We don’t plan because we fear the future. We plan because we realize we can enjoy today more by reducing the anxiety of tomorrow. 

Most people accept that planning offers us a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something. When we plan, we map out the possible steps of our ideal life journey before taking them. Some of our biggest fears orbit around the unknown, so if we can clarify what our future might look like, our planning will reduce our anxiety.

Planning could be as large-scale as our long-term financial planning or building a family or business, but it could also be as simple as planning a weekend away or a simple trip to the shops!

Here are four tools that will help us in our planning.

1. Write it down

Journaling helps us to review our habits and routines regularly. For this to work, we need to be honest. We need to be able to look at different areas of our life and identify what we want to change.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when jotting down these ideas:

• What do I want to do differently?
• What do I want to do more?
• How can I achieve my goals? 
• How can I continue growing along the way?

2. Prioritize your values

When asked to write down the things that we value, it’s easy to create a list that includes many great values. These can be overwhelming to engage with, so we need to start with the full list and then begin to order them in terms of what we feel are most relevant and engaging to us in our current life-space.

As we grow and experience changes in our lives and responsibilities, these values might change in order of priority – writing them down and shuffling them around helps us maintain a sense of authenticity and accountability while reducing our anxiety.

3. Get support

Sometimes we can accomplish more, in less time, with help. Fortunately, we live in a time where we do not always need to engage in face-to-face conversations with real, live human beings for help. There’s a plethora of newsletters, blogs, podcasts and videos online that we can use to encourage us on our journey.

But, when it comes to holding us accountable, especially when life presents us with roadblocks, having support from family, friends, or a coach, or hearing stories of people who have faced similar challenges, can help us navigate them and reduce anxiety. 

4. Keep looking ahead

Planning your journey into the future can help you maintain your vision and reduce the anxiety of not seeing instant results. Looking ahead helps to keep us mindful of the bigger picture, the bigger plan.

Often we give up on plans because we want instant gratification and confirmation that what we’re doing is right, and that our approach works. 

It’s important to realize that progress is not only in achieving something. Just thinking about and working towards progress speaks volumes about your personality because you know the type of person you want to be, and you are committed to being that person every day.

Keep that in mind and celebrate it with a smile every day.

In Western culture we have become very detached from the cycle of life and death. Only those who work in specific industries will be accustomed to the fragility of life, but for most of us it’s something that will happen in the unforeseen future, so we try not to engage with it too often.

The overwhelming emotional shock we feel when we lose a loved one, whether sudden or expected, is natural.

Inside of this tumultuous time, we are faced with the reality that life goes on, and we have to engage with paperwork, practicalities and an often-times pragmatic process that feels devoid of the emotional engagement we’re longing for.

If we can talk about the practical side before dealing with a loved one passing, we can be better prepared.

In most cases a Notice of Death needs to be filed, confirmation of the cause of death must be established and we will need to contact a funeral director.

Here are a few extra practical guidelines of which to be aware:

In the case of natural causes

Natural causes include cancer, heart attack and stroke as well as other illnesses. If your loved one loses their life while in hospital, the attending doctor would need to issue a Notice of Death. 

Where there is suspected foul play – especially when the death happens unexpectedly or at home – the police would need to be called to bring a forensic pathologist who will perform a post mortem and ascertain the cause of death before issuing the Notice of Death.

For someone who passes away while they are a resident at a nursing home, the Notice of Death would need to be completed by the last doctor in attendance (customarily handled by the nursing staff).

Your appointed funeral director will need this notice before being able to assist with the next steps. If the hospital does not offer mortuary services or if the body is to be cremated, finding a funeral director who can handle that responsibility is often the best option.

Should death occur overseas, there are funeral directors who are registered and authorised to make arrangements for exporting and importing remains. 

In the case of unnatural causes

If a fatal accident occurs, the police need to be called and a pathologist may be necessary to discern the cause of death. The Notice of Death we mentioned earlier is also issued here too.

When your loved one leaves due to unnatural causes, your funeral director will need to wait for the pathologist to be satisfied with their examination results before collecting the body. 

The last step is to prepare for life after the funeral. Life and funeral cover are invaluable products to help ease the stress of settling debts and covering extra expenses with a diminished income.

It’s essential to plan for these events and have conversations with your family and financial adviser before they happen to be in the best emotional and financial space to positively deal with this tragedy.

