How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body – David R. Hamilton
Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions – Russell Brand
Mental health books have been around for a long time, but these 7 take new approaches and innovative ways geared toward lasting results.
The authors give you tools for dealing with the struggles of relationships to battling severe addictions. Other topics covered include conquering your intrusive thoughts to taking anxiety and turning it into a superpower.
These books have you covered on the path to healing.
Some many valuable ideas and lessons stem from the books. These lessons will help you change your mindset and help you to achieve more than you ever thought possible!
Now let’s jump in!
2) Own Your Self – Kelly Brogan
Dr. Kelly Brogan, a New York Times bestselling author, has captivated the world with her book Own Your Self.
This book details the importance of reclaiming your life, mind, and mental health. According to Dr. Kelly Brogan, the book helps guide you to better ownership over your feelings, body, and self.
Dr. Brogan has an Ivy League medical background. Her specialization in neuroscience has helped her understand the human mind’s intricacy.
In a video created by Dr. Brogan, she discusses how more than half of Americans are on prescription medications and how she once was a firm believer in the idea that “medications will fix all.”
Now, she has gained valuable insight from her chronic illnesses and has shifted her mindset to a more holistic approach.
This book has been featured in the New York Times, HuffPost, Goop, and numerous other sites. Through this book, she wants to give you the tools to help heal yourself.
One of the key takeaways is we have the power to heal many ailments in our bodies, and we can work toward a better mind, body, and spirit.
There are few things on this planet more fulfilling than the ability to heal yourself and know you dug yourself out of that dark place.
If you’re looking for a book about taking control and conquering your life, this book will be a great fit.
2) Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns – Gritta Jacob, Hannie van Generen, Laura Seebauer
This mental health book, written by authors Gitta Jacob, Hannie van Generen, and Laura Seebauer, is a new and refreshing read revolving around mental health.
This book is a great introduction if you have never heard of Schema Therapy.
Jacob, Generen, and Seebauer focus on schema mode to help the reader break the patterns related to negative thoughts.
There are two parts to this book. Part one focuses on, more specifically, understanding the “modes” and becoming familiar with your modes.
Part two of the book revolves around changing your modes to help break harmful patterns.
An interesting feature of this book is the presence of case studies related to Schema Therapy and how useful it has been for many patients.
The American Psychology Association describes Schema Therapy as looking at lifelong patterns.
This specific type of therapy has helped patients with difficult psychological diagnoses who have tried years of other therapies but have not achieved much progress.
This book is a wonderful guide to helping you break these potential lifelong mental patterns you have struggled to overcome.
Check this book out if you are looking for a new approach to mental health!
3) Own Your Anxiety – Julian Brass
Are you a person who feels like your anxiety can get the better of you, or have you ever sat on the sidelines because your anxiety was overloaded so that you couldn’t try something new?
Sometimes thoughts are just too overwhelming to control.
Julian Brass has taken anxiety into a secret power in this new mental health book. Own Your Anxiety illustrates the message that. If channeled properly, your anxiety can give you an edge.
This sounds like a dream for a person who has struggled with lifelong anxiety. This is a new and bright perspective for people living with anxiety.
The reason is that having the ability to take what has been thought of as something that hinders you in life and turn it into a tool to better your surroundings is amazing.
Brass has used these methods himself to create a vibrant and fulfilling life! Through his book, he is eager to share his natural approach to changing the world around him.
The 99 simple yet powerful ways he has described to channel your anxiety into vibrant energy is a delightful read.
The first message in the book is to breathe. Yet, Brass approaches it with vigor and insightful information that takes breathing to a different level.
For those who frequently feel anxious, this is a must-read.
4) This Too Shall Pass – Julia Samuel
Julia Samuel, the author of This Too Shall Pass, utilizes the story-telling method to illuminate the hardships people have faced and how these people have overcome those hardships.
The book targets moments of significant change in a person’s life and how change can be much more complex and difficult than we realize.
Julia Samuel is a psychotherapist who has helped countless clients work through their hardships, and she has learned lots about the common struggles everyday people face.
The stories shared within this book are deeply intimate and wonderfully enlightening.
As hard as it can be to deal with life’s difficulties, Samuel’s book reminds us of the similarities in our struggles.
Reading this book and the messages it sends related to the different decisions people make in the face of adversity can help you have a clearer and more sound understanding of your struggles.
This book will also highlight how other everyday people have dealt with their problems which can help you to work through your own.
Samuels has first-hand experience helping people with their hardships in life.
This one is for you if you are looking for a powerful book full of deeply relatable lessons and struggles.
Sometimes we just feel disconnected and out of sync with our partners. Maybe the “wow” factor feels like it has slipped away. The hustle of everyday life may have taken away some of the connection.
Sometimes it is just the loss of intimacy and forgetting the little things that made the relationship so special in the beginning.
We all wonder, “is this how everyone feels in a relationship?”
S. J. Scott and Barrie Davenport have created a book that covers 25 detailed practices that you can use to reignite the flame in your relationship.
After reading this book, you can use these tools to help cultivate a better overall connection with your partner and have a deeper understanding of your relationship.
