matter experts provides valuable insights on how you can improve and achieve the results they may have experienced themselves. Finally, letting go of the past has proven to be highly impactful as it paves the way for hearty activities that sustain the true development you aspire. As you can see, self-care and self-improvement address different areas but promote the same richness of life.
*All original work by “Chris Jones” ©️ 2021 "Chris Jones" | Updated September 8, 2024