Lady Stella Reading, founder of Great Britain’s Royal Voluntary Service once said, “The whole point about getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.” That’s great advice because there are some things that are just more important than others. Below is my “Top 10 Musts for Peace of Mind” list to wrap up the year. The goal is to jump-start your own. Let’s break it down David Letterman style…
10. Prepare a Will. Prepare one online or go to a lawyer, but put your wishes in writing.
9. Research Health Care. Health care is constantly changing. Go to healthcare.gov for health insurance plans or do research on paying cash for health care without insurance.
8. Take Vitamins. Daily vitamins and supplements are the fail-safe way to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office.
7. Know Your Credit Score. A good credit score is gold. I use the free Credit Karma app and check my scores weekly.
6. Know Your Financial Picture. Develop a spreadsheet that lists money coming in and bills going out each month. Call your financial planner once a year to monitor your retirement.
5. Donate to Charity. I donate to five charities each year on autopay to make sure the causes I believe in receive my support.
4. Update Car, Life and Home Insurance. Make sure you have just enough, and that everything is up-to-date. Use one company you trust to save money and time.
3. Nurture Friendships. Go to lunch, send cards, make phone calls, text randomly, but take time to cherish your friends.
2. Make End-of-Life Decisions. These decisions could include funeral arrangements, service details, DNR orders, organ/body donation, and personal wishes to family. If someone close to you died, you know that any end-of-life decisions made ahead of time were invaluable to the family members left behind.
And my #1 Must for Peace of Mind is…Give Love Freely. When the people you love know that you love them, that’s peace of mind.
Take the time to organize your Peace of Mind list and update it yearly so it serves you well into the future. Developing this list may not be easy, but having peace of mind is priceless.
“Live life as a work of art, rather than a chaotic response to external events.” - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Hungarian Psychology Professor
Vali G. Heist, M.Ed. is a Certified Professional Organizer® and Owner of The Clutter Crew. She is the author of Organize This! Practical Tips, Green Ideas, and Ruminations about your CRAP.