Source: SonjaSmithFunerals

Most of us would gladly jump at the opportunity to have more money. Very few people are likely to say that they would prefer to have less money…

One reason for this is that we can see how our future life and our current financial status are linked. And this leads to anxiety when thinking about financial futures. 

Although it is not easy, it is beneficial to develop and maintain a positive outlook toward money to exercise greater responsibility for building our future financial stability.

In a recent email, Carl Richards shared some of the following ideas on creating a plan to continue reaching our financial goals by reducing anxiety.

Step 1: Pay attention to your spending

Mastering our finances won’t happen overnight. We need to make a habit of keeping tabs on where our money goes. In short – we need to be more aware of our spending behaviours and habits.

Here are some of the best ideas on how to pay attention to spending:

• Create a budget and follow a spending plan 
• Record all transactions
• Regularly check your card statements and stay present with what you’re buying

Step 2: Find wasted money

Most of us are accustomed to the idea of saving money that remains after all the spending. Hence, we find it challenging to find more money to save. Here the answer is not found in trying to make more money; instead, it’s to try and find money that we’re wasting.

We can find wasted cash by regularly reviewing credit card statements and cutting expenditure on things we don’t need anymore.

For example, if you’re being charged 250 bucks for a subscription fee on something you’re not using anymore (like a mobile data contract), cancel it and save that same amount every month. In a year, you will have saved over two-and-a-half grand!

Step 3: Automate savings

Setting up an investment vehicle and automating your savings can help establish the habit of saving. 

Most of our banks will help you link a savings pocket to your transactional account into which you can drop a couple of bucks each month. (aside: your bills can also be automated so that you deal with less paperwork in your life and further reduce money anxiety!)

When building wealth, we need to retain a positive attitude.

Working with a professional financial adviser will enable you to make informed decisions and discern what other areas of your financial plan can be activated and engaged with in order to reduce financial anxiety and replace it with financial peace-of-mind!

…and medicine be thy food. Hippocrates adopted this philosophy around 2400 years ago!

Before fad diets and modern medicine, he recognised that food has the ability to keep us strong and healthy – both physically and mentally. A nutritious diet is fundamental to maintaining good health and well-being. 

Just remember that eating healthy isn’t just about cutting out meat and “going green” but about getting a well-balanced diet of different foods (in the right amounts) to give your body what it needs. 

While it may feel a bit expensive to maintain healthy eating habits, all it requires is a little more planning. In our modern world we have become increasingly reliant on convenient foods and have reduced the amount of time that we have for food preparation. This whole approach requires our commitment to putting a little extra time into this activity (unless we have the opportunity to employ someone to do it).

So it’s not just about reducing our current weight but more about being proactive and creating a healthy future for yourself… today.

Here are 5 more top reasons to start eating well:

1. Your self-esteem improves

Most of us don’t realise that what we eat affects how we feel and think. Much of our general health is dependent on a healthy gut microbiome, and if we’re putting heavy foods into our system that undermine the integrity of this central system, we will feel heavy and unbalanced. 

Eating more bananas, raw veggies, cucumbers, strawberries, grapefruits as well as more foods that contain vitamin B and are rich in antioxidants are good for so many reasons. Eating cultured or pickled foods are also really good for the gut! This all helps us boost our general sense of ‘feeling well’ and will improve our self-esteem.

Fresh, raw foods can strengthen hair, clear skin, whiten teeth and improve breath. We will also enjoy the anti-ageing effects of foods with calcium, vitamin A and K.

2. Your memory and overall brain function becomes better

Mariah Carey sang it best, ‘It’s all in your mind.’ Prioritizing your mental health is vital in your journey of self-development. Watching what you eat is key to that.

A nutritious diet with foods that have omega-3 fatty acids or vitamins can improve your brain functionality and memory. This includes wild salmon, blueberries, dark chocolate or avocados. 

Drinking green tea is also known to be good for enhancing your cognitive ability.

3. Improve your heart health

Studies recommend that healthier eating habits should be one of the lifestyle changes that you make. This helps reduce chances of cardiac arrest, diabetes, high cholesterol, strokes and enhances your overall heart health as a result.

Include green vegetables, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds amongst other foods into your diet to boost your heart’s well-being.

4. Overall energy levels improve

According to the Harvard Medical Center, one of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet is the ability to boost your energy levels. 

Some of the foods that will revitalize you and sustain your energy levels throughout the day are whole grains, vegetables, brown rice, sweet potatoes, oats, apples, unrefined carbohydrates, proteins, healthy oils and fats.

