I was in my late 40’s when I developed what I called my Five F’s. They were Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness (Health) and Finance (work). At that time, I was mentoring a 28-year-old who said to me, “Dave, I think you are missing an F.” Excuse me? “I think you should add a sixth F, Fun.”

Interesting how differently we think in our twenties compared to our forties. By that point in my life, I had the big house, country club, fancy cars, career, wife, child, dog, and everything that goes with keeping up with life, including stress, worry, and anxiety. I had forgotten how to have FUN. That conversation changed my thinking and has always been a reminder that life is short, live in the now and have fun every day.

Now there are six key areas I commonly refer to as my "6 F's": Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, Finance, and Fun. A great practice is look at each of the six F’s and determine, how you can apply the "Start, Stop, More of, Less of, Change" exercise to each of these areas. Here are some suggestions.

1. Faith:

- Start: Begin a daily practice of prayer, meditation, or reading spiritual texts.

- Stop: Eliminate activities or behaviors that conflict with your spiritual beliefs.

- More of: Increase involvement in your faith community.

- Less of: Reduce distractions that take time away from your spiritual practices.

- Change: Adjust your schedule to prioritize time for spiritual reflection.

2. Family:

- Start: Initiate regular family activities or traditions.

- Stop: Cut down on distractions during family time, such as excessive phone use.

- More of: Increase quality time spent with family members.

- Less of: Decrease conflicts by practicing better communication and active listening.

- Change: Adjust priorities to ensure family commitments are given proper attention.

3. Friends:

- Start: Initiate plans to connect with friends regularly.

- Stop: Distance yourself from toxic or negative friendships.

- More of: Strengthen existing friendships by investing time and effort.

- Less of: Reduce time spent on activities that isolate you from social interactions.

- Change: Be more intentional about maintaining and nurturing friendships.

4. Fitness:

- Start: Begin a regular exercise routine that you enjoy.

- Stop: Cut down on sedentary activities that negatively impact your health.

- More of: Increase physical activities that align with your fitness goals.

- Less of: Reduce unhealthy eating habits or excessive consumption of processed foods.

- Change: Adjust your schedule to prioritize regular exercise sessions.

5. Finance:

- Start: Begin a budgeting or savings plan.

- Stop: Cut down on unnecessary expenses.

- More of: Increase financial literacy by reading books or attending workshops.

- Less of: Reduce impulsive spending habits.

- Change: Adjust your financial goals based on your current situation.

6. Fun:

- Start: Initiate activities or hobbies that bring you joy.

- Stop: Eliminate activities that drain your energy without providing fulfillment.

- More of: Increase time spent on leisure activities that make you happy.

- Less of: Reduce time spent on activities that feel like obligations.

- Change: Explore new and exciting experiences for added enjoyment.

Remember that these are just examples, and you can tailor them to your specific goals and circumstances in each area of your life. I am regularly reassessing and adjusting my Six F’s to make sure my life has balance and fulfillment.