You may not actualize your financial goals if you find it difficult following your plans through. Have you ever planned to do something but never did it because you got in your own way? You just decided to change your mind because something else came up, or you didn’t feel like doing it again? What it means is that you self-sabotaging your plans without realizing it. We all have been guilty of this in one way or the other.
However, self-sabotaging behaviour comes in different forms. It can be in the form of relationships, communication, or finances. Not budgeting your money is all ways of you self-sabotaging your financial goals. Well, having the right money mindset with the right steps and will help you avoid failure.
What is Self-Sabotage?
Self-sabotage is having behaviour that creates problems and prevents you from achieving your goals within a period. For instance, procrastination is a major type of self-sabotage.
Many factors can cause this behaviour. Some might be from childhood; other reasons might just be fear.
Excuse and Self-sabotage
Excuses are the major fuel of self-sabotaging behavior. Like telling yourself that you would work out at least 3 times a week to keep fit. And after a while, you start looking for a reason not to stay consistent, like:
“You’re too tired.”
“It’s too late.”
“Too early.”
“It’s too difficult.”
Understand that excuses will aid self-sabotage and that will affect your financial goals.
So, what do you do?
You must become intentional about your life. If it means setting the alarm on your phone and keep the phone far away from you to avoid hitting snooze. This way you can get up and do some tasks that will help you get to where you want to be.
Ways to Avoid Self-sabotaging Your Financial Goals
1. Automate Your Finances
Automating your finances using apps like Piggyvest or E-trust, is one of the easiest ways to avoid self-sabotaging because your savings can be done once you have things set up on their app. You can set it up to be on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. So, once that day reaches, the app automatically withdraws from your bank account to save up the money for you.
2. Set Reminders on Your Calendar
Frequently checking your finances is key for you to stay on top of your financial goals and how to achieve them. So, in addition to you automating your finance using apps like Piggyvest, you also need to set reminders on your calendar that will remind you of the target you have to set and motivate you into achieving them.
Using these frequent reminders, you can do things like reviewing your accounts and investments, bill payments, know if there are better ones out there you can use. Also, you can gauge how you are doing against the goals you have set for yourself.
3. Create Your Financial Vision Board
Creating a financial vision board is one of the best ways to stop self-sabotaging behaviour. A vision board is just a collage of all the goals you want to achieve. Creating this vision board will make you more confident about the goals and you will likely take action in achieving them. The board will serve as a daily visual reminder and will motivate you to overcome any bad habits and conquer your fears.
Things to include on your financial vision board can be photos of your dream home, motivational quotes, income goals, etc.
4. Improve Your Mindset
Improving your mindset is the biggest way to make behaviour changes that will set you on the path of financial greatness. Developing a positive mindset will help you achieve your financial goals. However, it takes determination and consistency to make these changes. By committing to yourself with positive affirmations, making financial plans, creating a daily routine, you’ll be able to shift from a negative mental state into a positive one.
Conclusion
You must understand that it’s very important to the financial goals that you take time and identify those self-sabotaging behaviours and take the necessary steps to change them! Learning how to handle any negative emotion will help you fight bad habits and set you on the path to your financial success.
