A systematic investment plan or more commonly referred to as SIP is a very popular investment terminology heard and spoken specially amongst those who care about investing and growing their money or wealth through mutual funds in order to receive considerable financial returns. In simple words, anyone can save or invest in mutual funds with even a minimum amount on monthly or quarterly or annual basis. Over a period of time, the invested amount is then compounded and available for the investor to use or it can be invested further. This means that with limited efforts and discipline, SIP serves as an efficient saving method that enables gradual wealth accumulation. Similarly, there are many endless benefits of SIPs.
Just as monetary SIPs have become important and a necessity for everyone for future security, non-monetary SIPs are also very important and therefore should form part of everyone's daily routine. Non-monetary SIPs are simple activities or actions that do not involve money but are crucial for living a contentful and meaningful life or, in other words, to give meaning to and complete one's life. After all, what is the use of living in such a way where you only earn good financial returns but do not feel happy or satisfied? One's life cycle or happiness cannot be considered as complete just with good financial returns.
Let's consider below few simple non-monetary SIPs that anyone can easily adopt or start investing in to gradually accumulate a purposeful living:
Vision, mission and values - Have you ever participated in a car race without knowing where is the finish line or without knowing the road that can lead you to the finish line? But we all are spending our lives without setting or even thinking about our life's vision and mission. Have you ever thought about the values with which you are living your life, the values that are important to you and with which your personality is being recognized.
Sustainable activities - Protecting our planet is not only the responsibility of government or corporate organizations. It is everyone's responsibility too. But as humans, we are so selfish and only think about our homes and our work environment. Spending time in participating in sustainable activities is a necessity for the survival of our future generation.
Serving the society - Most of us spend our lives dealing only with ourselves, our homes, our families and our work. Each one of us should be contributing to the society beyond this. Whatever good thing or art or quality that one possesses should be used to serve the society even though in a smallest way possible. Sugar is added to food and drinks to make them sweet. Otherwise, it has on its own no use or relevance. In the same way, each one of us should spread our sweetness in the world by contributing to the society.
Happiness activities - Each one of us have daily challenges and dilemmas to deal with. It is not healthy for anyone to continue adding to this list. Instead one should make a habit to include activities that makes one happy to be part of their daily routine. Imagine we all are so happy when we are on a vacation. We cannot be on a vacation every day but activities like connecting daily with nature or eating a piece of chocolate or anything else that makes one rejoice life is a necessity.
To summarize, top 4 non-monetary SIPs that has become a necessity and therefore should be considered investing are:
Setting your personal life statement by meditating on your vision, mission and values and regularly reviewing it.
Participating in sustainable activities.
Serving the society.
Including happiness activities in your daily routine.
Do not restrict yourself to invest in growing your money only. Invest and build your life portfolio overall year after year rather than just growing by age or money every year.
Very nice perspective