There are millennials who take adulting in a breeze, while there are some still struggling to get a grip, especially in this time of pandemic. Whichever of these two you resonate with, here’s a tip: preparation is always key.
Take a cue from PBA star Kiefer Ravena, who plays point guard for NLEX Road Warriors and was appointed team captain of Gilas Pilipinas earlier this year. That, aside from being the brand ambassador of financial services and insurance provider Cocolife.
Ravena keeps a good balance between his responsibilities on and off the court by doing small practices today that would gear him up for the demands of tomorrow.
To inspire you, the 27-year-old athlete lists down pointers that would help you win the real-life game of adulting at any point in your life.
Tip #1: Prioritize your health both for yourself and the people around you.
Keeping fit is vital not only for your health but also for the welfare of the people you live and work with. Ravena explains, “I continue to work out, eat healthily, and stay healthy. As a professional athlete, may responsibility kami to our professional team na ready kami, nasa kundisyon kami, just in case anything comes up.”
His workout routine includes planks, bench press, and 10-kilometer stationary bike exercise, which he does every day even during the quarantine.
Ravena continues, “Prioritize it (health) kasi we might be at the comfort of our homes, but sometimes we forget that our health is also important. So as much as possible, we must try to work out and sweat it out. Watch our eating habits.”
Tip #2: Look after your mental health, too.
Aside from keeping you in shape, Ravena recommends exercising regularly because it can also do wonders to your mental health and more so, turn us into capable adults.
“Kaya sinasabi natin na kailangan ang healthy lifestyle kasi hindi lang physical health ‘yung natutulungan natin, pati mental health din,” he says. “Every time you workout and you stay healthy, your mental health comes with it, nae-excercise din ‘yan, we become mentally sharp, mentally ready, and mentally present.”
The basketball player also recommends sticking with people who would “keep you sane,” especially amid the global crisis.
“Talk to people, [as] it also exercises our brain. Kahit ‘yung mga random things na nare-realize natin, importante ‘yan na meron tayong mga taong natatakbuhan para maikwento ang mga bagay na ‘yan,” he notes.
Tip #3: Find ways to grow money outside your day job.
Chances are, you have probably spent most of your salary this quarantine in online sales and food deliveries. But who could blame you if there are just too many irresistible deals, right?
Ravena, for one, admitted that he used to be guilty of hoarding rubber shoes. “Ang hirap pigilan kasi kapag may bagong [lumabas na] sapatos, parang mapapabili pa rin kahit binibigyan ka na ng libre. So doon ako nagi-guilty,” he reveals.
While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while, a responsible adult should also learn to do away with living paycheck to paycheck.
One way of doing that is by finding ways to earn money besides your 9-to-5 job “kasi we don’t have to be stagnant, we have to evolve, and we have to do different things, hindi lang puro basketball,” Ravena says.
To get started, the Gilas Captain suggests, “Look at the current news, talk to business people if you can. ‘Yung mga friends na may small businesses dyan, marami din tayong matutunan sa kanila. Nage-expand and nagiging wide ‘yung knowledge kung ano ‘yung mga do’s and don’t’s in terms of putting up a business. Swerte na tayo kasi everything is online, we can listen to people online, manood ng webinars para ma-increase din ‘yung network natin, marami din tayong makilalang iba’t-ibang tao.”
Tip #4: Make small and smart investments.
After you have beefed up your knowledge about finances, Ravena recommends making “small and smart investments.”
“The return might not be that high initially but if you are consistent , sigurado kang may babalik sayo,” he says.
And just like the PBA star, you don’t need to go farther than your own network in finding a good investment.
He elaborates, “I’m involved with [sports] teams that are managed by my friends. We are trying to make an events group that could cater to different sports events. Kami ‘yung mag magma-manage. Naputol lang dahil sa pandemic so ngayon puro planning ang nangyayari.”
He adds, “I’m trying to be involved sa Women’s Basketball League kasi I am an avid fan of women’s basketball and I believe that it’s about time to put up a league for the women ballers para meron din silang nilu-look forward to after college, hindi lang nage-end ‘yung sports career nila sa college. We want to help, hopefully, it would work out in the future.”
Aside from those, the PBA star would also like to pursue an investment in e-sports.
Tip #5: Seek the advice of experts.
Once you have decided to get into investments, Ravena recommends that you learn how to calculate your risks.
“[Dapat] malakas din yung pigil mo kasi some investments might be enticing pero sa umpisa lang. ‘Pag dating sa dulo, mas malaki pa pala ‘yung talo mo,” he says.
“Consult professionals and experts para matuto ka and maging sigurado talaga. Actually madali naman maglabas ng pera, wala naman problema ‘yan, pero dapat sigurado ka na may babalik sayo,” he concludes.
To aid Ravena in achieving good returns, he consults with his trusted financial adviser Cocolife.
Cocolife offers FLEXI SERIES plans which are payable in five to 20 years that give you the freedom to design your plan based on your goals in life. Take your pick from various options: FLEXI-Investment helps you grow your money for major purchases, FLEXI-Education supports the education of your children, FLEXI-Retirement would take care of your funds in time for your retirement, and the FLEXI-Protection will provide you and your family with funds if you get sick or incapacitated.
Find out which FLEXI SERIES plan suits your lifestyle here:
Read the full feature here.
