Personal finance tips, debt help, ira roth ira, savings interest accounts

Information Overload can be thought of  as the state of mind that literally  becomes us whenever we try to do too many things at once.  You know this feeling right?  It’s that imagine of the cute little hamster running away in circles but going no where.  As in most things in our life, sometimes we need to take 2 REALLY BIG steps back to realize just how often we put ourselves where we are unknowingly.

But first, remember that we become what we consistently do.  Our habits literally shape the outcomes that show up in our life.  I was trying to remember who made that famous quote regarding this and couldn’t.  You get the picture.  You already know that.  One of the hardest things we all have to learn is going from knowing what we need to do to actually getting things done and finishing them.  In general, in order to feel good, to be happy, we need progress in our life, not just another damn thing on our checklist.

For just a few minutes, put down those Post It notes and let me share with you a few really simple things that have shaped my life and help me get more done today than ever before.  And they’re completely free.  You don’t have to buy a course or wait 12 weeks to see results.  You can literally start now and feel good about this in 24 hours.

1) Learn How To Detach To A Set Time of Solitude - Is it me, or is everyone becoming addicted to our computers, text messaging and talking on our cell phones?  Will we become an outgrowth of our cell phones?  I ask these things cynically because I know I am one of the worst offenders.  Of course, cell phones and text messaging make our life a lot easier.  But have we gone overboard?  There’s that point where you just don’t gain any more utility from the 317th text message.  Lately, I started watching people in their cars to see how many of us are talking on our phones and yes, texting.  I think some people are literally driving themselves crazy.   It’s not that we are just talking on phones, but everyone’s phones look as if they are a “fix”.  Then, I go to the gym at night and the people on the treadmills are on their phones too.  I stop by Walgreens to get some bottled water and the clerk is talking to her boyfriend.   Have we gone into some sort of trance?

Learn to take part of your day. Drop everything electronic and get outside for a while.   If it’s a walk in the morning, a 15 minute period of meditation before you get on your feet in the morning, or a good solid workout, just disengage.  The trick is that you have to make time for it every day.  This way you interrupt the traffic flow to your brain and recharge.

2. Implement the 3×3 To Get Things Done - Guess what?  If neither you or I finish our to do lists by the morning, everything will be okay.  :-)  No, I’m not telling you to be a proud slacker.  But what I am going to suggest is that most of the time those To Do Lists go unfinished.  How about this?  Why not make your To Do Lists “Doable” ?

As someone who has taken no less than 10 Time Management Courses, I will be the first to admit that each one of those course have excellent tips and you can learn a lot from people like David Allen of Getting Things Done – but all too often the time management courses become too time consuming!   So what is the answer?  I don’t have THE answer but this helps  me a lot.

3×3 – Each day list the 3 most important things you need to do for your work day.  Then put the 3 most important things you need to do at night when you get home.   You are probably saying: “But I have 10 things”  I know. I will get to that next.

3. The MASTER List – Ah yes.  The Master List.   It will solve everything.   I am having a little fun here.  What can I say?  It’s Thursday and I am looking forward to the weekend.  To the point.   Once you’ve filled up your 3×3 for the day, you are sure to have other things you don’t want to forget about, right?  You read about some really cool book and drop everything and all of a sudden it’s 2:30 AM and you’re in the twilight zone.  How do I solve this little problem?  I always keep my Master to do (or Hit List) open on my desk top at all times (in the form of a simple word doc)  Whenever I get an email, a random thought, phone call etc. that requires my attention I just jot it down on my master list and get back to work.   This way, I know intuitively that I am not losing important things and I stay on track.  I  keep a little voice recorder in the car for ideas that come to me when I am driving.

This isn’t going to solve all of  life’s problems.  It’s not supposed to.   Before you stop reading ask yourself if you are even doing this?  If not, try this for a few weeks.  You’ll make progress every day versus feeling overwhelmed.   The peace of mind is priceless.  This happens because you add structure to your life.  The mind likes structure and sure things.

Oh and one last thing.  I lied.  Yes; this was supposed to be 10 Things.  Then, I cut it down to 5 things.  But I think these 3 are just fine.  What do you think?

In summary, Take A Break.  Get a few things done in the day.  Get a few things done at night.  Have a back up. Keep things simple and enjoy your life.