Limiting your alcohol intake and drinking more water can give you a sustained surge in energy.

5. You start to feel better

The relationship between food and mood has been studied extensively. According to Healthline, your brain responds to what you put into your mouth. 

So it behoves you to be mindful of what you eat if you want to improve your mood. Drinking lots of water and eating foods rich in minerals like magnesium, selenium, zinc, amino acids, fatty acids can help in alleviating depression and mood disorders.

Sources of these healthy minerals include eggs, black beans, soy, pork, chicken, broccoli and leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, swiss chard and collard greens.

We should embrace healthy eating as one of our essential life habits.

The journey of developing your life can be challenging on your mind and overall well-being. Prioritizing mental health can help us build the resilience we need to find fulfillment at work and in our personal relationships. 

Often we focus on physical health and the list of things we want to accomplish. It’s important to remember that our body and mind always work together. We need to take care of both!

What is mental health?

Being mentally healthy is defined by having positive characteristics in terms of how we feel, think and behave in daily life. It also influences our ability to cope with stress and conquer life’s challenges.

This doesn’t mean we no longer feel anxiety, frustration or stress. Rather, we learn to accept that hardships are part of life. Holding a healthy mental space empowers us to find ways of reacting better to whatever pain or challenges we face.

Learning to pay attention to your mental health will teach you to reframe your mindset – from preparing for the worst that could happen, to expecting the best that could happen.

Here are 3 practices to help develop and maintain a healthy mental space:

• Remember to look inside

Introspection is a healthy habit to integrate into your daily routine. Being introspective also teaches you to be mindful of your thoughts and feelings as well as your actions.

Through practising introspection you’ll learn to identify thoughts and the physical or emotional sensations that tend to contribute to your cycles of stress and dis-ease. From there you’ll look to find solutions on how to address those sensations to more positive ones.

Meditation is one of the best ways to look inside. You learn to control your breathing and focus your mind. You discover that your thoughts are controlled by you and not the other way around.

• Become more active

Again, your mind and body always work together. Improving your mental health comes with improving your body.

The wonderful thing about working out is that it can be done at home. The Coronavirus lockdown may have kept you indoors but you could still keep fit. Apps and videos of effective 5- to 10-minute daily workouts are in abundance. 

Keeping fit doesn’t only mean you need to pound weights or run long distances. Dancing, playing activity-based games with friends and family can also help you become more active and improve your physical health. The hormones that are released during these activities boost your mental health considerably.

Simple things like gardening or cleaning your home also contribute to your physical and mental health.

• Have a purpose

Finding purpose and establishing a vision can help you create meaning in your life because you’ll have something that drives you. An inspiration that pulls you towards all that you wish to accomplish.

Purpose can be found in your work. You can choose to focus on work that challenges you to be more productive and improve your service to others. Volunteering in old-age homes, charities and non-profit organisations are other heartfelt ways to establish purpose in your life.

It’s also possible to find meaning in the relationships you build. Focus on building fulfilling and mutually beneficial relationships. Socialise more with people who will be empathetic and supportive and less with those who put you down and are constantly in competition with you.

Manage your expectations. Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Results will come even though it doesn’t seem like it now. We need to pay attention to our mental health because that is what helps us reframe our minds and look towards a happier future instead of focusing on the uncertainty and stress of our current situation.

It is easy to think that the terms Medical Aid, Medical Insurance and GAP Cover refer to the same thing. Although they all serve to help you afford medical care, there are some subtle differences. 

Getting a clear understanding of these words will help you get savvy with your options. If you already have health coverage you’ll be more informed about the benefits and extent of your health plan. However, many of us sign up for this type of cover, but over the years (especially if we don’t claim often) we can easily forget the massive role that these products play in our financial portfolios.

Medical Aid or Medical Insurance, it’s all medical cover, right? 

Yes and yes. But, one of the key differences is that medical insurance products are not governed by medical aid regulations. In 2018, updated Demarcation Regulations stated the following:

• Medical aid schemes fall under the Medical Schemes Act No. 131 of 1998.
• Medical insurance products are governed by the Short-term Insurance Acts No. 53 of 1998.

The guidelines of these laws actually play a crucial role as they differentiate the offering and extent of the cover of these two types of medical cover.

For instance, medical aid schemes are required by law to pay in full for Prescribed Minimum Benefits – a.k.a PMBs. The payment may be limited when you go to a doctor who is not on your medical scheme’s designated service provider network (the one they choose for you).

