Try working on finances when you're in the mood :)
While I find finances and spreadsheets REALLY freakin' interesting, there are definitely times when I could care less. It doesn't mean I get myself into trouble or anything, but just that I work best while going with the flow.
I think that's the key to financial management sometimes - you gotta do things when you're in the mood. If you know you work better with numbers early in the morning, maybe it's best to start on it first thing? Or say you have to battle it out with a service rep to get a $35 late fee off your credit card bill - why not schedule it for a time when you can really put your heart into it? Or perhaps a time when you're incredibly pissed off and won't take no for an answer! haha..If you go this route, mind you, just be sure to stay cool and professional. As a manager of a customer service department, I can tell you that you'll get much farther on the call being nice than you would by cursing me out ;)
The downside to this "in the mood" theory, of course, is if you never get to that point. I highly doubt you'd even be reading this if that were the case, but it certainly happens to the best of us. When this happens, try bribing yourself with a dessert or a beer or something. Or maybe get all hocked up on caffeine or energy drinks - that's been known to do the trick as well.
Regardless, I urge you to give it a try. You could even start with other aspects of your life too! Say, with checking email or facebook? I know for me I interact and respond much more quickly and smartier (word?) if I check them before noon. It seems like I gain an ounce of laziness every hour after that until it's time to go to bed ;) So give it a shot. Start paying attention to what your body's telling you and strike when the mood is hot!
I think that's the key to financial management sometimes - you gotta do things when you're in the mood. If you know you work better with numbers early in the morning, maybe it's best to start on it first thing? Or say you have to battle it out with a service rep to get a $35 late fee off your credit card bill - why not schedule it for a time when you can really put your heart into it? Or perhaps a time when you're incredibly pissed off and won't take no for an answer! haha..If you go this route, mind you, just be sure to stay cool and professional. As a manager of a customer service department, I can tell you that you'll get much farther on the call being nice than you would by cursing me out ;)
The downside to this "in the mood" theory, of course, is if you never get to that point. I highly doubt you'd even be reading this if that were the case, but it certainly happens to the best of us. When this happens, try bribing yourself with a dessert or a beer or something. Or maybe get all hocked up on caffeine or energy drinks - that's been known to do the trick as well.
Regardless, I urge you to give it a try. You could even start with other aspects of your life too! Say, with checking email or facebook? I know for me I interact and respond much more quickly and smartier (word?) if I check them before noon. It seems like I gain an ounce of laziness every hour after that until it's time to go to bed ;) So give it a shot. Start paying attention to what your body's telling you and strike when the mood is hot!
Labels: advice, money management, personal finance
posted by J. Money at
7:17 AM
10 Comments:
I couldn't agree more. As the day goes by and the sun drifts towards the western horizon my internal body clock starts to scream "Cocktail hour!".
-Luke Sidewalker
Great tip, J! And, of course, it applies to more than just money and personal finance. I find myself at work getting a lot done when I'm really "feeling" it and motivated. But, other times, I could care less about my next PowerPoint slideshow that is due. You’ve got to strike when the fire is hot.
Does this apply to other areas as well? ha
when it comes to money, i am always in the mood- the thing just fascinates my socks off. it even wakes me up in the morning to read money stuff. But i avoid the complex things immediately after lunch because no work is done after a somewhat heavy meal
haha...I like saying things fascinate the socks off me too, nice use of wordage ;)
Now, if only I could follow my OWN advice here. I spent the first 3 hours this morning on random fun stuff around the office instead of getting my work done! Now, way into the afternoon, I am forced to put on my diligent hat and get down to business. And I'm super tired...oh well, that's what I get!
Sometimes I find myself eager to comment on posts at the wrong time... New Personal Mission Statement: the Dad is no longer allowed to post comments after a couple of beers. :D
I completely agree. As a depressive, it can be difficult to get myself up to any given task if I'm having a bad day. (Though the extra sunshine now that we're in Phoenix is helping.) So I've learned to take action on the days I'm doing well, get things done. If I try to push too hard when I don't feel up to it, I get things wrong or simply don't have good results -- say, when I'm trying to haggle with someone.
In short, finances, like so many other things in life, is all about timing.
Hi
I agree. One of the worst things I do is put off doing "hard" things by doing mundane easy tasks. By the time I get round to the things that are important I'm too tired to give them my full attention!
Being a night person, I'm comfortably settled into the "manage my money in the middle of the night" routine. On the other hand I slightly disagree when it comes to what I like to call unpleasant situations (calling to solve an issue that's costing me money).
I've found that when I call while I'm in a good mood I tend to be more amenable and don't get as good a deal as when I'm already grumpy and am not as easy to please. I'm not saying that I'm rude but when I'm not in a good mood, I really go into the nitty-gritty. It mostly works :-)
Oh yeah, managing your money in the middle of the night is awesome. It's peaceful, everyone's retired for the evening, and you can dig around and get stuff done a lot faster :)
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