Advertisement
Canada markets close in 1 hour 4 minutes
  • S&P/TSX

    22,200.47
    +93.39 (+0.42%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,257.04
    +8.55 (+0.16%)
     
  • DOW

    39,803.42
    +43.34 (+0.11%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7387
    +0.0014 (+0.19%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.09
    +1.74 (+2.14%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    95,402.67
    +2,393.60 (+2.57%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,239.50
    +26.80 (+1.21%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,122.43
    +8.08 (+0.38%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2060
    +0.0100 (+0.24%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    16,393.32
    -6.20 (-0.04%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    12.98
    +0.20 (+1.56%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6844
    +0.0039 (+0.57%)
     

How Lower Back Pain Relates to Retiring Comfortably

Acetaminophen Doesn't Reduce Lower-Back Pain, Study Suggests (Credit: Dreamstime)

I broke my back last Thursday. I'll feel fine in a week or two, but I'm currently on bed rest. The good news is that being in pain reminded me of so many nuggets of wisdom on the road to retiring comfortably. Here are a few truths you must remember, whether or not you are living a pain-free life now.

Don't neglect the small stuff, because you can be in world of hurt without important pieces of the puzzle. I knew I had to strengthen my back muscles. But while I enjoy outdoor activities like skiing and cycling as forms of exercise, working out specific areas seemed too boring. Eventually, the weak area was bound to give out, and here I am, stuck in house arrest. I neglected the five minutes a day of stretching that would have made the difference. On our road to retirement, we sometimes brush off the small stuff like being frugal and trying to lower investment fees. Each dollar seems too inconsequential, even for those of us who understand the benefit of saving. But in aggregate, all those small wins turn into a huge victory. I've been frugal and saving since I was a teenager. People disagreed with my approach throughout my life, because every decision to save seemed like it mattered a little. But after a few decades of sticking to the details, I'm living life with a great deal of freedom. Take time to get the small stuff right, and you'll have a solid platform to build your wealth.

And speaking of the victory, no news can actually be a huge win. Making the right decisions in personal finance can be frustrating because there's no immediate feedback. Unlike making that impulse purchase, saving the sum doesn't always seem to make a huge dent off the debt load. Nor is anyone going to call to congratulate you when you find a lower-cost equivalent investment. Like stretching, you have to look at the big picture and trust that everything is going to work out in the long term. When you quietly move closer to financial freedom, you will know that the effort is well worth it. That's why I sometimes suggest finding a saving buddy. The positive feedback offered by a friend who shares the same goals will be so beneficial. If anything, you'll have someone to validate ideas before you make drastic changes.

Be grateful for everything you have. Many, myself included, routinely concentrate on what we don't have. But you start noticing the many things we can be thankful for when something basic like standing up becomes a challenge. There are, of course, many facets of our life we wish were different, but we live in a country that respects freedom, a high standard of living and the best chance anywhere to build an abundant lifestyle. The fact that we get to pursue financial independence is a privilege many people in the world simply don't dare to dream about. We won't get every break, or make every decision that ends up being the absolute best path forward. But by being grateful, we will give ourselves the best chance to live a happy and comfortable life. After all, isn't this ultimately what we are trying to achieve?

ADVERTISEMENT

My back still hurts, but I know I'm a better person because of this incident. I will remember to stretch, because I know that discipline is what separates the successful from the masses. What are some of the steps you know you aren't doing in your journey to a comfortable retirement? Start making the first step today, and catapult your way to the finish line.

David Ning is the founder of MoneyNing.com .



More From US News & World Report