Your Finances Deserve a Health Kick, Too. How to Get Financially Fit in the New Year
January is the month of green smoothies, gym memberships, and new planners. And after a busy holiday season, it’s no surprise that many professionals resolve to take better care of their bodies and minds in the new year.
However, your financial health deserves the same energy.
Unlike going to the gym, you don’t need raw willpower to get your finances in shape. In fact, the most successful systems don’t depend on it. You just need a little intentional setup and a willingness to ask: What’s working for me, and what needs a reset?
Whether you’re a Big Law associate who just got a bonus, a partner looking ahead to Q1 distributions, or a self-employed professional with big goals this year, here’s how to give your finances a health kick that actually sticks.
1. Start With a Financial Checkup
Before you make changes, take inventory. Ask yourself:
What did I earn last year?
What did I spend last year?
What progress did I make toward my financial goals?
You can use this moment to update your net worth, review your spending categories, or just reflect on whether last year’s financial systems supported the life you actually want.
2. Automate Good Habits
The best way to stick to your financial goals isn’t through willpower, it’s through automation.
Set up recurring transfers to:
Retirement accounts (401(k), Roth IRA, SEP IRA)
High-yield savings accounts for travel, home down payment, or future career shifts
Taxable brokerage accounts
529s or custodial accounts if you have children
That way, every time you get paid, the right amount is whisked away before you even see it. Less stress. More progress.
And yes, that includes automating your quarterly estimated tax payments if you’re not a W-2 employee.
3. Audit Your Fixed Expenses
January is a great time to look at what you’re paying for and whether it still fits your life.
Ask yourself:
Are you using all your subscriptions?
Could you renegotiate or shop around for lower insurance premiums?
Did lifestyle creep sneak in during a busy Q4?
This isn’t about guilt, it’s about alignment. Trimming the fat lets you put more toward the things that matter.
4. Plan for the Big Things (Not Just the Day-to-Day)
Think ahead to the major financial moments this year:
Are you planning a wedding or a big trip?
Saving for a home?
Taking a sabbatical or considering a career change?
Those deserve line items in your plan just like rent or groceries. Whether you want to put $1,000/month toward a 2026 down payment or $300/month toward a dream vacation, breaking it into monthly chunks makes it doable — and real.
5. Build (or Rebuild) Your Financial Team
If you don’t have a tax professional, now’s the time to find one. January is when the best accountants get booked up and their rates often go up with the April rush.
If you’ve been flying solo financially, this might be the year to bring in a financial planner who can help you make a real plan for your income, lifestyle, and goals. It’s hard to prioritize financial wellness when your to-do list is already full.
6. Don’t Forget Your “Why”
Getting financially fit isn’t about cutting lattes or chasing the highest return. It’s about using your money to support the life you actually want: freedom, options, security, rest.
When you anchor your financial habits in that deeper purpose, it becomes easier to stick with them, even when after the health kick wears off.
