We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aja McClanahan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aja, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
The mainstay of my self-care routine is margin. That is, I leave room in my life for joy, peace, rest, leisure and doing what makes me happy. Although this may sound impossible, indulgent or unattainable, I believe it’s the missing piece to the life many people seek.
The American Dream has typically been about material acquisition and consumerism, with the last 10 or 15 years of one’s life focused on rest and relaxation. However, this formula has left many people unhappy, unfilled and frustrated. Depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are at an all-time high because the priority has been achievement without proper care for the human soul.
Many years ago, I decided I wouldn’t wait until my 60s or 70s to rest. Early on, I decided to build enough margin into my life as early as possible to enjoy my best years to the fullest. From this goal, I decided to get out of all debt (over $120K) and save and invest enough for a “work-optional” lifestyle. Right before I turned 40 years old, I was on track to be a debt-free millionaire owning several properties. Then, life happened. I had an excruciatingly painful divorce and chose to leave most of what was due to me. Because I valued my peace, I chose to start over—even if it would make this “ultimate” self-care routine out of reach for a while.
Nevertheless, less than two years after my divorce, I was able to bounce back with my savings, real estate portfolio and a lifestyle that allows me to partake in a self-care routine that includes:
-Spending most of the year in my home on a Caribbean island
-Plenty of nonnegotiable beach, gym, hiking and running days
-Work breaks that may last anywhere from one week to several months
-The ability to work on passionate projects like eBooks, real estate investing, language learning and music study
– Consistent travel and fun scheduled throughout the year
It all started with me believing that this was possible. Even when my plan got sidetracked by the unexpected dissolution of my marriage, I still made it a goal to live a life of self-care to support my emotional health, I believe it’s one reason I’m more productive, stable, and grounded—which means a lot for my family members, including my mom and two daughters, whom I still care for.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a freelance writer that covers personal finance topics. I break down money principles for the masses, helping them to understand financial concepts like credit cards, mortgages, investing, taxes, real estate, insurance and others. I started as a blogger in the space, writing on my personal website, and have gone on to write for major publications like Bankrate.com, CreditCards.com, LendingTree.com CreditKarma, Intuit, Experian, Investopedia and more.
At present, I’m relaunching my website, www.principlesofincrease.com and focusing on my related YouTube channel to bring an even more personal aspect to the niche of personal finance. I want to help people do what I’ve done—build more margin into their lives so they can relax and live life on their own terms sooner rather than later.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Goal setting with a heavy emphasis on “visioning” 2) Take action towards my goals
3) Persisting, even when things got tough
In all honesty, I never had a high income or access to piles of cash, but that never stopped me from aiming high. I take setting goals and writing out a vision very seriously, no matter how absurd. I’m that corny friend who makes a vision board almost yearly and writes corresponding goals to boot. It’s a process that has served me well and helped me achieve the serenity and calm I enjoy in my life at the moment.
Persistence has also been key in the process. I experienced many setbacks and adversity, but I made up my mind to persevere and meet my goal.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
As a Christian, I have to shout out the Holy Bible. It’s an ancient book full of useful wisdom. If you look at it solely as a book of rules and restrictions, that’s exactly what it will be for you. If you see it as a roadmap to liberty and freedom, that’s also what it will be to you. The Bible speaks extensively on rest and avoiding toilsome labor to become financially secure. It’s not the best way for the delicate body and psyche of the human being. The concept of the sabbatical comes from the Bible. Jubilee, a type of rest, debt forgiveness and retirement, is also found in the Bible. The Bible even tells us that God himself takes time out to rest!
“for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10
The book helped me set the goal of living a life of “productive rest” so that I can create, thrive, and be the best version of myself possible. I want to contribute positively to this world, and that only happens if I can properly care for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.principlesofincrease.com
- Instagram: @principlesofincrease
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajadileah/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/principlesofincreaseTV
Image Credits
Carl Ankrum, The Media MD
