If you are born into a poor family, life is already winning you 1 – 0. If you are chasing your financial goals in a sapademic economy where confused leaders are in government, life is winning you by another 1 – 0.
Nevertheless, as you dey fight poverty, make you try to dey enjoy life small small. This life is too short for you to wait till you have achieved all your financial goals before you enjoy your life.
Most people, no matter their current financial situation, feel they need just 10 percent more income to be happy, settled, and satisfied.
Most times, the things you want to do now, once done will be quickly replaced by more wishes. Many die miserable in the desperate pursuit of more money. This is the story of Mr. Alówómájaiyé.
Making money is hard, managing money is harder, and multiplying money is the hardest. If you are not careful, you may sacrifice the best moments of your life chasing the bag.
Enjoying your life is more about your mindset than your actions. By the time you eventually secure the bag, death may come knocking. Who knows?
In those days, parents die at old age and leave an inheritance to their children. Now, young people are running to their graves faster, leaving their assets for their parents.
I once worked as a Personal Assistant to one of the big tech guys in Nigeria. It was the hardest job I ever did. My Oga wanted to become like Elon Musk in 6 months.
I was working at least 17 hours daily with my eyes stuck to the laptop trying hard to hit my daily target. After the day’s work, I still had to make a daily report by 11pm to my Oga who was also a busy young person.
Although the pay was pretty fair, I resigned on the third day. I couldn’t even reach half of my daily target, despite working 20 hours per day.
In another company where I worked, I and my colleagues drank coke every day like water. Mental stress can kill you faster.
Three months into the job, we started suffering from low blood sugar. I felt dizzy often. I almost collapsed in the kitchen one evening. My boss who was in his mid-twenties was already suffering from High Blood Pressure.
There are 12 ways to enjoy your life while pursuing the money;
- Define your expectations
It is okay not to want to be wealthy. There is nothing wrong with wanting more or being ambitious either.
If your financial goal is to make $1 billion yearly, you are as right as someone who just wants to live comfortably in a 3-bedroom apartment.
If your goal is to have a successful career, earn a salary, and retire at 65 years; you are as right as someone who wants his name on the Forbes List.
2. Define your happiness
Can money really buy happiness? Your source of happiness may not always be monetary. To a hungry person, a homeless person, a family who has a ransom to pay, or someone in debt, money can buy happiness.
But to a childless woman, a partner in a toxic relationship, and a man lying helpless in the best hospital, money is not the answer. However, money may not buy happiness but you can never be happy without.
3. Have S.E.X everyday
S.E.X is an acronym for Sleep, Eat and Exercise. With the rate at which people no longer sleep, we may need to start investing in more cemeteries.
If 7 – 8 hours daily is too much for you to sleep, your end is nearer. Every legitimate hustler deserves a good sleep.
Don’t wait until you start barking like a dog at every slightest provocation before you give yourself a good sleep. Shut down everything and sleep.
Prioritize eating good food every day. If all your monthly income can cater for now is good food, please don’t hesitate. It is better to use your money to eat good food today than to invest your money to treat ulcers later.
Don’t be too busy to exercise. 15 minutes of exercise every day can save your life. Exercises release endorphins that improves your mood.
4. Celebrate your small wins
You don’t wait until you have reached your financial goals to be proud of yourself. Celebrate every step along the way. If you don’t celebrate your small wins, you will always suffer from pre-birthday depression.
The grass always looks greener on the other side. You look at other people’s lives, and you envy them. They seem to be doing so much better than you.
They have got a great job. Lots of money. A happy home life. They seem to have it all and you can’t help wishing that you did, too. Whatever it looks like from the outside, no one’s life is perfect.
Some of your friends are also looking at your life and thinking very similar things. Perhaps they envy your dull but predictable job – you are home on time every evening.
Maybe they see your loving relationship with your spouse and kids – and they would rather have that than any amount of money.
You may not be at your desired financial state now; nevertheless, be grateful because your current position is someone else’s desire. Your tithe is somebody’s salary.
5. Have fun
Always set aside some money for fun, no matter how small. It is not the ₦1,000 that you will use to eat catfish pepper soup once a month that will make you wealthy.
It is not every man who goes to the bar is a drunkard. It is not every lady who visits the restaurant occasionally that is lazy. It is about spending money on memorable experiences and recording happy moments.
Fun is not always expensive; you can play your favourite games, hike mountains or have a weekend trip or a picnic in your backyard. You can choose to go clubbing or visit the cinema and beach.
As for me, I dance a lot. I lock myself in my room and dance till I sweat. My friend watches comedy skits every morning before setting out for the day.
Don’t take everything too seriously. That you don’t watch BBNaija does not mean that you will become a billionaire faster than others.
6. Stop every addiction
Addiction brings out the worst in you and robs you from enjoying your life. You should understand that there is a thin line between enjoying your life and destroying yourself.
7. Keep your life private
That you are not posting your success on social media does not mean that you are failing. When others post theirs, just smile and hit the like button. Keep clapping till your time comes.
8. Consume less social media
Everyone on social media is living their best life but in reality, most people are figuring out their lives. Social media will make you look as if you are too unsuccessful for your age.
If you think social media will heal your unhappiness, you will end up more depressed.
9. Disappoint others sometimes
You can never be happy if all you do is please people and make them happy. You don’t have to justify the logic behind every act.
You can choose to wear a tattoo, waist bead, leg chain, or pierce your body without giving any explanation to everyone. You are never too old to attend children’s parties or play in the dirt.
If you keep putting other people’s needs ahead of yours, you may never enjoy life. You owe it to yourself to be happy every day. This does not mean that you should not be kind or help others.
10. Reduce negativity
You deserve to be happy regardless of your financial state. Learn to set personal boundaries with negative people who carry negative vibes. Negative energy can be contagious.
Don’t just sit indoors every day. Go out. Meet new people. People who hang out with positive people are half less likely to die early than isolated people.
11. Don’t overthink your problems
Overthinking no dey solve problem and problem no dey finish. Life is a mix of good and bad. The only thing predictable about life is that it is unpredictable.
If you have made financial mistakes in the past, cry, wipe your tears and move on. Better days are coming. Má wo bẹ̀.
12. Complain Less, Laugh more
It is ok to be fed up sometimes. There are some things in life you cannot change or control; you just have to accept them.
It is not a good idea to constantly have your mind on how “things will be better next year when…” or on “life was so much better last year because….”
Laughter is free. Just open your mouth and laugh. Laugh loud. Laugh carelessly. Even if it means laughing at yourself. You only live once. Life is really what you make it.
© Kingsley Ndimele
Your Reliable Consultant