The tools found in this gem of a book can help you learn to become more proactive to your partner’s needs or more proactive to issues within the relationship and less reactive to the challenges you face.
Experts and scientific research back the habits discussed within these pages.
After using the information found within this book, you will be more conscious and more aware of how your actions and words create positive and negative consequences within your relationship.
You will see your relationship with your partner grow and flourish with this book!
6) How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body – David R. Hamilton
We all have heard how the power of thought can change your life. Well, one author has taken that idea to the next level.
Dr. David Hamilton, the author of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body, explains the mind-body connection we all have the power to utilize.
Originally written in 2008 and then updated with new information in 2018, this book is chock-full of information regarding meditation and visualization techniques that will help to boost your body’s ability to heal itself.
Dr. Hamilton also details scientific research to demonstrate the power of visualization between two groups.
A section reviews how certain practices can help specific medical conditions. It is also an incredible read if you want to learn more about how the brain works.
How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body is an extremely interesting read that leads to many thought-provoking questions about this connection that we all can experience.
If you are interested in alternative ways to heal your ailments without taking numerous medications, this mental health book is a great place to start!
7) Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions – Russell Brand
We all know him as the funny guy who was once married to Katy Perry, but did you know he is also an incredible author?
Russel Brand opens up about his struggles with addictions in his book related to mental health called Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions.
Since a comedian wrote it, there is a comedic side to the book as Brand dives into his addictions to sex, drugs, food, and fame.
His openness to his struggles over more than ten years is refreshing and honest. Brand shares his advice and the tools he used to recover.
He also recognizes the road to recovery. Addiction is not a straight and easy road, and no two recovery stories are alike. Like Brand, many people struggle with addictions, which is a difficult battle.
So, if you feel alone and are struggling with a serious addiction or want to finally kick your caffeine addiction to the curb, check out this well-received book–Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions.
To Wrap Things Up
Mental health can affect anyone, and we all struggle with our issues.
Even though sometimes it feels like we are alone and have nowhere to turn, people–like the authors mentioned–have either been through the same struggles or have researched and developed tools to help lead you to the road to a successful and fulfilled life.
Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and addiction can be serious and lead you to a life of hardships.
These books will help you to begin to heal. They can bring feelings of peace, love, and acceptance and have a brighter and more caring life.
If those are the feelings you want to cultivate, get your hands on these books this year!
Disclaimer
The content on this blog includes our personal experiences and opinions in regard to pursuing a healthier lifestyle. We hope the information provides valuable insights to every reader but we are not health advisors. When making your health choices, we recommend researching multiple sources and/or receiving advice from a doctor or licensed health professional.
This post may contain affiliate links; please see our disclaimer for details.
What a Couple on the Same Financial Page Looks like 🙂
Money plays a vital role between two people in a relationship. It’s no secret that money problems can be a big reason for relationship problems or even divorce.
One way to prevent this is to ensure you and your spouse are financially on the same page.
So how do you get on the same page with your partner regarding finances? This is a common and important question that many of us ask ourselves.
When I first married my wife we had many disputes about money. At that time, truth be told I did not have good money habits.
While my wife is great at managing money, I used to be a spender!
Over time my wife took some steps to help me change. I was willing to listen and started to change even though some of my changes came slowly.
Now we are completely on the same page and let me tell you, this has made our marriage much more enjoyable and happy. 🙂
Based on our experiences, here are 9 tips to use when working on your finances as a couple.
1. Understand Finance Backgrounds & Be Willing to Change
Couple discussing financial background & goals
Let each person share his/her understanding or background in finance.
Learn how each other was taught money growing up! You’ll gain a better understanding of how and why two people have different views on money.
When I first heard how my parents-in-law handle their money, I began understanding why my wife has such an amazing saving and investing mindset.
When my wife heard how my family spends money, she understood why I loved spending money to buy things I didn’t need, haha.
There is no need to be angry if your spouse has a different financial perspective because most of the time it comes from the way they were raised or lack of education.
INSTEAD, we should be understanding and helping each other by sharing money stories and explaining the importance of saving and investing.
When first engaged, my wife did not push me to change my poor spending habits all at once, but really gave me a better idea of what good personal finance looks like.
She shared many stories about how her parents worked so hard to save money and then invested in real estate and stocks, which is why they are free to travel everywhere, really, I feel like they travel every day haha.
After hearing my parents-in-law’s financial story and seeing how they have such an amazing life, I knew who I wanted to be.
A big thanks to my wife for sharing her story and background about finances, which sparked my desire to learn and change.
Being open and willing to change will help you and your spouse in many ways!
2. Read Valuable Finance Books (or Watch Videos)!
If you or your spouse have never had any saving, budgeting, or investing ideas since childhood, I highly recommend reading good books or watching videos to help change your financial mind which will open up a new world.
The first finance book I read was ” Rich Dad Poor Dad”. This book is so amazing. My eyes were opened, and a seed was planted for improving my personal finance and investing decisions.
Later, my wife found out about Dave Ramsey, and she started watching many of his Youtube videos. She always recommended a good one to me when she watched it.
My wife and I changed A LOT after watching Dave Ramsey’s video and learning about his baby steps.
