What comes to mind when you think of the word wealth?
If it’s anything like Scrooge McDuck diving into a mountain of gold coins, you’re not alone.
Many of us think that if we just had enough money, everything else would fall into place. We’d be healthier, our relationships would be stronger, and we’d have more time, but only as long as that bank balance stayed high.
But have you ever heard, “Mo money, mo problems”? It’s true for one big reason: if you spend your life chasing financial wealth, all those other things you want to bring to life? Not gonna happen.
Don’t get us wrong, money is important, but it’s not the sole definition of true wealth. That’s made up of four pillars: health, time, love, and—yup, you guessed it— money.
Today, we’re walking you through seven ways to build up the first three areas of wealth so you can truly enjoy your life!
How to boost your health wealth
Health is one of the most important elements of wealth, but it’s the one we put off the most.
Think about it. How many times have you said, “I’ll eat lunch later.”
“I have to skip my workout today; no time.”
“I’m feeling tired…time for a cookie!”
A lot, right? How often have you stood behind the chair way longer than you should because that one client has to have her appointment after hours? How many times have you put off important medical appointments?
You get it.
Our health is arguably the most important pillar of wealth because without it, we have nothing. Here’s some ideas to boost your health wealth right now.
Plan out your meals
Yes, meal planning takes a little time, but it’s so worth it. Not only do you never have to hear “What are we having for dinner tonight?” again, but you can go into your day knowing you have healthy, yummy meals to fuel your body and brain.
It’s easiest to do this whenever you do your weekly planning. Grab the household schedule (yours, your partner’s, your kids’, and whoever else lives with you) and decide:
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What’s on the menu
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Who’s responsible for cooking
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Who’s responsible for cleanup
As you pick out recipes, flag them with a Post-It or link them on your digital calendar so it’s easy to find later, and make your grocery list.
After you hit the store, take 30 minutes to wash all your produce, chop up fruits and veggies for snacks, and maybe even whip up a few quick meals you can keep in the fridge for later.
Voila! Healthy food you love ready to eat when you are.
Make medical appointments
As stylists, we put our bodies through a lot, so it’s super important to check in with your doctor regularly.
Sit down right now and make appointments with your general practitioner, eye doctor, dentist, and any other medical professionals you need to see.
Bonus: Many doctors now have online booking, making it easier than ever to find the perfect appointment time without playing dueling datebooks with the receptionist.
Schedule in real breaks
Right now, it’s tempting to jam in as many clients as we can (with the proper time for sanitizing and disinfecting, of course) to try to make as much money as possible in this new season. But that habit spells disaster.
Most workplaces allow for periodic breaks throughout the day, so take them! If you’re a booth renter and running your own schedule, add 10 minute breaks into your day.
You (and your body) deserve time to relax, close your eyes, and take a moment for yourself. It might feel like a waste of time, but these quick moments of rest can help you top off your cup so you’re fully present with your clients and family for the entire day.
Top secrets to increase your time wealth
If it feels like the clock is constantly slipping away from you, you are time-broke. No, that’s not a typo.
Time-broke.
Time is one of the few resources in the world that we can’t make more of, so you have to be very careful how you spend yours.
And if you find yourself saying things like, “I’m just so busy,” or “I would if I had more time,” you might be time broke.
Here’s a few ideas to help you clear out the clutter and focus on what’s actually worth your time.
Set a schedule that fits you
Many of us thought when we joined the industry that working weekends was a requirement, right? That as long as a client wanted to be there, you had to be there too…even if it meant working until 10 pm.
That might be true while you’re building a base clientele or as a Struggling Stylist…but it definitely is not the norm.
This is your life and business. You decide the schedule that works for you. If you like working mornings and spending the afternoons with your kids, start shifting your schedule that way. If you’d rather have long, lazy mornings and spend a few evening hours in the salon, go for it!
Maybe you work in a commission salon that tells you exactly when you need to be there. You can still create a schedule that works for you.
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First, stick to your schedule. If a client wants to book after hours, gently remind them when you’re available.
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Second, talk to your salon owner or leader about your schedule. If you don’t come in hot and start the conversation with a true solution, they’re more likely to be open to your ideas. (Need more help prepping to talk to your owner? Click here for our top tips!)
Setting your ideal schedule doesn’t just mean in the salon. Make time to go for a run, do a yoga video, hang out with your family, and date night. Setting a schedule that fits you means creating room for everything you love and a little margin for magic.
Say no
“No” is one of the hardest words to say, especially for people-pleasers at heart, right? But when it comes to protecting your time, it’s one of the most important words.
Remember, every time you say yes to a client who wants to come in after hours, another stylist who wants you to cover her on your day off, or even just answering a client’s phone call in your off hours, you’re saying no to something else in your life. Make sure it’s worth it.
How to maximize your love wealth
When we talk about love, the first thing we think of is Valentine’s heart decorations, big romantic weddings, and rom coms with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, right? But love wealth is so much more than just romantic love.
When we say “love wealth,” we’re talking about human contact, relationships, family, friends, and, yes, romantic love. Each one of these is so important to have in our lives for true wealth. Here’s some ideas to max love wealth in your life.
Focus on true communication
Raise your hand if you’ve ever sat across from a loved one—your partner, mom, best friend—and scrolled Instagram, only half listening as they talk.
Yeah, us too.
But the problem is that behavior breaks down relationships so fast. But the one thing that can always heal those connections is true communication.
Put down your phone. Actively listen to what the other person is saying instead of thinking about how you’ll respond. Leave three beats of silence after they talk before you answer.
It might sound silly, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly your communication (and your relationships) improve.
Stop the negative self-talk
Every time your mean girl shows up in your head—you know, the one who says you can’t, you shouldn’t, you’re not smart enough, everyone will laugh at you—shut her down.
A huge piece of love wealth is self-love and negative self-talk like that can destroy it. So give yourself permission to tell her she’s wrong, tell yourself you’re doing great, and keep moving forward.
Chasing just financial wealth rarely leads to more money, but when you prioritize the other three pillars of wealth — health, time, and love—money will come. Because wealth doesn’t just mean a big bank balance; it means a healthy body, lots of love, and time spent doing what you enjoy.