Being finite has always been our challenge. We have all experienced the stress of having not enough - not enough time, money, energy. But what are you doing with the finite resources that you do have? Our simple strategy is to be faithful in growing the little that you DO have instead of worrying about the infinity that you DON’T have. And a budget is a simple tool to help us do that.
5 min: MONEY
- List out, in one column, how much money you received this last month.
- List out on a second column how much money you spent this month.
- Calculate the gap in between and try to remember what you did with the gap.
Draw a line underneath both columns.
- List out underneath the line on the left side, how much money you expect to spend this coming month.
- List out on the right side how much money you expect to spend this month.
- Calculate the gap in between and plan what you will do with the gap.
20 min: ENERGY
- List out, in one column, the activities from the last month that ‘drained’ you.
- List out on a second column which activities ‘filled you up’.
- Are you in an emotional deficit or a surplus?
Draw a line underneath both columns.
- List out underneath the line on the left side what activities in the coming month you expect will drain you.
- List out on a second column the activities in the coming month that you expect will ‘fill you up’.
- Do you anticipate an emotional draining month or an emotionally replenishing month?
60 min: TIME
- List out on a second column the time you spent that you feel were a waste of time or a time sink. That is, what did you consume that made you feel bloated and empty?
- List out in one column, the time you spent this past month that you feel, created more time for you. That is, what did you create that made you more productive and more effective?
Draw a line underneath both columns.
- List out underneath the line on the left side, the time that you know that you will lose in ‘time sinks’.
- What time you are setting aside in the coming month to be creative? Itemise that on the right hand side.
- Do you anticipate an exciting creative month or a plodding bogged down month?