Now we have zero car debt, and we regularly contribute to our emergency fund. Through hard work, I could graduate with my MBA student debt-free. We thank Dave Ramsey for teaching us to get out of debt.
We do not 100% follow his teachings because everyone has different views about finance, but in many ways, he has really helped our family’s finance a lot.
By recommending good finance books or videos and hopefully soon, your partner will be on board and on the same page with you.
3. Recognize the Impact of Bad Money Decisions
When you get married, everything becomes family-centered. Having stable finances is important, especially when children come into the picture.
If you or your significant other likes to spend money indiscriminately and doesn’t like saving money, you should discuss how those decisions will impact your family’s future.
For example, you should both discuss the need to save up an emergency fund, and understand the negative consequences that could arise from not having one.
Many people lost their jobs during times like the 2008 economic recession and COVID-19. If we were one of them and without an emergency fund, our family will be in big trouble.
But if we save up a 3-6 months fully-funded emergency fund, we will have money to cover our bills and expenses – talk about peace of mind!
Another subject to discuss is how to avoid or get out of debt. Here is an article I wrote specifically identifying 11 Strategies to Get Out of Debt Fast!
4. Be Honest With Each Other
Marrying another person means you both become a team. You are not independent anymore, but you can accomplish more with two minds and hearts working together.
Make sure there are no financial secrets in the relationship, and you’ll stay accountable and build a stronger relationship.
It is dishonest not to disclose your income, hide money, secretly spend money to buy what you want, owe an undisclosed debt, etc.
If you keep these things a secret, it will be a weight on you and hurt your mental health, and relationships. You’re burdening yourself with guilt and jeopardizing your partner’s trust in you.
This type of dishonesty will make both parties miserable.
If you and your partner are working on becoming on the same finance page, it’s important to be completely open and honest with each other.
I’m glad that at this point, my wife and I have not had any of this type of dishonest conduct, but have been very honest about our finances even before we got engaged.
Be real and be honest with each other. You won’t regret it!
5. Set Financial Goals Together
One of the best ways to get your spouse on the same financial page as you take time to sit down together and make the same financial goals.
What do you want your finances to look like in 5, 10, or even 30 years? Do you want to be completely out of debt? Do you want to save up your kids’ college education fund? Do you want to retire early?
The end goal for my wife and me is to achieve FIRE (Finance Independence Retire Early). We have been working hard for this goal to make it happen one day through saving, investing, and being wise with our money.
Setting the same financial goals together will give you a direction of where you hope to end up.
Once you and your spouse have the same financial goals, you will be on the same page and working as a team!
Goals also motivate us and give us a positive vision for the future. 🙂
When married couples have the same goals, it will also strengthen their marriage.
A budget is one of the most important steps to financial success.
Write down all of your family expenses and ensure that both of you have enough money for when those bills are due.
After expenses, see how much money you have left and can go toward investing for other things.
It’s also good to look through your bank statement history often and see where you both need to improve.
One way we love to save money is by using Mint Mobile where you can get a great plan for just $15 a month!
Part of budgeting should include investing –
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Deposits $1,000 or more into your M1 Invest account within two weeks of signing up and get a cash bonus of $30-$500 to that account.
It is not just a trading stock brokerage account but also offers an IRA option that allows you to invest in your retirement.
We highly recommend using M1 Finance to open a brokerage or retirement account! M1 Finance can undoubtedly help you on your financial independence journey.
We combined our finance the day after we engaged! I still remember it was in a taco bell at our school, and I gave my debit card to my wife because I knew she was better at managing money.
We were also working together to save our first house downpayment; combined finances helped a lot! We to on the same page when money is being saved or spent.
I’ve seen many couples keep their finances separate for many reasons like previous bad marriages, or getting married at an older age, etc.
No matter what kind of reason, separate finance may work for a few married couples, but it doesn’t seem to work for most.
One of the youtube channels we like is called Our Rich Journey. In their channel, a very happy couple worked together as a team and were able to retire at 39.
They are our example and motivation!
Combining finance has many benefits as you work together towards your goals and dreams.
8. Open and OFTEN Communication
When you work to get on the same page with your spouse about your finances, often and open communication is CRUCIAL.
Talk about what you and your spouse have accomplished and what you hope to accomplish next.
You can review/reevaluate your budgets, financial goals, and plans to achieve them.
You can also share your true feelings, happy and unhappy things about each other, and things you hope the other person can improve upon.
Oh, if your spouse made a good change, like eating out less, don’t forget to tell he/she a good job in your communication!
Give praise for wise money decisions your spouse is making!
My wife and I both like to communicate before bed, and we express ourselves very directly.
We are grateful that we can talk freely and openly and feel safe sharing our thoughts.
We feel an often and open communication can help us understand each other better, work better together as a team, and stabilize our marriage.
9. Love and Patience
Unfortunately, fights will often occur when money comes up in a conversation between a couple.
If you wish to get your spouse on the same financial page, you must find a healthy way of communicating and use love and patience instead of fighting.
Remember that you have been raised differently and have different backgrounds as mentioned previously.
Quarrels don’t typically end in an agreed-upon solution, but love and patience will help you get to a happy solution much faster.
