Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise?

by Joe Fino | Jan 5, 2023

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” This quote highlights the importance of consistent habits in achieving a better life. By taking care of our physical health, managing our finances responsibly, and continuing to learn and grow, we can work towards becoming healthier, wealthier, and wiser.

I mentioned in my previous post that I’m looking to make positive changes in my life this year and improve my overall health, make more money in my business, and learn a few new things along the way. It can be a daunting task, but with the right mindset and some practical steps, I can progress toward living a better life. I’m not a life coach or an expert on self-improvement, but I have made many mistakes and learned a thing or two along the way. I’ve also had some successes and figured out what works (and what doesn’t) when trying to make myself better. I hope you find some value in this journey. Maybe you’ll join me and try to make changes yourself, or at the very least, I hope you are entertained. So let’s explore strategies for making positive changes toward becoming healthier, wealthier, and wiser.

The Importance of Consistent Habits

To borrow from an old Army ad, we all want to live and be the best we can be, but sometimes it can feel like an uphill battle. Between work, family, or anything else life throws our way, it can be tough to find time for self-improvement. But what if I told you that a few tiny changes could impact your overall well-being and success? Again, I’m no expert and still figuring things out. But most of my struggle is with consistent follow-thru…more about that later… it’s a post for a different day.

Consistent habits are key. This means getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and managing your finances responsibly. While it may be tempting to stay up late and sleep in, adopting Ben Franklin’s routine can significantly impact your energy levels, productivity, and overall well-being. Again, I KNOW THIS, but I often go to bed too late, and I’m usually up early. I need more sleep, and on some days, I see what it’s doing to me, and yet, I’ll stay up too late the next night. Please learn from my mistakes!

Be All That You Can Be

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Setting and Working Towards Goals

One way to make progress in any area of your life is to set goals for yourself and work towards them with a plan — putting those consistent habits to use. In my personal experience, I tend to fall off after a bit of success and then often find myself back at square one. It’s a struggle not to give up. So here I go again. I’ve become very good at starting over.

So let’s discuss some goals that will get us to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Where can we start? It’s the New Year, and I’m guessing many resolutions have been made to start exercising or get healthy. So for you, this might mean setting a goal to eat healthier and exercise regularly to improve your physical health. Here are some tips to help you get you started on health goals:

Start small: It’s important to begin with a manageable exercise routine. This could be as simple as taking a short walk around your neighborhood or doing a few stretches at home.
Find activities you enjoy: Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Look for activities that you enjoy, such as dancing, cycling, or swimming. This will make it easier to stick to your exercise routine.
Get the right gear: Invest in comfortable, high-quality workout clothes and shoes. This will make it more enjoyable to exercise and can help prevent injuries.
Mix up your routine: Doing the same exercises every day can get boring. Mix up your routine by trying new activities and changing the intensity and duration of your workouts.
Find a workout buddy: Working out with a friend can make exercise more fun and help you stay motivated. You can also consider joining a fitness class or team sport to meet new people and stay active.

If we are going to be wealthier, we should create a budget and financial plan to aid in increasing our wealth. Here are 5 steps you can take to start today:

Identify your financial goals: What do you want to achieve with your money? Do you want to save for retirement, pay off debt, or build an emergency fund? Having specific goals in mind will help you create a plan to achieve them.
Make a budget: A budget helps track your income and expenses to see where your money is going. By understanding your spending habits, you can make changes to save more money and reach your financial goals.
Save and invest: The earlier you start saving and investing, the more time you have for your money to grow. Consider setting aside a portion of your income for short-term and long-term savings goals.
Protect your assets: Ensure you have adequate insurance coverage to protect your assets in case of an unexpected event, such as a natural disaster or a medical emergency.
Seek professional advice: If you’re unsure where to start, consider consulting with a financial planner or advisor. They can help you create a personalized financial plan to achieve your goals.

As far as wise goes, that comes with experience. But you can sign up for a book club or course and start learning something new today. I’ve recently subscribed to Master Class. I’ve been wanting to for some time and finally pulled the trigger. So far, I am not disappointed at all — I’m loving it.

It’s important to remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Don’t get so caught up in pursuing your goals so much that you forget to enjoy the present moment. I was reminded of this quote when reading one of Douglas Coupland’s books. It is attributed to Joan Didion. “The future always looks good in the golden land because no one remembers the past.” ― Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Take the time to appreciate your journey and progress rather than constantly striving for more.

Finding Balance and Practicing Gratitude

In order to lead a happy and fulfilling life, it’s important to find balance and practice gratitude. This means taking time to relax and recharge and finding activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. It also means being thankful for what you have and recognizing the good things in your life rather than constantly striving for more.

One way to practice gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. Each day, write down a few things that you are thankful for. It could be something minor, like a delicious meal or a beautiful sunset, or something bigger, like a supportive friend or a fulfilling job. Focusing on the positive things in your life can help shift your mindset and improve your overall well-being. Journaling is one of those things I’m very inconsistent with. I start and then struggle with what to write…though that hasn’t been a problem over the last few days when it comes to this blog.

The Value of Making Mistakes

It’s crucial to remember making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process. Wisdom often comes with time and experience, and one of the best ways to gain knowledge and understanding is to make mistakes and learn from them. C.D. Payne stated, “The only way to gain wisdom is to go through the process of life and make mistakes.” It’s important not to be too hard on ourselves when we make mistakes but to use them as opportunities to grow and learn.

Making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, and embracing them is important rather than trying to avoid them at all costs. Instead of beating yourself up over a mistake, try to view it as a chance to learn and improve. Chuck Klosterman wrote, “What makes a person good or bad is often determined by the choices they make, and the things they do (or don’t do) as a result of those choices.” Make good choices and take positive action, even in the face of mistakes, and you’ll be well on your way to living a happier and more fulfilling life.

Take Consistent Action For a Better Life

Living a healthier, wealthier, and more wise life is about making positive choices and taking consistent action. By setting and working towards goals, finding balance, practicing gratitude, and learning from your mistakes, you can progress toward leading a better life. Remember, it’s not about achieving a certain level of wealth or status but rather about your choices and actions daily. Take control of your life and make the positive changes you want to see, and you’ll be well on your way to living a happier and more fulfilling life.