If you want to reign in your finances, you must change your thoughts and habits first.

There is a powerful Zen story about a man riding a horse galloping quickly. It appears that he’s going somewhere very important. 

A man standing alongside the road shout, “Where are you going?” The rider replies, “I don’t know! Ask the horse.”

The horse is a symbol of our habits, and the story illustrates most peoples’ lives.

So what does that mean exactly?

The world we’re going into is not the same as the one we’re leaving behind. And the lockdowns, restrictions, and the “new normal” are here to stay for a long time. 

So if you want to reign in your finances during the “Great Reset” here are three life hacks you must discover. 

1. Learn how to manage money 

First and foremost, you have to educate yourself financially. No politician or government will ever solve your money problems. 

The most people aren’t smart about their finances and will never understand the fundamentals of money management. It’s not because they are too dumb. They’re just too lazy to learn. 

But you don’t have to be one of them. The trick is to stay financially literate. Rich people read. If you want to be rich, you must be able to do as well. 

How many books did you get to read last year? I read 30, but you don’t have to. Just try to beat your previous year’s performance. On top of that, you should regularly listen to business podcasts and read at least one financial article a day.

But remember, knowledge is not power. It’s potential power. Similar to fuel in your gas tank. Unless you start your car, it’s useless.

To summarize, the more you learn and understand the market, the easier it becomes to be a part of it. Money management is a skill anybody can master. 

2. Ignite the power of the compound effect

When Albert Einstein was once asked what humanity’s greatest invention was, he replied: “Compound interest.” 

The compound effect is the principle of reaping enormous benefits from a series of small and smart choices.  The changes are so subtle that they’re almost invisible. The important thing is to do it consistently and efficiently.

I’m a true believer in the compound effect. If you give me enough time, and I will beat anyone, anytime in any competition. 

Why? Not because I’m are the smartest of fastest. I’ll win because of the routine and habits I developed. It’s the ultimate key to success, and you can apply the compound effect in every area of your life. 

Take regular investing, for example: putting $100 a month into Bitcoin might feel like you’re barely moving the needle. However, keep doing it for 12 years, and you’ll make $1 million. 

Without a doubt, the compound effect is as close to magic as you can get.

3. From FOMO to JOMO

Take a case of smart entrepreneurs making a killing in the market. 

What’s a byproduct of their success? 

Increase in their options, opportunities, resulting in fear of missing out or FOMO. It’s a default strategy in society; it’s a cultural norm. 

In a way, the outcome of their success undermines the very focus that led to their success. Success is the reason they don’t get to their next level. As the saying goes, “nothing fails like success.”

So what’s the solution? 

Instead of FOMO, embrace JOMO or the joy of missing out. 

Simply say NO. 

Get out of your hamster wheel and learn how to save your energy for what matters most. Uninstall your social media apps and don’t check them for a week. This doesn’t mean you ignore your friends and family, but this experiment will help you devote your time and energy to your own needs. 

With JOMO, you’ll truly learn the difference between needs and wants. You’ll find real value in doing less and enjoy the present moment. 

Do you see my point?

Generations ago, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius told us, “Life is but what you deem it, life is opinion.”  

It means there is no objective reality out there. We shape our reality with our thoughts and habits.  

So, don’t just make a living. Hack your life and create a world where you thrive.