You can’t expect your spouse to change immediately. It is impossible.
Big changes are made by small changes consistently and sustainably. Over time, these small changes will compound into big changes.
During the tough and painful waiting process, please be patient. Showing your encouragement and love is more useful than blaming and anger.
I made a rule with my wife: every time we fight, we kiss or hug each other and have to hold for three seconds. It’s amazing what a little love or affection can do to diffuse heated situations.
This method worked so well for us; we got better immediately and would laugh together.
You can try or find a method that could work for your marriage.
In Conclusion
I know that life is difficult when you and your spouse are not on the same financial page. You may feel helpless or hopeless sometimes, but hang in there! Read this post with your loved one and know we’re rooting for you!
The 9 tips below will guide you to get your spouse on the same page during your journey to financial freedom!
Share Your Finance Background and Knowledge, Be Willing to Change
Read Valuable Finance Books (or Watch Videos)!
Recognize the Impact of Bad Money Decisions
Be Honest With Each Other
Set Financial Goals Together
Budget As a Team
Combine Finances
Open and OFTEN Communication
Love and Patience
The change process won’t be easy and might be painful at times.
I hope you can use these tips to build a stronger relationship and become better at saving, budgeting, and investing for your family’s future.
Last but not least, if you need help, ask for it! Don’t be ashamed. Whether it’s financial counseling or other counseling.
Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment below with your thoughts and experiences, we’d love to hear from you!
Disclaimer:
We hope the information in this article provides valuable insights to every reader but we, the Biesingers, are not financial advisors. When making your personal finance decisions, research multiple sources and/or receive advice from a licensed professional. As always, we wish you the best in your pursuit of financial independence!
2022 is here, along with the opportunity to create impactful health goals to start things off right. Maintaining physical, emotional, and mental health can also go a long way to helping you gain control over your life and finances.
This post is about health but remember that enjoying financial freedom requires good health. 🙂
I have set some big goals this year and am excited to share those with you later on in this article, but first, let’s discuss health goals and explore tips on how to set and achieve them in 2022!
What are health goals and why are they important?
Health goals are defined to provide direction and guide efforts to improve overall health plus help measure progress.
Maintaining good health is an important area of life, and it’s important to set health goals and take action to achieve them.
Setting meaningful health and wellness goals will almost always lead to increased health and disease prevention.
Creating healthy eating and exercise routines will have many incredible results. Below are some of the common benefits of living a healthy lifestyle –
Help control your weight and keep weight off (1, 2)
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Stretch daily
30 day push up and sit-up challenge
Track calorie consumption & weight through the FitBit app
Find new delicious & healthy food
Implement positive self talk
How to achieve your 2022 health goal?
Health goals will be easier to achieve when they are S.M.A.R.T. – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-Bound.
I will break down each part of a SMART goal below.
1. Be Specific
Take some time to create a clear mental image of what goal you want to accomplish and how you can accomplish it, then write it down in detail.
Make sure the details are crystal clear with no room for misinterpretation.
Try to not be too vague, such as “I will eat healthier”.
2. Be Measurable
Make your health goal measurable by adding metrics to the HOW you will achieve the goal.
Breaking up a large goal into smaller milestones is also very helpful.
Making goals measurable means you will know 100% whether you have fully hit the goal or not.
3. Be Attainable
A goal is attainable when it can be reached on or before a certain deadline.
The biggest recommendation I can give is to start where you are at.
Add flexibility to your goal as well so it is not too difficult to complete, prepare for the unexpected.
Take some time to write down your day-to-day schedule with any potential barriers or challenges you may need to overcome. Doing so will help you become aware of any time constraints and mentally prepare to overcome barriers.
4. Be Relevant
A relevant goal means that each aspect of the goal aligns with your purpose and enhances your sense of worth.
Begin with the end in mind, and make sure the goal doesn’t put off other priorities or create an imbalance in life.
5. Be Time-Bound
Adding an end date or deadline will make your goal time-bound.
There are many ways to stay accountable to the deadline, try finding one that keeps you motivated.
Taking action on your health goals will take effort and unexpected challenges will surely arise. Try looking for any positives when things get tough. Remember, the process is refining, and things will get easier as time goes on.
I’ve noticed when I turn a negative into a positive, my entire attitude changes, and I have greater uplifting energy. Although easier said than done, I hope you can look for the positives to help you on your journey.
Have a backup plan in place
Being flexible is key, especially for those with busy schedules (which is probably most of us).
Part of being flexible is having a plan B / backup plan. For example, if the original goal is to work out for 45 minutes but something comes up, try to fit in another prepared workout that is shorter. Doing something is always better than not taking action on your goals.
Love yourself in every health phase – set mental health goals!
Loving thyself happens when you build yourself up and are your best friend. This isn’t always easy, but I’ve noticed it gets easier as I consciously practice positive and loving self-talk.
It’s important NOT to have the mentality of “I will be happy once I reach my goal” but instead say, “I am happy now and enjoying the journey; I love myself now.” Using this type of positive and reinforcing self-talk will go a long way to improve your happiness and ability to keep going.
