Photo by Getting back on track with time, money and what’s really important.
Routines and structures are some of my biggest saviours. They are efficient, save me both time and money and reduce my stress as I take comfort in the certainty that returns to my world. As an efficiency expert on a mission to get things done systems help me get on track and stay on track. This week I stepped back and reviewed some of my systems tracking my time, my money and sorting out my priorities (what’s important and what’s urgent).
Time – so many time wasters and distractions; these are especially obvious when I’m procrastinating. If apps are your thing there are time tracking apps for both phone and computer that will tell you how long you’ve spent on different activities. I’ve tried a few apps and find I get distracted with learning how to use them and then get caught out by forgetting to turn off the timer when I finish each activity. With the information available to me on my phone I am now too aware of how long I’m on social media, which might have started out as a marketing activity but usually quickly disintegrates into distraction. I use my phone to help me out with how long phone calls have taken, especially helpful when working with my remote clients. My choice of time tracker is the old fashioned pen and paper kind. The chart I use is in 15 minute blocks and becomes a mini colouring-in exercise that I can fill in even if I’ve been sidetracked and haven’t done it straight away. Perhaps I’m old fashioned but I find using pen and paper is a different activity to computer work and helps me shift focus to the next activity.
Money – I like to see where my money is going and there’s no better way for me to do that than to check each of my accounts and my cash spending on an almost daily basis. If I get behind on keeping tabs on my money then bulk entries show me the number of times I repeat transactions like getting more cash out, the tolls and parking I’ve paid and how I often I buy myself a coffee or lunch when I’m out. I’ve seen the correlation between time and money eg when I’m busy I eat out more and buy more coffees. My mobile lifestyle means I’m on the road a fair bit and I am fascinated by fuel prices. The patterns are obvious and help me make daily decisions that support my financial goals. How do I track my money? I’ve been an MYOB stalwart and more recently have embraced Xero. When I want to play with different scenarios I love a spreadsheet with formulas that shows me the ”what if” outcomes. I’ve set up Pocketbook on my phone and I get a weekly email snapshot of my spending and bills due and I have recurring reminders in my phone of when payments are deducted.. And yes, there are times I use pen and paper to plan ahead making timelines of what’s due and when and how the outgoings tie in with the incomings.
When I track my time and my money the results are usually an eye opener and I see my priorities in a whole new light. With the cold hard facts in front of me I can see exactly what is happening (and what will happen if I continue on that path) next step actions become clear and decisive. This means playing catch up as I get back on track but in the meantime my focus has returned, I’ve tweaked my system and my routines are re-established. I have taken charge and certainty and peace of mind have returned.
Are time and money slipping out of your hands at the moment? Contact me to find out how partnering with a life coach can help you take charge of both and get back to creating life as you want it.