The most impactful investments tend to be those that we make consistently over time. When we stick to a plan and keep checking off the items on our to-do lists, our efforts compound and build towards the results that we want.
Think about how being consistent in these three areas could help you achieve your long-term goals and improve your Return on Life
1. Your Personal Habits
Did any of your 2025 resolutions make it past "Quitter's Day"?
According to several studies, most folks give up on their New Year's goals by the second Friday in January. In part, that's because folks tend to focus on the end result at the expense of the actionable habits that will help them get what they really want.
For example, "I want to learn Spanish" sounds like an achievable goal. But if you don't set up a schedule for taking an online class, running through your flashcards, and reinforcing what you've learned in daily communication, you'll never get past counting to "diez." Eventually, it's the days of missed learning that compound instead of the learning itself.
In the hustle and bustle of work and family, we often lose sight of how much control we actually have over our time. Start by creating a morning routine that helps you hit the ground running. Use that foundation to build out more structure that includes time for your personal goals. And if you're still struggling to block time for the habits you want to build, ask ChatGPT or another AI to design a new daily or weekly routine that you can tweak and invest in consistently.
2. Your Career
Whether you're running your own company or plotting your next step up the corporate ladder, consistency is often a key to business success. Customers return again and again to brands that they know and trust, including when they launch innovative new products or services. Top talent sticks with companies that provide security and clear paths towards opportunity. And coworkers and supervisors tend to rally around folks they can count on to do their jobs even when angry customers are on the phone or there's a knot in the supply chain.
However, consistency can also lead some folks to feel like their careers are stuck in a cul-de-sac, doing the same thing every day under the same system of incentives or rewards. Consistent performers might also consistently say yes when colleagues need extra help or the boss needs someone to manage a new project, leading to extra stress or burnout.
Clarifying your career goals could help you to figure out the best uses of your time. Find the right balance between delivering value to customers and coworkers and valuing what you do best. Double down on skills that help you excel. Work with a coach or mentor who can help you make consistent improvements in areas that might be holding you back.
And as part of your consistent work routine, don't forget to take advantage of benefits like sabbatical, volunteer, and vacation time that will give you opportunities to relax and refocus.
3. Your Financial Plan
Consistent saving and investing is the cornerstone of any solid financial plan. The sooner you harness the power of compounding interest, the sooner your money can start working for you. And making automatic contributions to your savings, investment, and retirement accounts can keep your nest egg growing consistently month by month, year by year.
But in life and work, plans change. We get new jobs. We welcome new family members. New transitions, like moving, planning for college, or caring for elderly relatives pop up on our $Lifelines.
Even as you adjust to the ups and downs of life, our Life-Centered Planning process can help you maintain consistent progress towards your goals, including retirement. Schedule a time to start working on a plan that you can depend on at every stage of your life.
