Allen (2001) explains that the essence of time management is completing decisions and determining action steps about the things that capture our psychological and physical space. To cope with everyday demands, Allen has suggested a processing sequence of work and tasks:

1. Collect all situations, projects and tasks that need to be done, including those that keep flowing in on a regular basis.
2. Process them and work out what actions need to be taken.
3. Organize the resultant tasks and projects.
4. Review them and look at options for action.
5. Do what has been decided.

Allen’s approach can be described as ‘from the ground up’. He feels that there are still too many people who cannot, despite all their best intentions, thrive on a goal oriented approach to time management. In fact, he believes that setting lofty goals may impose more need for change on people and therefore more demands on their daily schedule.

Certainly, coaches need to be alert for clients chasing unrealistic goals or clients not being content with what they have. However, goal setting is seen as a forte in coaching for helping drive clients through their barriers and strive towards an end result.

Morgenstern (2005) has developed a simple approach to sorting out the things that need to be completed. This is known as the “WADE” formula.

Write it down
Add it up - estimate how long it will take
Decide what to do about these items. This can include the 4 Ds of time management - Delete, Delay, Delegate or
Diminish into smaller tasks.
Execute the plan of action decided on.

It may help a client to visualise how they process their incoming work. This system incorporates the 4 Ds of time management - Delete, Delay, Delegate or Diminish into smaller tasks. The Diminish stage is where something is seen to require more than two minutes to be completed and is added to a “Plans and Projects” stage where it is broken down into manageable steps.

Sorting out tasks with constant reference to goals and ideals is a key to time management from a counselling perspective. There are perhaps various ways of going about this.

An approach (The Life Organisation Exercise) is suggested below:

1. Have your client sit with their written goals and objectives handy.
2. Invite your client to complete an inventory of all their unfinished actions/tasks.
3. Have them write down everything they can think of. Write one item for every two or three lines on a page; in other words have them leave space to add notes.
4. Invite your client to get together at home and in the office all the physical things that need doing.
5. Work with them to assess what time these actions will take and incorporate this in their lists. While completing this task they can be grouping items into categories. For example: home, office, children, car, etc.
6. Invite your client to compare this list against their goals and see if the time they will take is justified. They might also see whether or not the actions are justified at all.
7. Apply the four Ds: Delete, Delay, Delegate or Diminish into smaller tasks.

The tasks that maintain priority should be allocated places in the diary or calendar system used by the client. Don’t be surprised if a client starts to go through some fatigue and/or emotions while completing an exercise such as this.

Note that your presence with them while they do this exercise is one of the reasons it will work as it will help them work through some mental barriers as they confront a whole mass of incomplete, unfinished business in their life.

Some clients may try to ‘escape’ the exercise. They will come up with various things that demand their attention, and reasons why they can’t sit down and get through it. Without being unkind, guide your client through to completion of this or a similar exercise.

Please note: This is a suggested routine; you may have a variation of this and the client may prefer to sketch plans using diagrams and colour. The important thing is to get the person through what they might not otherwise get through so that they start to get on top of the barriers to personal organisation. 

Source: www.counsellingacademy.com.au

Unfortunately, ‘organisational restructuring’ and ‘downsizing’ are common events in today’s workplace. For those individuals who suddenly lose their job, financial pressures can be overwhelming. Most support individuals receive focuses on helping them to plan financially. However even under the best conditions where someone has ample savings and decent job prospects, suddenly losing a job is an emotional ride.

The emotional stress that individuals and their families experience is the least discussed effect of unemployment. For many people work is a central component to their identity. When their employment status changes, so too can their self-concept or sense of identity. This, together with financial strain, can mark a very stressful and negative time. 

The experience of sudden unemployment can propel an individual through the troughs of despair to the peaks of hopefulness and back again. The role of a counsellor, during this journey, is to recognise and effectively respond to the client’s ever-shifting emotional undercurrent.

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“If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem.  Everything else is inconvenience”.  Robert Fulghum

Life is full of stumbling blocks, and you are constantly put to test as you progress through its stages. And on the face of adversity, we can only do our best to overcome imminent challenges and move forward towards our goals – whether they are reflected in financial success, happiness, love, friendships, life balance or something else.

But how often do you REALLY show your best? Or how often do you “finish strong”?

We recommend that you watch the video below, from motivational speaker Nick Vujicic, and reflect about your approach to life’s daily challenges and your disposition to overcome them. It’s a great inspirational journey, reflected by a person who deeply believes in our capacity to rise to unprecedented heights.

Click on the PLAY button to watch Nick:

Next time you are faced with overwhelming challenges, remember to never give in and never give up. Or in Winston Churchill’s astute words, “if you’re going through hell, keep going.”

Below is a suggested 5-point plan for your income. Keep in mind that each person has particular circumstances and as such, this plan should be tailored to your specific needs: 

1. DEBT REDUCTION - A contribution of at least 10% of your gross income systematically reduces your income every month. This one step will have you completely debt free in 3-7 years (including your house and your cars).
2. INVESTMENT PLAN - An investment of at least 10% of your gross income systematically increases your wealth every month. (Many people say they don’t even know this money is gone!)
3. CHARITABLE GIVING - A contribution of at least 10% of your gross income (tithing) is part of the responsibility and reciprocity associated with creating and being a good steward of wealth (and it’s wonderful for your soul!).
4. DEBT AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES - Live by such strategies as only paying cash and maintaining tough restrictions on the use of credit cards.
5. SPENDING THE REST - 70% of your income should be enough to give you a wonderful, joy-filled life while still being able to fulfil all your commitments and save for your future.

In Summary:  it truly IS just that simple - learn to live on 70% of what you make and you will be debt free in 3-7 years and on your way to becoming rich. What you do with the other 30% will make it so: 10% for your Investment Plan, 10% for your Debt Reduction, and 10% Charitable Giving.

One more suggestion – start NOW!

“A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.” Samuel Johnson

Did you enjoy this series? Then forward it to your friends and colleagues. You can either email them directly or use our referral box, located on the right-side column of this Blog. And don’t forget to leave your comments too. Thank you!

The other major key to staying ahead in your finances is saving. You need savings to keep you from sliding back into debt.

Think about it: you’re moving along, paying off your credit cards and making terrific progress. And your cat gets a nasty double ear infection. Between trips to the vet and expensive medications, this ends up costing you close to $200. Where is that money going to come from?

Unless you a reasonable amount of savings, you are probably going to put it on your credit card. Although you now know enough to put it on your lowest rate credit card, that purchase is going to set you back and impede your progress and it’s going to make you feel rotten. That’s why you need savings.

Turn Protection into Profit

1. As you start to pay off your debts, siphon off a chunk of money each month—3–5% is a good start but aim for 10%—and put it into a higher interest savings account.
2. Find the highest paying money market account you can find—until you’ve got a substantial emergency cushion equivalent to 3 to 6 months salary. That’s your protection. If you get retrenched, if the dog gets ill, if your transmission dies, you’ll be able to live and pay your bills without sliding back.
3. Once you’ve got your emergency cushion, you can start investing that money in a portfolio of shares and mutual funds that can help you build a real foundation of wealth for your future.