Categories: goals, values, wealth, time management

“Time is the most precious element of human existence. The successful person knows how to put energy into time and how to draw success from time.”
Denis Waitley    

Balance and time  are  key attributes for successful living. They go hand in hand with separating the important from the unimportant and prioritizing what to do when. Always remember that time is  not renewable!

MAIN STORY: Perfectionism vs. Sloth

I was raised to:

1. Finish what you start.
2. Never quit.
3. Maintain order and tidiness.

Consequently, I had a tendency to be highly self critical and believe that doing tasks well meant working on a task until it was PERFECT. The room was clean only when there was ZERO dust, dirt, or item out of place.

If someone left a phone message, it was to be returned IMMEDIATELY.

Dishes were to be placed in the dish washer PROMPTLY.

Clothes hung up RIGHT AWAY.

There are pros and cons to this type of upbringing; it developed certain advantageous qualities.

Pros:

Good attention to detail

Excellent follow through ability

Reliable and dependable

Good manners

Like all things in life, there were disadvantages to these types of standards.

Cons:

Spend way too much time on each task.

Don’t discern the important from the unimportant (everything is important).

Waste a lot of time on less important tasks.

Actually, the positives of this style are OK. In fact, persistence may be the most important key to success. But, the negatives create an environment of less achievement and more obsession on getting every last detail correct.

Fortunately, I eradicated most of the negatives through prioritizing and balance.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: What are your priorities?

I started investing very young, in my early 20’s and opened an IRA as soon as I had earnings. Over time, I studied investing, and grew our family resources’.

At some point, I made a decision. There are a limited number of hours in the day, and I am extremely committed to:

• Spending time with family and friends
• My job
• Contributing to society
• Building BarbaraFriedbergPersonalFinance
• Appreciating and enjoying life
• Growing wealthy

This led to the realization that there are certain activities that must go; there is not enough time for everything. A certain degree of dust and disarray is OK. I relinquished my early training and decided that an immaculate home does not define me. Good enough is OK and perfection in house upkeep is unnecessary.

And, the “not so fun tasks” can be redefined to give SOME SORT OF BENEFIT. Even vacuuming can be fun. Don at Money Reasons figured out how to get his exercise and save cash by mowing the lawn.

Nevertheless, every last detail does not merit attention.

Conscious living is making a decision on how you want to spend your time.

Put the most time into your highest value goals.

Determine what YOU value in life, and spend your precious time going after it! For me, time is prioritized according to my core goals and values. I spend a lot of time with my husband, family, job, finances, & blog. And even if I have something less desirable to do, (after all we can’t avoid all unpleasant tasks), I look for a way to make it tolerable!

And that is why, I am wealthy (in money & life) and my house is dusty!

ACTION STEPS:

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it to keep all of your personal finance goals, thoughts, activities, and plans.

1. List your 3 highest value activities; those pursuits that give you the most reward. They could be spiritual, family, work, fun, hobby etc.
2. Choose 1 day to focus most of your time and energy on your highest value activities.

Write and let me know how it works out!