So far 2022 is …. awesome? intense? same as 2021?
For most school staff it has be INTENSE!!! Omicron has been a brutal welcome into 2022. So I want to take a moment to pass on some tips and ideas for the new year.
#1: Remember your oxygen mask, make those things your #1 priority.
For me this is my sleep and health. The first two weeks of January my body was fighting something (tested negative for COVID), school is a little crazy and I have daily exposure to COVID through my students. So I stopped working out and increased my sleep to 9hrs a night.
#2: Don´t be a martyr.
Do what you can. Do what makes sense. But you have to put your priorities and life first. You are the only one who knows what you need and can make that happen. You offer your best to the world when you have given yourself your best. Take care of you and never run on empty. This also means …
#3: Have boundaries and say no.
The more you say no to things that don´t really matter, the more you are saying yes to your needs and the people and things that do matter. So let go of perfectionism, do less so you have more time for health, family, relationships, fun, adventure, rest and relaxation.
#4: Check in with your dreams and goals daily
I write mine in the form of ¨I am worthy of … .¨ I am worthy of financial freedom. I am worthy of being healthy, fit and toned. I am worthy of my house being paid in full. Etc. 5/7 mornings I journal these statements and check in with my goals. It is easy to get lost in the ebb and flow of the day. This practice keeps me grounded and focused.
#5: Do something small towards any one of these items each day (10 mins)
Seriously, it doesn´t have to be big or take a lot of time. Small actions taken daily compound over the year. 10 minutes per day is 3,650 minutes or 60.8 hours per year of action towards your dreams.
#6: Write down all of your victories/daily wins.
10 minutes a day doesn´t seem like much which is why you need to record all of your victories. Writing down your daily wins is a really good reminder of your progress and will motivate you to keep going.
Financial considerations for 2022:
#1: Pay off credit card debt.
If paying the minimum, try paying an extra $25, $50 or more. The interest on credit card balances are insane – over 20% compounding. You want to get to the point that you are paying off the statement balance each month so you are not paying interest. If you currently have a lot of credit card debt, take it slow. Financial freedom is a marathon, not a sprint.
#2: Buy more I Bonds.
Each year you can buy $10,000 of I Bonds per social security number. I Bonds are paying 7.12% which is the only money vehicle currently keeping pace with our 7% inflation. As of Friday January 21st, the S&P500 (Stock Market) is down 8.32% for the year after returning 26.9% in 2021. My husband and I have joint accounts but for I Bonds we each had to open individual accounts.
#3: Used a high yield savings account.
In December 2021, the Federal Reserve said they are going to raise interest rates (possibly 3 times) in 2022, starting in March. This will increase the interest rate I am receiving in my high yield savings account at Ally Bank which is 0.50%. Before the Fed started lowering interest rates in 2019, I was getting paid 2.5% in my savings account. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other big banks only pay 0.01-0.03% on your savings. Ally Bank is FDIC insured.
