Invest in Yourself: Health
January 19, 2020
“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block...I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” - Michelangelo Buonarroti
January 19th is when the majority of people abandon their New Year's Resolutions. But I want you all to keep going strong! That's why I am committed to focusing on my New Year's Resolution Word: INVEST - Invest in Yourself, Invest in Your Environment, and Invest in Your Experiences. My first post emphasized Investing in Yourself: FINANCES. Part two of the Investing in Yourself section brings you HEALTH. It's time to chisel away the excess and reveal the masterpiece!
BE Great
I cannot imagine a better opportunity to highlight the importance of investing in your health than this weekend's seminar with my friend Beth (@bethygeddy). She hosted her first BE Great event that emphasized both physical and mental health and wellness with workshops, workouts, and networking. Because health is something you not only need to invest in but you also have to work at day in and day out.
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| Ran into my friend Davida (@vidafashionista) who got to experience her first yoga class...Chatu-what? Chaturanga! |
Mental Health
A big part of our mental health involves our own self-perception and self-confidence. All of today's speakers touched upon providing ways for us to pivot our mindset into positive thinking starting with the inner voice inside our head. Eliminate negative thoughts. Start to incorporate uplifting statements."It's not a rejection, it's a redirection." - Danielle Mercurio
Focus on being receptive to those statements whether from yourself or another person. Don't make an excuse, deflect, or give credit to someone else. Don't blame something, become something. Don't go through something, grow through something. Don't just survive in this world, thrive in this world.
As Beth Geddio discussed with us, another great tool is journaling. By writing down your thoughts, you are able to unload what is weighing you down to help you process and problem-solve.
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| Beth Geddio, founder of BE Great Events |
Fitness
Fitness is all about setting a precedent for yourself, whether that is committing to exercise on weekends, three days a week, or building up to every other day. The answer lies within what works for you. BE Great's group fitness routines reminded me how much fun a sweat sesh can be when you have a buddy to share in the experience. Friends can be both an accountability partner and a post-workout brunch date.
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| Davida (@vidafashionista) was my accountability partner |
I also love doing the Blogilates PIIT28 program. I had done it before, which meant I knew I could do it again (learn more HERE and HERE). They say 13 days makes a habit and I'm on my 6th month. At this point, given the precedent I set for myself, it has become not just a habit but a lifestyle. Doing this routine coupled with the occasional ClassPass group workout helps me stay focused and fit.
Another thing I have started doing is Apple Health "competitions" with my friends through my Apple watch. It's a fun challenge and one that motivates me to get moving even when I might not feel like it. This is especially true when I get a notification that says my friend just completed a workout or has closed all of their health rings.
Get $30 off your first month of ClassPass by clicking HERE.
Another thing I have started doing is Apple Health "competitions" with my friends through my Apple watch. It's a fun challenge and one that motivates me to get moving even when I might not feel like it. This is especially true when I get a notification that says my friend just completed a workout or has closed all of their health rings.
Food
We had some incredible sponsors at BE Great that focused on health and nutrition. These included Honeygrow, Snap Kitchen, Nooma, The Juice Philly, Hungry Harvest, Frutta Bowls, The Soulfull Project, and A & M Factory.
One thing that I am really proud of but have not been very vocal about is that since August, I have been actively working toward my goal weight and muscle tone. With simple changes and substitutions (think "eat this, not that") as well as portion control (i.e. actually reading the package descriptions to realize the serving size in 1/3 the bag and not the entire thing), I have not only surpassed my goal weight but improved my tone.
What do I mean by substitutions? Essentially more vegetables and fruits, less carbs and empty calories. Instead of chips and dip I go for carrots or celery and dip. Instead of cereal with fruit I go for yogurt with fruit. I tend to "graze" throughout the day on smaller meals rather than three big meals and avoid eating those late night snacks.
What do I mean by substitutions? Essentially more vegetables and fruits, less carbs and empty calories. Instead of chips and dip I go for carrots or celery and dip. Instead of cereal with fruit I go for yogurt with fruit. I tend to "graze" throughout the day on smaller meals rather than three big meals and avoid eating those late night snacks.
My next goal is endurance, which is why I will be tackling the upcoming Broad Street run! Who's with me?
