Hundreds of feet in the air, a tightrope walker balances precariously on a wire that’s less than an inch in width. She moves slowly, with grace and care, yet one wrong move could send her toppling down.
Sound familiar? That’s because finding balance in our everyday lives is not unlike the job of the tightrope walker. We take care to manage our priorities and to achieve some semblance of balance among work, family, and finances, only to be derailed by an unexpected cost or expense that sends us spiraling back to where we started.
As we enter a new decade, it feels all the more important to follow through with a resolution to find work+life+financial balance. Now, we know what you’re thinking: New Year’s resolutions never stick. In fact, research has shown that even though 60 percent of us make resolutions, only about eight percent see them through. And if your goal is to improve your financial wellness in the New Year, you have an even smaller chance of success: Saving money is one of the top five most commonly failed resolutions.
But it doesn’t have to be — and we’re here for you. We’ve put together our top three (achievable) New Year’s resolutions geared towards improving your financial wellness while finding balance across all aspects of your life. The ultimate goal? Walk the 2020 tightrope with ease and assurance instead of fear, so that even if you slip, you’ll have a safety net to break your fall.
Resolution #1: Master the elusive work + life + financial balance.
Maintaining work+life balance is beneficial in more ways than one: It can reduce stress, prevent burnout, improve productivity, and increase job satisfaction. Yet many of us in the workforce struggle to achieve it, partly because “work” isn’t necessarily limited to what you do at the office — it includes your obligations at home, too. If tackling bills and managing your budget are taking up too many non-office hours, it might be time to make a change.
That’s where The Beans comes in: We’ll build you a plan for your money so you can focus on the life part of work+life balance. Other ways to achieve work+life balance include:
- Schedule time for you the way you’d schedule time for a meeting.
- Leave work at work. Make it a priority to not check your email at home or past a certain hour.
- Optimize your workspace for your needs.
- Set (and stick to) working hours when possible.
Resolution #2: Plan for your financial wellness so that you can plug in when you need to and unplug when you’re done.
Our lives are endlessly busy these days, and it’s hard to find the headspace to tackle every task on that to-do list. Our resolution? Tap into The Beans to save time and get your finances on track. That way, you can plug in and focus at the office and then easily unplug after working hours.
This type of financial planning can also come in handy when you’re faced with unforeseen costs. Whether your car breaks down, your dog needs emergency surgery, or every one of your friends invites you to be in their wedding this year, having a plan means you’ll be able to work through these unexpected expenses without feeling totally overwhelmed.
Resolution #3: Spend less time stressing about your money and more time pursuing your passion.
Do what you love, love what you do: Now that’s a New Year’s resolution we can get on board with. And yes, it is possible to achieve financial balance by spending smarter and managing your money.
How? At The Beans, we’ll build you a financial plan that feels right and allows you to do the things you love (like volunteering at the animal shelter and hanging with friends) without a second thought. In addition, there are tons of balance-friendly ways to have some fun:
- Instead of going out to brunch, invite your friends over and make this epic french toast casserole (seriously, it’s worth it).
- Catch an early bird movie — theater prices are often discounted before noon.
- In lieu of happy hour, go for a walk, hike, or bike with friends. Split a bottle of wine at your place after.
- Institute a weekly game night with your favorite classic board games.
- Love to travel? Sign up for airfare alerts and find out when flight prices drop.
The Beans was created to easily and effectively help you find money + life balance through personalized visual financial plans, and we hope these resolutions shed some light on finding that balance in the New Year ahead. If you’re interested in learning more about The Beans or want to try it for yourself, sign up for our waitlist and be the first to know when it launches.
Money + Life Balance 