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It's easy to disconnect from the reality of financial and health practices.
This disconnect is denial and it can be a real problem if you're trying to improve your
health or wealth. In fact, awareness is necessary for behavior
change. There are five "A's" of behavior change, and
Awareness is the first. Followed by Ability (being able to make the change),
Ambition (having a desire to change), Attitude (having a positive idea about the change),
and Action (taking the necessary steps). A first, small step toward successful change
is to become aware of your current situation and practices. Here are a few ways to increase
your awareness: Fully acknowledge your current situation.
Look at the visible evidence. Do you have an emergency savings fund? How's
your credit score? Are you a healthy weight? Do you exercise
on a regular basis? Record your spending for two months.
Most people don't have a clue how many dollars they spend monthly on incidental expenses
like food and entertainment. Keep a diet journal and record everything
you eat for two weeks. It may seem tedious, but it's very effective.
Use your spending record to identify wasteful spending, to determine cash flow, and to create
a budget. Your diet journal can help you identify potential
pitfalls. Look for times when you tend to snack or make poor nutrition choices.
Check to see if you're eating the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables each day.
Go online to download the Small Steps to Health and Wealth worksheets for your written logs.
You can also order a copy of the Household Account Record from the Cooperative Extension
Service.