They’re not required to offer funeral cover, personal accident disability or cover for any loss of limbs.

Moreover, payments of in-hospital benefits are made based on the National Recommended Price List and healthcare professionals use this price list to determine the base price of their services. 

In addition, there may also be yearly limits for procedures.

How does medical insurance differ?

The purpose of medical insurance is to protect your financial assets as well as promote a lifestyle of health and wellness. It is considered more affordable because it mostly focuses on out-of-hospital expenses including prescribed medication and meetings with your GP, optometrist or dentist. Often the amount you would be able to claim is based on a set procedure cost, not what the hospital or doctors actually charge you – which means that some procedures could leave you well covered (with money in the bank) whilst others could leave you heavily under-insured.

Other benefits include cover for funerals, accidental injuries and/or disability caused by an injury.

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered by your medical insurance. Just like your home insurance can only pay for damage that happens to your house after you’ve joined and not for damage that happens before that.

These are just a few differences – these products are highly complex so it’s always best to chat through your personal situation before making and decisions to shift or change products.

What about Gap Cover?

Gap cover is also an insurance product. It does not cover the full amount for hospital procedures as it works in conjunction with your medical aid – covering where your medical scheme falls short. 

For instance, in cases where your chosen doctor charges more than your medical aid’s rate, the difference will be taken care of by Gap cover. It literally covers the gap. (this gap can be as much as 400%)

Depending on your medical aid options, Gap cover can be provided for:

• Oncology shortfalls
• Sub-limits
• Medical aid co-payments

These differences do not mean you should take up everything at once. Whilst GAP cover is generally considered a must-have, helping you choose medical aid or insurance options that are most suited to your lifestyle and your family setup is what we will do together in your financial planning sessions.

If you haven’t reviewed your medical cover, it’s best to do so towards the end of the year as most medical schemes don’t allow for changes or upgrades during the year. 

There is a strange behavioural effect where investors tend to sell winners early and hold onto losers for longer. You would think that investors would offload their losers as soon as possible and hold onto their winners so that they keep winning, but the opposite is often found to be true. This is known as the disposition effect.

This effect is thought to occur because people value gains and losses differently. Specifically, people dislike losses more than they like gains. This explains why it is easier to sell a winner and hold onto a loser. If you are holding on to an unrealized loss, then selling that position would prove that you made a bad decision picking that stock. On the other hand, selling a winner immediately affirms your investment guile.

The curious nature of the disposition effect lies in the fact that even seasoned investors make emotional financial decisions. It’s not to say that selling realised gains and waiting for underperforming parts of your portfolio to mature is necessarily bad. We could argue that you NEED some losers in your portfolio.

If your entire portfolio is doing well at the same time, then it probably means that your investments are relying on the same social and economic factors. This, in turn, means that if those factors trend downward then your entire portfolio will react in the same way.

Eliminating any underperforming parts of your portfolio eliminates the potential for them to do well in the future, when the current lead performers take a back seat.

The name of the game has always been diversification. In fact, you should be EXPECTING some elements to underperform at times. There is a difference between a bad investment and one which is not currently shooting for the moon. By placing your eggs in multiple baskets you are spreading your risk and protecting your wealth.

This is also why it’s crucial to have options that are both local and offshore. Local may feel like a loser when offshore is appearing stable, but the balance of volatility and stability helps create more predictable returns in the long run.

Your portfolio is like an orchard, harvest the fruit but be weary to raise an axe to the trees. Some trees require a longer time to bear fruit and the long-term strategy is often the best one.

Whilst October is Breast Cancer awareness month, cancer has become a disease that was touted in 2018 as the second leading cause of death. It’s a tragedy that has most likely affected your family, and the families of your friends, colleagues and neighbours.

The World Health Organization claims that between 30-50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing evidence-based prevention strategies. 

Firstly, we should consider the categories of external agents that cause cancer in order to be able to reduce our risk. There are physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet radiation, chemical carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, and biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses and bacteria.

Checking in on your healthcare cover is important, but you can also reduce your risk by taking care of your own health too. Here are some ideas…

Avoiding ultraviolet

The sun’s UV rays are damaging. Dermatologists agree that we should be using sunblock on exposed areas of our skin, every day. You can apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15+ and re-apply every two hours or after swimming or exercising outdoors. 