If you’re busy and want a custom meal plan, I recommend trying out NutriSystem! You can start by taking an easy survey. Then they will send you balanced and nutritious meals and snacks!
You can now buy a month and get an entire month free! – Check it out today at NutriSystem! 🙂
Final thoughts
Remember, setting health goals for the body, mind, and spirit is important.
The quote below helps remind us that health takes many forms and is in our control.
“Your health is what you make of it. Everything you do and think either adds to the vitality, energy and spirit you possess or takes away from it.”
Ann Wigmore
What are some of your health goals this year? Let us know in the comments section below!
Disclaimer
The content on this blog includes our personal experiences and opinions in regard to pursuing a healthier lifestyle. We hope the information provides valuable insights to every reader but we are not health advisors. When making your health choices, we recommend researching multiple sources and/or receiving advice from a doctor or licensed health professional.
Instead of focusing on how to spend money on expensive gym memberships or health programs, it may be a good idea to focus on the basics of creating a solid home workout routine. Doing so has saved us both time and money!
Establishing a home workout routine can be difficult to set up and maintain. I’ve been there, throughout the pandemic I tried many different things.
In this post, I’ll go over the benefits of exercise, common types of exercise, and 6 tips on how to create an awesome home workout routine.
Benefits of Exercise
Before creating your home workout routine, it’s important to understand and remember the many positive benefits that come from physical exercise.
Here are just a few of the amazing benefits that come from exercising.
Help control your weight and keep weight off (1, 2)
There are many more benefits. Remember that exercising will improve the overall quality of life!
Types of Exercise
Below are four of the most common types of exercise to keep in mind when creating your routine.
Aerobic (Cardio)
Workouts that fall under this category require endurance and an increased heart rate.
Examples: jogging, swimming, long walks, hiking, boxing, etc.
Strength
Also known as resistance training, these workouts will increase your muscle and bone strength.
Examples: workouts using resistance bands, weight-lifting, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges, etc.
Flexibility
Staying flexible is a crucial part of overall fitness and helps reduce injuries.
Example: Stretching! Two common types of stretching are dynamic and static. Dynamic is when there is more movement involved such as swinging your leg back and forth before a run. Static requires less rapid movement and is great for after workouts. An example of a static stretch is bending over and trying to touch your toes.
Balance
Balance workouts will help reinforce key areas of the body including the back and abdomen- this will also help reduce injuries and help you have better posture.
Examples: Plank with one arm, balance on one leg, yoga stability workouts, etc.
Combination
Many types of workout programs include a combination of the four types of exercise listed above.
A good example of this is HIIT training (High-Intensity Interval Training) which often combines both strengthening and cardio elements in the workouts.
6 Great Ways to Get Started
1. Set an achievable goal
A goal is achievable when it can be reached on or before a certain deadline.
The biggest recommendation I can give is to start where you are at and create a SMART health goal.
Add flexibility to your goal as well so it is not too difficult to complete and prepare for the unexpected.
Take a minute to write down your typical day-to-day schedule with any potential barriers or challenges you may need to overcome. Doing so will help you become aware of any time constraints and mentally prepare to overcome barriers.
2. Find a workout time free from distractions
Timing and place go hand in hand when finding your distraction-free home workout. Being a father of a one year old I’ve found the best time for me to workout is either early in the morning or during one of his naps.
Knowing when you can workout free from distractions will help you stay focused and get more out of your home workout. 🙂
3. Make rest & recovery a priority
Getting enough rest and recovery holds many benefits and helps your body prepare for its next workout.
Stretching in between workouts and getting enough sleep each night has really helped me recover after a good workout.
Remember the body needs sufficient recovery to help it repair and become stronger.
Take rest days! Especially when just starting out.
Since there is not a golden standard for how many hours of recovery you need, my biggest recommendation is to listen to your body. 🙂
4. Find something you enjoy doing
Exercise doesn’t have to be boring!
Write down some things you enjoy doing that fall into the four exercise categories mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Select one or two of the activities you identified and implement them into your home workout routine.
At one point during my home workouts, I would use the game Just Dance as a workout session! It was fun and an excellent cardio workout.
5. Switch things up
Sometimes certain exercises can become repetitive or tedious, I totally get that.
Creating a list of enjoyable backup workouts becomes very useful when you feel unmotivated to do the same workout again.
Muscle confusion also happens when a new workout is implemented – this is a good thing!
Be adventurous, try something new!
6. Track your progress
Keeping track of progress helps keep you accountable and provides valuable data on your overall progression.
Some good ways to keep track of your exercise is by using a phone, exercise journal, or whiteboard to record everything.
Remember to set milestones of what you want to accomplish on the path to your end goal.
Summary
There are many benefits that come from exercise. I love the mood and confidence boosts that come from working out.
Exercise comes in various types – Aerobic (Cardio), Strength, Flexibility, Balance. Try workouts that fit into each category, especially when switching up your home workout routine.
Recap of the 6 great ways to get started:
Set an achievable goal
Find a workout time free from distractions
Make rest and recovery a priority
Find something you enjoy doing
Switch things up
Track your progress
Remember one of the most important tools one can possess when doing a new home workout routine is a positive attitude. Look at the good and what you have accomplished versus being too hard on yourself.
