The saying goes something like this, if you want to save money for whatever the reason, pay yourself first. As soon as that paycheck hits your bank account have the money you want to save taken out immediately and put away into your savings account. That way, whatever you have left is what you have available to you. Once you become accustomed to it you stop missing that money that was taken at the start and it just becomes a creature of habit. Is it hard to do, no, of course not. Which brings me my message – investing.
At the end of August and through September I invested everything I had and then some into work and well, more work. I was up early and worked until it was literally dark outside getting things that needed to get done at work and home (thank you hailstorm) each day. My training of course dipped a bit but hey I’ll get to it soon, just another couple of days and I’m back to the old routine, let me just check my watch, wait what time is it….Saturday or Sunday. We’ve all been there, consumed by life that just keeps coming at you and as you carve off time for work, family and other commitments you realize there’s nothing left for you know…yourself.
It wasn’t until the beginning of October that I had a nice long conversation with myself to realize I was burning out and becoming toxic. At work, at home, I was mad. Mad at myself and anyone else in my way. Why isn’t everyone else putting in the hours I have been and getting so much done yet still not accomplishing the things I should be doing some days. On it went. It wasn’t healthy and frankly I was on the verge of a full on break down, with me mentally exhausted. So, the first thing I had to do was get rid of the negativity towards everything.
No one is the same as anyone else and no one will do the same as anyone else either so comparing one another is simply a waste of time. The second was investing in my time for what I needed to do, sometimes the hardest part was simply to ask for help. I suck at that one. Now I’m back on track again and investing more time into me while still accomplishing my goals, it’s just a priority adjustment. Once I’m taken care of it seems the rest takes care of itself. The more I train and give time for myself the more at peace I am with everything.
Tom Bryant