Other strategies that can be adopted to minimize UV risk is to avoid direct sunlight during the peak ultraviolet radiation period (2 hours either side of noon accounting for 60% of the day’s ultraviolet radiation), or to wear protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses (Note: a wide-brim hat is preferable and the sunglasses should have a UVA/UVB protection certification on the label).

Minimizing unhealthy habits

The products we consume are inevitably interacting with our biology. Tobacco use is the single biggest risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 22% of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While tobacco may be the big factor that most people seem to know about there are other habits that can lead to increased risk of cancer such as being overweight or obese, excessive alcohol, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet choices with low fruit and vegetable intake and too much meat.

It isn’t only about what you should avoid, but what you should be pursuing. Leading a physically healthy lifestyle with a balanced and nutritious diet is beneficial on so many levels.

Early detection 

Cancer is more likely to respond to effective treatment when identified early, reducing the chances of cancer mortality. Early detection depends on three measures: awareness, clinical evaluation and access to treatment. 

The diagnosis and treatment is up to the medical professionals and the financial cover that we are provided, but we do have influence over our own, and others, awareness. Cancer can be an uncomfortable subject to broach, but if simple conversations lead to an increase in early detection then a little discomfort is worth it.

Time is our greatest investment opportunity – we should invest the time that we have in a diverse portfolio of activities that will provide us with positive returns.

Having a solid routine helps us to squeeze utility out of our time. However, if we get stuck in the same routine for too long it can start to feel monotonous and laborious. Especially so if we are spending our down time on low value activities such as watching TV or browsing social media.

Sometimes we need a break, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be doing or achieving something with our time. A hobby can provide us with a sense of purpose, an outlet for stress, a creative challenge or all of the above!

Career coaches have confirmed that having a hobby can help you be better at your job. Not only does it show your employers that you have passions and a drive to do something with your time, it also helps to prevent burnout. When we are bored at home our workload can prey on our idle minds, a hobby provides us with a welcome distraction – engaging our brain on an enjoyable and unrelated pursuit.

With the massive success of websites like Etsy (an e-commerce platform focussed on handmade goods) it is clear that hobbies can do more than merely fill our time. Many hobbies are practiced in solitude and as such we often don’t realise how much our skills have progressed. Whether you are selling succulents, making bespoke leatherworks or teaching a craft, there is always an opportunity to turn a hobby into a side-hustle.

Hobbies can also help us adapt to retirement. Many people are left wondering what they will do with all of the extra time they have on their hands once they retire. But you will never hear that from a golfer, woodworker, painter or fisherman!

Perhaps the most important facet of a hobby is the (often indirect) social aspect. It provides us with interesting stories to tell. It lets us explore and play and be young at heart, shirking the stresses of life, one game of Bridge at a time. It connects us with people on a level that is fun.

Spring is around the corner – bringing newness, freshness and invigoration. After a long winter, it’s easy to find your attitude has iced-over! Here’s how to crack the ice going forward…

Remind yourself of the plan and direction you have

Without a plan, we are completely lost. Having a solid strategy in place establishes our priorities. Having a plan makes the decision-making process so much easier. If all we have to do is ask ourselves, “Does this aid me on the path to achieving my goal?” then the answer is usually quite straightforward.

A plan shows us where we are going, but more importantly; it shows us how far we’ve come. The very act of making a plan turns an idea into a tangible goal!

Leverage the Support of Those Around You

Surrounding yourself with the right kind of people can be the difference between success and failure. Researchers at Harvard did a study in 2007 that analyzed a social network of 12,000 people, they found that your likelihood of eating unhealthily increased by almost 60% if you had friends who also started eating unhealthily. If our social circles can have such a profound physical effect on us, imagine the financial and mental implications of having positive support from our peers!

It is important to have people around us that we can trust with our plans and bounce ideas off of. People who can hold us accountable when our progress grows stagnant.

Prepare to overcome obstacles

Nobody ever did anything worth doing without failing first. When psychologists talk about the fear of failure (or atychiphobia), what they’re really talking about is the fear of shame.

It isn’t a lack of desire that keeps us from taking a step forward, it’s an unwillingness to find out if we truly have what it takes. This brings us back to the importance of a plan. We can get caught up in fantastic ideas about what the future might hold, but without a plan those ideas are nothing more than a vague possibility. Having a plan and direction breaks our grand schemes down into achievable goals. It sets us up for success by toppling the dominoes over one at a time.

If you’ve lost sight of your plans or are in need of some direction – let’s chat!