Thanks so much for reading! Feel free to drop a comment below with your thoughts!
“The average cost of college in the United States is $35,720 per student per year. The cost has tripled in 20 years, with an annual growth rate of 6.8%.”
We saved money by switching our phone plans to Mint Mobile.
Mint Mobile has helped us save tons of money, especially during college! We all know how phone plans can get pricy with long, frustrating contracts.
Our friends told us about Mint Mobile many years ago. For many reasons, we are still using them today!
Mint Mobile offers amazing plans at incredible prices, with plans as low as only $15 a month! My wife and I pay only $15 monthly for our phone plans. Check out how you can save money with them today!
Having full-time work and a full-time school schedule may sound too hard, but many people have successfully pulled it off. Even those with children like me! 🙂
My wife told me the following story back when she was in a college class
First, her professor asked everyone who is a full-time student with at least part-time work to raise a hand. Then she asked those who are full-time students with full-time jobs to keep their hands raised. Lastly, she asked those who do full-time school with full-time jobs and have kids to keep their hands up.
… And you know what?
There were still 4-5 people in the class with their hands raised! This was not a large-sized class either.
This was a big ‘wow’ moment showing there are many people out there doing full-time school and full-time work while raising kids. My wife never imagined her future husband (me) will be one of them.
So let’s jump into the 10 powerful tips I learned from my own experiences that helped me successfully balance full-time school and a full-time job.
Balancing Full Time School & Full Time Work YouTube Video
1. Write Down and Review Long-Term Goals
Think about then write down your career and life goals for the next year, but also 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10-year goals.
Taking the time to write down and remember those goals is crucial because it gives you an empowered mindset.
When things get tough, remember that doing full-time school with a full-time job will not last forever, it is temporary and will help you achieve your goals faster.
Short-term pain brings long-term happiness; this type of sacrifice is very worthwhile.
Two years into my Bachelor’s program I started working a full-time job and being a full-time student. Shortly after graduating, I did my two-year MBA program as a full-time student with a full-time job.
Looking back, I know it was a challenging time but it was so rewarding. Graduating with my MBA from Washington State University in August of 2021 was a valuable accomplishment.
Especially now seeing how I can provide good financial support for my family and how I’ve found a job I love, etc.
I have no regrets; many of my goals have become a reality too.
My wife said that when she looks back, she has forgotten how painful delivering a baby was. She remembers how cute the baby is and how grateful she is to have our lovely children now.
Having a baby is much harder, but things worth it in life don’t come easy.
Set meaningful goals and work hard to achieve them. This is vital to finding success and a driving force to support you during hard times.
2. Keep Work, School, and Home Nearby
Work, School, & Home in close proximity (tip for those working full time and going to school full time)
Time is a valuable yet limited resource!
When working and studying full-time, It is very beneficial to have work, school, and home close to each other (physically). A TON of time and money can be saved by having a shorter commute between work, school, and home.
A few months after marrying my sweetheart, we purchased our first home. The property was an older, cute townhome built-in 1970 with two bedrooms and 1.5 baths.
But the location was ideal, only a 10-minute commute from my work and school.
A year later, I received an offer as an account manager, and we were able to purchase our second real estate property. It is a cozy 3 bedroom/2 bath condo built-in in 2002.
The location of our second property (the condo) was very close to our college, our first property, and my new company! On average, the drive was only 10-15 minutes.
The condo was also 3-5 minutes from Walmart, Costco, and other shopping districts! This made it easy to get groceries and other items.
So try at all costs to cut down on commutes. I understand this may be difficult for many, but don’t fret; there are more ways to find balance and save time.
3. Find a Job That Offers Flexibility
Look for a company that offers flexible working hours or even a work-from-home option.
I am very grateful my work allowed me some flexibility during college. My manager was very understanding and knew I worked hard as a full-time student.
For example, if I had a school final on a certain day, I could go into the office later or make up my work project later.
Being a hard worker in the workplace is very important. It helps upper management know you are a dedicated employee and could help you receive more flexibility in the workplace.
Shortly after I started my MBA, my wife and I started working from home after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
I think COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we all think about work. Many companies are now offering more remote positions or offering hybrid schedules.
My wife can now work from home permanently, and I am on a hybrid schedule where I work in the office Monday-Wednesday but work from home on Thursday and Friday.
Working remotely or having a flexible work schedule has helped me in many ways. It has given me an amazing work-life balance and made life more enjoyable.
4. Make Smart use of PTO
PTO (Paid Time Off)
Not everyone is lucky to find a flexible job or a work-from-home position. If that’s your case, it’s important to use PTO (Paid Time Off) wisely.
My schedule was fixed while working in a call center when I started college. I needed to use PTO if I had any important school things.
Using PTO allowed me more time to prepare for my finals or big school-related projects.
PTO was precious like gold for me as a full-time student and working full time, so I tried hard not to use it unwisely.
5. Consider Taking Online Classes
Driving to and from school takes time, especially for full-time students who have full-time jobs. Online courses are a very good choice to help save more time and increase flexibility.
