This is the fourth of the interview series where we ask people some of their most successful habits and some lessons learned along the way. See the previous interview here.

If you’d like to share your story with the Rich Life Habits community, please reach out here.

This interview was conducted in early May.

Questions are in bolded italics and the answers are right below the questions.

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Background

How old are you? Do you have a spouse/partner? Do you have any children?

I am 31 years old (but still feel 21!). I got married last year (#covidbride) and do not have any children.

What part of the country do you live in? (ex. Suburbs of mid-Atlantic city, rural mid-western town, downtown west-coast city)

I live in Washington, DC and absolutely love the city, especially now that life is starting to go back to “normal”, whatever normal means these days.

How would you define “a rich life”? What does “living a rich life” mean to you? Can you provide any examples on how your definition evolved to what it is today?

To me, a “rich life” is one in which you have enough money to live comfortably, but also in which you have a fulfilling career, loving friends and family, and time to do things for yourself – whether that is exercising, traveling, reading, learning, etc. However, I have not always defined a rich life this way. When I was younger, “rich” to me meant having all the money in the world to live a life of luxury. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that money does not buy happiness – it actually often creates a lot of stress – and that having a large house and expensive things can be overwhelming to maintain and manage. **Spoiler alert** – I just finished watching the entire Schitts Creek TV series on Netflix. I highly recommend! At the end of the series, we find out that Twyla won the lottery several years back but lives a very simple life because it makes her happy. This is such a great example to demonstrate how you can’t always determine a person’s wealth by how they live and that happiness does not always come from having money.

What are some daily/monthly/yearly habits that have helped motivate you to reach your goals and how have they produced results for you?

“The only way to finish is to start”. When I was 15, I bought a Nike shirt with this slogan. This phrase has stuck with me ever since. Not everything in life is handed to you, especially when it comes to taking care of your body both mentally and physically, getting an education, or excelling at work. In these cases, the only way to achieve results is to start today.

Professional:

Business or Career part of life, aka your job

What are some habits that have helped you in your career/professional life? Can you provide some stories/examples of the habits?

Routine! Humans are routine creatures, and someone like me especially thrives off this as having a routine gives me fewer things to think about every day. For example, starting my day off with the same breakfast, exercise routine, and arrival time at work allows me to not have to think about whether I ate enough (or too much), exercised the right amount, or worked enough hours, therefore making it easier for me to focus on the tasks I need to complete that day.

What are some habits that you wish you didn’t have during your career/professional life? Can you provide some stories/examples of the habits?

By my very nature, I am a perfectionist and a Type A personality. While this enables me to have strong communication, time management, and project management skills, as well as a driven, goal-oriented mindset, it has also caused me to spend too much time on projects, dwell on details that don’t matter, or overthink situations, ultimately decreasing my efficiency and increasing my stress levels. This is something I’ve gotten a lot better at but am still actively working through today.

How much time do you devote to your career/profession (work)? What is your work-life balance like?

Right now I am a full-time graduate student and spend 60-70 hours a week focused on my school and professional life. This is obviously out of balance. I spend all my remaining time with my husband, friends, and family, but that does not leave enough time for myself. I am actively working on creating a better balance to make sure I have time to take care of myself.

Family & Friends:

Those people you love unconditionally even if they drive you crazy // Like-minded people you choose to spend time with

How have you been able to keep healthy and long-lasting family & friend relationships?

Communication! I am grateful that my close friends and family are all local, so I have been able to schedule plans with them frequently, even during the pandemic. What is important, though, is that I stay proactive and reach out to these friends and family every so often to check in, even if just through text. Keeping the momentum going with each person is the key to sustaining long-term relationships.

Why have some of your family & friend relationships not lasted?

This one is simple: one-sided communication. Relationships are a two-way street. If I am the one continuously reaching out and that reach out is not reciprocated, the relationship will likely fail. I don’t want to seem desperate (because I’m not!), so if the other person does not make an effort to connect with me, we will likely lose touch.

What habits (actions done repeatedly) have you used to keep family & friend relationships going?

Constant communication. Whether a text, phone call, FaceTime, in-person hangout, or snail mail, staying connected is the key to long-lasting relationships.

Physical

The body

At what point in your life were you the most physically fit? Why?

There were two times. First, when I was 18 and had been training for 10 years to play Division 1 college tennis. The second was last summer when I was furloughed due to the pandemic and had unlimited time to exercise.

What was your schedule/life like during that time-period?

The key to both situations was that I had time. At age 18, my “job” was playing tennis. And last summer, I was on an “adult vacation” due to the pandemic. When I have time to fill, I enjoy being active.

What habits did you use during that time-period? 

I need to feel some sense of fulfillment every day. So during times when I was not working or in school, exercise provides me with great fulfillment and stimulation. In terms of habits, consistency is key. Consistently pushing myself physically allowed me to achieve high physical fitness.

Mental

Intellectual and cognitive parts of the brain

Are you able to stimulate your mind as much as you would like? Why or Why not?

Definitely not as much as I would like. Social media and endless notifications cloud our mind and make it hard for us to stimulate our minds with content that is actually useful. It has been two months now since I turned off all my social media notifications and I have never felt more liberated. While I am still working towards mental stimulation, getting rid of the social media distractions was a huge first step.

What habits have helped/hurt you from being able to achieve your intellectual goals? Can you reflect on why you do these habits?

Goal setting helped me tremendously in reaching my intellectual goals. I often think 5-10 years down the line to determine where I want to be, and then I put a proposed plan together that will help me reach those goals. However, I sometimes would doubt my goals, wondering if my long-term plan is the best course of action for me. I constantly remind myself, though, that there is no rulebook for life, and there are often no right or wrong decisions when it comes to long-term goals, so I need to just make a decision and run with it!

Spiritual

The soul of a person

How do you spend the time when you are doing things for yourself? How does each of these make you feel afterward?

When doing things for myself, I like to exercise and practice self-care. This often entails dance cardio classes with 305 Fitness, playing tennis, going for a walk, and of course getting a mani pedi. 😊 All of these activities make me feel rejuvenated, healthy, fresh, and ready to tackle any challenge.

What is your preferred practice to clear your mind?

Exercise. It never fails. I always feel better after moving.

Financial

The monetary situation

What habits do you use to keep your budget under control? What software/tools do you use if any?

This is definitely not my strong suit (just ask my husband!). Unfortunately, I do not have a system to track my budget, although my husband does (in excel) so we work together to add up our monthly living expenses and then determine how much money we can spend each month on shopping, entertainment, and other non-essential purchases.

How have you been able to increase your net worth? By earning/saving/investing more? How? Please provide examples.

Definitely through earning and saving. Not increasing my spending when I get a promotion. Living under our means to be able to save enough money to live the lifestyle we want in the future.

Conclusion

What is one piece of advice you’d give yourself when you were 18 years old?

Have more fun! I was so serious at age 18. Very focused on doing well in college so I would get a good job after graduation. But having fun, meeting people, and experiencing all the world has to offer are critical to be able to live a rich life!