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| Can you spot me?! |
Invest In Yourself: Finances
January 1, 2020
Welcome to the New Year! Wishing you a happy, healthy, and fruitful 2020. Have you thought about your New Year's resolutions? I simplified mine into one word: INVEST. And with that #2020vision in mind, I am starting a new blog series on how to INVEST this year, from investing in YOURSELF to your ENVIRONMENT and lastly your EXPERIENCES.
The first part will focus on INVESTING IN YOURSELF. Under this segment, I will be discussing first finances, followed by health/wellness, and ending with ways to expand your mind. Come join me on this journey as I help you discover the New Year with the Same You, just a Better Approach.
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| Photo credit: @coryjpopp |
Often when people hear the word invest they think of finances, which is just one aspect of this 2020 blog series. This post specifically is dedicated to helping you find ways to save money for yourself now and in the future. As a resident physician, we typically make less than minimum wage in comparison to the number of hours we work, which makes pinching pennies a must (especially when this physician is also paying tuition for her MBA courses).
Listed below are some simple steps I implement in order to save more $$ while still maxing out that Roth IRA/401K/403B.
Just in case, here is a quick refresher from a great money-saving blog called The Penny Hoarder on the difference between these accounts:
Pro-tip: Invest more in your 401K/403B and put as much as you can in other areas like a Roth IRA or high interest earning accounts. What you cannot access or see, you won't use.
BUDGET
It is never too late to start saving or budgeting. You can start today by reviewing last month's charges, designate what was a want (flexible income) vs. a need (fixed income). Follow the 50/30/20 rule (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) and ensure you're not going over. My favorite way to budget is with the MINT app. This lets me check all of my accounts in one place while comparing all my charges with my budgets in real time.
Pro-tip: Find the right credit card that works for you as well - I use mine as a "travel" savings card so that every time I spend money, I accrue points I can put toward my next trip.
UNSUBSCRIBE
Don't just delete those thirsty "SALE" e-mails your favorite stores are constantly sending. Take the two seconds to click "Unsubscribe." What you don't see can't tempt you!
CANCEL
Stop getting charged for services you're not able to fully utilize. Cancel all those memberships you're not using, skip a month of delivery, or change them to a cheaper subscription. Another option is to share an account with a family member or a friend.
USE
Apps like Ebates or Ibotta are great for helping you earn money back during those times you do have to make online purchases. A friend just told me about an app called Flipp that has deals for home needs like toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, etc. so you never have to pay full price.
MAKE
Get cooking and make your meals at home. Eliminate food waste, save that $dough$ by making your own, and limit your happy hours. Turn it into an at-home cooking class with a friend and tackle a new recipe in the kitchen. If you can, focus on vegetarian and plant-based meals because meat is expensive. If you do end up eating out, consider eating half your meal and getting the rest to-go so you get an extra dinner out of it!
DON'T
- Call an Uber/Lyft when you can just as easily walk.
- Buy expensive coffee from Starbucks (but if you do, make sure to download their app and join the Rewards program so you at least get points to redeem for a freebie).
- Get click happy with Amazon. Wait a few days and ask yourself if it's something you really need.
- Indulge in regular manicures or pedicures when you can just as easily do them at home.
DO
- Decrease your alcohol consumption or go to a BYOB and bring your own (cheaper) bottle.
- Lower your utility bill by eliminating vampire power through unplugging or using smart outlets that shut off power sources when not in use.
- Wear thicker clothes in the winter instead of turning on the heat.
- Find trial workouts nearby. A lot of gyms/studios offer a free class or even a free week of classes. Get your sweat and savings on!
- Get a library card :) They're free and give you access to FREE audiobooks/e-books that you can then download and listen to on commutes or read during downtime. I am currently binging Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (for FREE) on the CloudLibrary app and love it. If you don't have a library card (which you should get), Amazon is offering a free audiobook with an Audible trial - just remember to cancel before it charges you if you don't want to continue!
Shout out to my friend Priyanca for helping me brainstorm some of these ideas! I hope these help and if you're looking for more information, I highly recommend checking out the podcast Millenial Money as well as the book Broke Millenial.
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