The flexibility of online courses combined with less time commuting makes sense for those with a busy lifestyle.
During my bachelor’s degree, I received my first salaried job offer and left my call center job.
I then decided to switch all my college classes to online, so my schedule could be more flexible, and it sure was!
When applying for my MBA, I sent an application to Washington State University. One big reason was that they offer online MBA courses.
Online classes have been a lifesaver!
6. Increase Efficiency
Efficiency is very important, especially when life has so much going on with deadlines to meet when with full-time school and work.
We don’t want something that can be done in one hour to end up costing two hours, right?
Create a designated study workspace to become more efficient while working on assignments or working from home.
I always treasured having my own office/study space. If you don’t have an extra room, that’s ok! The goal is to find a quiet place free from distractions.
Add elements to your study space to keep you focused and on track. For example, I enjoy having a whiteboard to write down important deadlines coming up and my long-term goals printed out with some inspiring photos, etc.
Last but not least – put the phone and/or other distracting things away! This may be hard at first but will pay off.
7. Create a Schedule and To-Do List
As a full-time student with a full-time job, life will get so busy, and frequently I find myself forgetting things that need to be done.
Do your best to stick to a schedule and a to-do list with specific deadlines. This is an important aspect of balancing full-time work and full-time school.
Once committed to a task or project, write it down ASAP. If you wait, you might forget it later on.
Check your schedule and to-do list and update them daily with what has been accomplished and what needs to be worked on later.
I won’t lie; it took me a while to get a system down that worked for me.
Try writing down everything needed in one week, then break down assignments and tasks into ‘bite-sized’ chunks.
I started as the world’s greatest procrastinator, but I changed greatly during my full-time school and work life.
Getting things done on time or ahead of time will also help your mental health; it certainly helped reduce my stress.
8. Be Willing to Sacrifice
To successfully work and study full-time, you need to be willing to sacrifice – no other way to put it. Just remember, short-term pain will bring long-term happiness!
When roommates, friends, coworkers, and family invite you to hang out, sometimes you need to be ready to say no, and that’s ok! I know it is hard because I’m an extrovert and love socializing with people!
I knew spending too much time hanging out would break my efficient schedule and to-do list, creating more stress in my already stressful life.
Since I graduated, I have had more time to hang out with my friends. Sometimes they will still talk about how busy I was when back I was in college, but true friends understand and will be happy for you.
Another sacrifice is spending less time watching TV, being on social media, etc.
First, I want to say that you don’t have to be as extreme as I am. My wife and I deleted our accounts on Facebook and Instagram. We did this to increase efficiency, amongst other reasons.
Now we have some business social media accounts, we would love for you to follow us!
9. Take Mental-Health Breaks
Recharge with a refreshing walk outdoors
Life will get frustrating and overwhelming at times. Please make sure to take care of your mental health while going to school and working full-time.
Taking breaks is good – take them in moderation.
For example, having a nice rest, walking, watching a movie, enjoying a meal, and hanging out with friends.
Proper relaxation can benefit your work and study life, helping your mind stay on track.
10. Special Bonus Tip for Parents
So life gets even crazier when kids are in the picture. Our first kid was born while I was still working on my MBA. I still remember trying to finish my assignments early in my wife’s delivery room before our baby was officially born.
I also remember in my MBA class, one of my classmates told us she finished our project WHEN she was in the hospital and had contractions.
No matter how busy life gets, it’s important to remember family time. Time needs to be spent building important relationships with family.
I love spending time with my wife and kids, but we plan wisely on when and where we will hang out.
Relationships are the spice of life!
I would always do my homework after my baby was sleeping because I wanted to help my wife and spend time with our baby.
I don’t want to miss any special moments of fatherhood and raising a kid.
Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Recap of all 10 tips:
Write Down and Remember Your Long-Term Goals
Keep Work, school, and Home nearby
Find a Job That Offers Flexibility
Make Smart Use PTO
Consider Taking Online Classes
Increase Efficiency
Create a Schedule and To-Do List
Be Willing to Sacrifice
Take Mental-Health Breaks
Special bonus Tips for Parents
Can you Balance Full Time School and Full-Time Work?
The answer is ABSOLUTELY you can!
I was able to pull it off, and you can too if you so desire! Follow the 10 steps above to help give you a good start on finding balance.
Thanks so much for reading! We’d love to hear your thoughts or questions; drop a comment below!
Disclaimer:
We hope the information in this article provides valuable insights to every reader but we, the Biesingers, are not financial advisors. When making your personal finance decisions, research multiple sources and/or receive advice from a licensed professional. As always, we wish you the best in your pursuit of financial independence!
Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals has been a powerful first step towards improving my health.
Simply put, the purpose of a S.M.A.R.T. goal is to give oneself a clear picture of what the goal is, how it will be achieved, and when it must be completed.
While explaining each aspect of the S.M.A.R.T. goal system below, I will add my personal experience on my own S.M.A.R.T. health goal I set in the past AND achieved!
Remember, it’s okay to work on each part of the S.M.A.R.T. goal system simultaneously. These goals can be applied to personal finance or any category in life! Check out the empowering reward section to see how my goal helped me save money.
What does SMART stand for?
