When things are stressful, we can all start to struggle to stay on top of things. There are so many different things to focus on right now that we can all start to lose track. And, as we head into the winter, you know that things are not going to get any less frantic.
The last eighteen months have shown us just how unpredictable things can get. We could all use a little help making sure that we have a firm grip on our life admin and the little things that help our lives keep running smoothly. Here are a few tips to help you manage your time, your budget, and your routine.
Don’t Forget To Get Outside
This first point may not seem like it has anything to do with admin immediately, but if you want to make sure that you are giving your mind and your body the best starting point for the winter, it is crucial to get some fresh air and exercise. There are mental and physical health benefits to making sure you get your daily dose of sunshine, which can be difficult if you are working from home. Now that the days are getting shorter, try to get out before work or on your lunch hour.
Make A Routine And Stick To It
Speaking of creating time in your routine, one of the best steps you can take to feeling more in control of your time is to know what you are doing with it every day. A daily planner can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, but it will help you set a time for those tasks that we would all rather postpone. We are talking about checking that your bills have been paid, scheduling doctor’s appointments, and so on.
Put A Budget Together
When we start to lose our grip on our admin, those incidental costs can start to add up. We all know that we end up spending more money when we are buying things last minute instead of planning ahead or buying take-out instead of cooking something from scratch. The best place to start is by sitting down and looking at your monthly expenses. You will be able to see where all that spur of the moment money is going, and to start planning for how to cut them.
Don’t Let Your Debt Spiral Out Of Control
Debt is one of the hardest things to keep track of when you are feeling overwhelmed. This is especially true if you have several different payments on the go. With different interest rates and repayment dates, it can feel like you are standing in quicksand waiting for someone to throw you a rope. If you are struggling to pay off credit card debt, then think about using a credit card payoff app like Tally. Tally offers you a low-interest line of credit and pays off your cards, setting you up with one simple bill. There’s no more worrying about what is getting paid off one, just one payment a month.
Check Your Bills And Insurance Info Is Up To Date
One of the admin tasks that can be easiest to let slip is letting companies and providers know when your circumstances have changed. Take moving house, for example. You have so many different things to worry about that something is always going to get missed. But it is crucial that you keep all your information up to date to avoid being hit with any penalties or losing out on potential insurance pay-outs. Whether it is insurance providers or tax authorities, go through your paperwork and make sure that all the info you have given is current and correct.
Create A System That Works For You
As much as we would like there to be one life admin set-up that works for absolutely everyone, we all have different ways of doing things. Some people are comfortable creating a single spreadsheet and working from screens. Others are more tactile and visual and prefer to use a paper diary with color coded sections to help them keep track of their outstanding tasks. If you want to get into better habits, it is important that you find a system that you feel comfortable with that you know you can stick to.
Get Better Sleep
Finally, one of the main reasons why so many people struggle with life admin is because they are too exhausted to stay on top of it. If you want to give your brain the best chance of helping you out, then you need to start making sure that you are getting enough good sleep. The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. Try to stop looking at screens an hour before you go to bed and remember that alcohol and caffeine can cause restless nights.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category
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