When it comes to helping people pursue their goals, most financial advisors tend to focus on areas like investing, tax planning, and other money-related topics. I am no exception. After all, these things are critically important if you want to save for retirement, start a business, travel the world, or simply leave a legacy for your family.
However, I’ve learned a very valuable lesson over the course of my career: Achieving the things you care about most requires more than just money. There are certain habits and behaviors that, while not directly related to finance, can spell the difference between reaching your goals or not. In my experience, people rarely hear about these from their advisors.
One I see is:
The Importance of Avoiding Burnout
Burnout, of course, is a “physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.”1 Anyone who has ever worked a demanding job or raised children has probably experienced it at some point or another. But what does this have to do with your financial goals?
In a word: Everything.
You see, there’s a reason we call it “working towards your financial goals.” Because it’s a lot of work! It’s not uncommon to take decades to accomplish what you value most.
During that time, you may work at the same job for many years. Or, you may change jobs frequently. You may set aside money for the future only to be forced to use it when times are tough. As a result, there may be occasions where the daily grind just doesn’t seem like it’s getting you anywhere. In other words, you get burned out.
Some common symptoms of burnout include:
- Fatigue that just doesn’t seem to go away
- An inability to complete projects, or get started on new ones
- Apathy about your job or your goals
- An increase in addictive behavior (like eating unhealthy foods or watching too much TV)
- A drop in efficiency, competence, or productivity in your work
Here’s why this matters from a financial standpoint. People who are burned out may often make short-term decisions that potentially delay their long-term goals. For example, instead of investing for the future, they may spend more on instant gratification. Instead of planning ahead and being proactive, they may procrastinate. Instead of making consistent, steady progress towards the things they want most, they may get side-tracked by things they only want right now. That’s why, as a financial advisor, I try to teach my clients how important it is to do everything you can to avoid burnout. Here are a few methods I’ve found effective:
- Take the idea of time management seriously. Time management might seem dry and boring, but in truth, it’s an incredibly useful skill that helps you get more out of your day while doing more of what you love! There are several methods, but most have the following in common: Setting aside specific times and time limits for specific activities every day.
- Take smart vacations. Going on vacation is a common remedy for burnout, but some vacations are more therapeutic than others. If you’re trying to avoid burnout, don’t go somewhere far away that you’ve never been to. Those types of destinations, while rewarding, can also cause a lot of stress. (Ever wanted a vacation from your vacation?) Instead, revisit somewhere you know you’ll enjoy and have little trouble navigating.
- Make physical and mental health your first priority. Take power naps every day. Work out. Eat healthy. Schedule times to pursue your passions. The more you take care of yourself, the more armed you’ll be against burnout. After all, you shouldn’t have to wait until retirement to start enjoying life!
- Delegate/ask for help. Burnout is often a result of trying to do too much by yourself. While society often lauds “the rugged individual” or “do-it-yourself” types, the truth is, you are not alone. Don’t hesitate to delegate responsibilities to family members or ask neighbors and coworkers for help with projects! It can make a huge difference in avoiding burnout.
As you can see, working towards your financial goals involves more than just money. It involves taking care of yourself so that you keep moving forward, step by step, day after day.