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Before creating a S.M.A.R.T. goal, write down your day-to-day schedule so you are aware of any time constraints or conflicts.
I’ve found it helpful to create both long-term and short-term S.M.A.R.T. goals.
In this article, I will walk through how I created my long-term S.M.A.R.T. goal. It started as a vague goal of me wanting to lose weight but turned into an empowering S.M.A.R.T. health goal.
How to make your health goal SPECIFIC
Take some time to create a clear mental image of what goal you want to accomplish and how you can accomplish it, then write it down in detail.
Make sure the details are crystal clear with no room for misinterpretation.
Try to not be too vague, such as “I will eat healthier”.
My experience: To make mygoal specific, I added that I wanted to lose 35 pounds and do intermittent fasting, have a low-calorie diet, and exercise.
How to make your health goal MEASURABLE
Make your health goal measurable by adding metrics to the HOW you will achieve the goal.
Breaking up a large goal into smaller milestones is also very helpful.
My experience: I made my HOW more measurable by choosing 10 am – 6 pm for my intermittent fasting routine. I added the metric of 2,000 or fewer calories a day and added 20 minutes a day of exercise.
The underlined portion from the paragraph above depicts how I was able to make my HOW measurable.
By making goals measurable you will know 100% whether you fully hit the goal or not.
How to make your health goal ATTAINABLE
A goal is attainable when it can be reached on or before a certain deadline.
The biggest recommendation I can give is to start where you are at.
Add flexibility to your goal as well so it is not too difficult to complete, prepare for the unexpected.
Take some time to write down your day-to-day schedule with any potential barriers or challenges you may need to overcome. Doing so will help you become aware of any time constraints and mentally prepare to overcome barriers.
My experience: At first I wanted a more intense intermittent fasting schedule by only having a 4-hour eating window. I quickly realized that was not realistic so I changed the schedule to 10 am to 6 pm.
I wanted to do 1,500 calories a day as my calorie consumption metric but instead changed the limit to 2,000 or less so it would not be too difficult to accomplish.
For exercise, I had tried many times to work out for 45+ minutes but kept failing. I needed to start where I was at so I decided on 20 minutes of exercise, 3 days a week.
Later on, I increased my workout time and frequency to where I was able to work out for 45 minutes, 4-5 days a week.
How to make your health goal RELEVANT
A relevant goal means that each aspect of the goal aligns with your purpose and enhances your sense of worth.
Begin with the end in mind, and make sure the goal doesn’t put off other priorities or create an imbalance in life.
My experience: My S.M.A.R.T. health goal was relevant because it would help me complete my life purpose by living a long and healthy life.
Going back to the realistic portion of the S.M.A.R.T. goal system, I made sure my goal was attainable and did not take away from other important aspects of my life.
How to make your health goal TIME-BOUND
Adding an end date or deadline will make your goal time-bound.
There are many ways to stay accountable to the deadline, try finding one that keeps you motivated.
My experience: I used HealthyWage to help me create a deadline for my goal and stay accountable. I also bet money to lose weight which is really cool and motivating to me.
By using their app, I was able to track how much weight I had lost and know what weight I should be at each week so I do not fall behind. If you’re interested in learning more click here and get $40 automatically added to your prize! – Start your HealthyWager today and get paid for losing weight.
Find an Empowering Reward
Don’t just have a WHY to achieving your goal, have an empowering reward.
An empowering reward should be something real that is felt or seen upon completing your S.M.A.R.T. health goal.
Be specific when thinking about and writing down your empowering reward. Make sure it instills an intense positive emotion when thinking about it.
Completing a triathlon was one of my empowering rewards. The sense of accomplishment and how I would feel when completing the triathlon was a motivating force to keep me going.
Honestly, another compelling reward was the fact that I wouldn’t be spending as much money on junk food. I loved eating unhealthy and spent way too much money eating out and on snack items. Getting healthy ended up going a long way to helping us save money.
Visualize your empowering reward frequently. It should fill you with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Another empowering reward for me was thinking about how I would feel when I lost 35 pounds – clothes would fit better, I would be more confident, energetic, happy, better looking, etc.
Lastly, I highly recommend putting your empowering reward somewhere you can see it often.
Conclusion
Here is the long-term health goal I created using the S.M.A.R.T. goal system- “Lose 35 pounds in 6 months by intermittent fasting from 10 am – 6 pm, consuming 2,000 or fewer calories, and exercise 20min, x3 a week”.
This goal of mine later evolved into longer exercise times and more frequently exercising as I progressed closer to my triathlon date and weight loss deadline.
Take time to really think about each of the S.M.A.R.T. goal system when creating your health goals. Also, don’t forget to create an empowering reward!
When making any health changes, please search multiple sources and consult with a doctor or health professional. The information found in this post comes from my own personal experiences and may need to be adjusted for someone else.
Thank you for reading! Please drop a comment or question below!
Disclaimer
The content on this blog includes our personal experiences and opinions in regard to pursuing a healthier lifestyle. We hope the information provides valuable insights to every reader but we are not health advisors. When making your health choices, we recommend researching multiple sources and/or receiving advice from a doctor or licensed health professional.
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