Financial experts (and bloggers) always have lots of ideas of things one might do to try to improve their financial situations. There are lists of side hustles. You can take any number of surveys. You could try the latest get-rich-quick scheme. (Okay, maybe those don’t come from real “experts”.) But the fact of the matter is that there is just not enough time in the day to try every idea that comes across your screen…or my time management skills need work. Either way, it’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way: I can’t do it all.
Time Management and How NOT To Do It
Good morning all! Another day, another battle with my time management skills. Praying for a win on that front today.
— Dads and Dollar$ (@Dads_AndDollars) January 16, 2019
As a full-time working dad, I suppose it could be argued that I am at a disadvantage compared to other financial bloggers. My 8-to-5 is taken up five days a week with time that cannot be used for writing here or pursuing some means of improving my financial situation. But to use that as a reason for not pushing forward with those things is an excuse. No, I’m not talking about my day job when I write about time management.
There are a good five or six hours after work during which I could work on any number of things on my to-do list. For example, I could write posts on this page more often.* I also have a fair amount of books to read, most of which I have borrowed from not one but two different library systems. I have a couple of side ventures on which I could work.
Or, I could binge-watch TV.
Graphic representation of me, about four hours a night. Picture courtesy Pixabay.
I could blame others in the house for putting on such quality programming, but that, too, would be an excuse. They’re certainly not forcing me into my recliner, putting the feet up, and keeping my eyes on the screen.
No, the first issue here is that I just don’t budget my time wisely or deliberately. It’s hard to move forward with all these goals I laid out to begin the year when I don’t plan to use my time to work on them.
Too Many Options
“But, David, obviously you took the time to write this post…”
Okay, yes. And I will claim a victory there…even though it took me multiple nights to get it done. Obviously there are nights when I am deliberate and work toward my personal goals. There are many, many other nights, though, in which I know I want to do something, but I get stuck on trying to determine what the highest priority is.
And what happens then? Typically, nothing. And, after that, frustration ensues. And I beat myself up. And then, if I’m really lucky, I take on a “what’s the use?” mindset and decide it would be more worthwhile to sit down and binge-watch TV. (Refer to the first section.)
Family Priorities
Books, blogs, and side hustles can all be good things, but as a dad, I have a family who needs and wants time and attention from me. This is not a bad thing in any way, obviously. I don’t want to refuse too many experiences with my children just to get another post written.
And so…I will play games with my youngest. I will take my older two out to Dutch Bros. (one at a time) for a little one-on-one time. I will read to my family (as anyone who’s ever seen my episode of Wheel knows). And, if I have any sense about me, I won’t feel guilty about it.
But I will cut back on the TV.
So…what about my goals?
Perhaps it’s time to be a little more realistic about what I can accomplish. I am not going to get as much done as others…and that’s okay. That’s just the way it’s going to be, at least for the moment.
But maybe I’ll make use of the laptop while I’m watching that TV. Maybe I’ll pick up a book while I watch. (I multitask like that.) And maybe, just maybe, I will make slow progress toward those goals.
* I seem to recall setting a goal to post on this site once a week.
Note: this post may contain affiliate links. And honestly, it probably does. View my affiliate link disclaimer here.