This year, live better, work better, eat better, and love better

This year, live better, work better, eat better, and love better. Photo/FILE 

In Summary

• Every month, make a list of what you need and stick to it when you go shopping. This is the best way to keep track of your spending.
• Cutting some kilos is a common goal for most people and an advisable one too, since too much weight gain is associated with a multitude of serious medical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases.
• Evaluate your friends: This year, strike off so-called friends that are not beneficial in any way.

By Millicent Mwololo
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Save, save, save: Money comes first on most people’s worry lists. A common complaint is that it is never enough.

This year, however little you earn or make, resolve to save a portion. A saving culture is the gateway to financial freedom, stability, and wealth creation.

It is also important to have more than one source of income. All the wealthy people in the world have one thing in common — diverse sources of income.

If you depend on just your salary, it will never be enough — think of a side hustle that can bring you extra income

If in self-employment, expand your services. Remember that it is never too early to start saving. Investing early will give you peace of mind later in life.

Join a ‘chama’: If you have not done so yet, join an investment group, or what we popularly refer to as chama. Chamas have grown to become a great resource of wealth creation, as the many success stories indicate.

If you ask around, you will find that there are quite a number of groups that have invested in real estate and other profitable business ventures.

It may take several years, even decades, to reap the benefits, but the sacrifice and patience are worth it.

Stick to the budget: If it is not on the list, then you do not need it. Impulse buying will always get you into financial trouble, and more often than not, you will end up with something you do not need.

Every month, make a list of what you need and stick to it when you go shopping. This is the best way to keep track of your spending.

Get them a piggy bank: The earlier you acquire a healthy habit, the better. Teach your children how to acquire, save, and spend money at an early age.

From age three, children are old enough to start learning about the rules that govern money. At this age, they can perform simple tasks around the home, from which they can earn allowances.

From time to time, allow them, with guidance of course, to decide what they want to do with a portion of the money they have saved.

This is one of the ways in which you can teach your child to look at money as a means to achieve basic goals.

HEALTH
If we got a shilling for every person who has made a resolution to lose weight this year, we would become millionaires.

Cutting some kilos is a common goal for most people and an advisable one too, since too much weight gain is associated with a multitude of serious medical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases.

If you are overweight, shedding some weight will not only keep these diseases at bay, it will also boost your self-esteem and energy.

It will take a more active lifestyle, a healthy diet, determination, and unwavering will power. It will not be easy, but the results will be worth it.

If you can afford it, consult a nutritionist to guide you through this important process in your life.

Those who have managed to lose those extra kilos say that it helps to have someone to be accountable to, someone who will take you to task if you fail to take your morning jog or if you give in to temptation and partake of that tempting but cholesterol-inducing bag of French fries. Sticking to healthy food will also be easier if you incorporate it into the family meal timetable.

Get more personal: There is no doubt that social media has radically changed how we communicate with each other.

The advantages have been numerous, one of the biggest being that it has opened up the world beyond us and made it accessible at the click of a button.

However, some argue that it has also made us impersonal. Face-to-face interaction has been replaced by email, SMS, and online chats.

This year, make a deliberate effort to go beyond a phone call or email and visit a relative or friend you did not meet in 2013.

TRANSFORM SOMEONE'S LIFE

If you did nothing for someone last year, make it your goal to transform someone’s life this year.

It could be a needy neighbour, an old friend who could do with a helping hand, or that colleague at work who could do with your guidance. It is true that there is more fulfilment in giving than in receiving.

Move up the ladder: Unless you take the initiative, you will not progress in your career. Those who progress do more and above what is expected of them and, in the process, stand out from the average performers.

Besides official matters, volunteer when employees are invited to take part in your organisation’s corporate social responsibility activities. It also helps to keep abreast of the changes taking place within the company — an informed person is better armed.

Networking is also important for career growth. There are several networking forums in Kenya which give professionals like you the chance to form relationships that could benefit you in future.

Specific forums include Networking in Heels, Kwani?, League of Young Professionals, Kenya Business Network, Kingdom Business Network, Kenya ICT Professional Network, and Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals. All these are on Facebook and LinkedIn. Google them to find out more about them, including when the next meeting is scheduled.

While at it, learn a new skill in your field; you never know, it can boost your chances of getting a promotion.

When did they grow up? You do not want to wake up one day only to discover that while you were busy taking part in the rat race, your children became moody teenagers.

FAMILY IS IMPORTANT

True, today’s demands are time-consuming. We are working longer hours, there is that MBA to study for, that chama meeting, company function, or wedding you must attend. While this is the case, there is nothing more important than family. Work, study, socialise, but create time for your loved ones too. The fact is that time will never be enough to do everything you want, but the 24 hours you have in a day are enough to accommodate everything, (and everyone) that matters.

Count your blessings: There is nothing as empowering as a positive attitude. This year, stop complaining and instead start being thankful for the blessings in your life. To begin with, you are alive, you have children, you have a job, you can read this, therefore you have eyes…

Evaluate your friends: This year, strike off so-called friends that are not beneficial in any way.

These include those who only call you when they have a problem that needs solving, for instance that friend who only calls at the end of the month asking for financial assistance, or wondering when you will buy them lunch or a beer.

A true friend is one for all seasons, dry ones and bountiful ones. A worthwhile friend is also one who makes you feel good about yourself, applauds your accomplishments, is proud of your success, does not put you down, backbite you, and is honest without being vengeful.

Water your spiritual garden: Cultivate a personal relationship with God.

A close relationship with a higher being means that you are accountable to someone, and therefore more motivated to do good deeds, treat others better, and live up to your responsibilities.

Stick to your goals: Resolutions are somewhat like babies — they are easy to make, but need lots of sacrifice to nurture.

Today, many of you will make a commitment to become better people by making certain changes.

However, only a small percentage will accomplish their set goals. One of the reasons is that we tend to make unrealistic goals.

You would rather focus your energy on one than on 12 that will drain you and make you miserable throughout the year.

As we suggested earlier, enlist someone to keep tabs on you. It is also advisable to review and take stock of your progress every month.

This evaluation will help you identify what you are doing well as well as where you are going wrong.

Here is to a productive new year!