How to Get Your Personal Finances On Track

Is your bank account looking a little dry? Are the bills stacking up faster than you can pay them? Here are just a few tips for getting your finances back on track.

1. Start Saving

It’s easier said than done, of course, but saving money doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Even if you can only put one percent of your paycheck into your savings account each week, that’s a slowly-growing nest egg that you didn’t have before. Start saving even if you can only do it in small increments. They’ll add up over time, and a year from now, you’ll be thankful that you went to the trouble.

2. Get Out of Debt

Do you have collection agencies blowing up your cell phone? Answer them. Most companies are willing to arrange payment plans that will slowly chip away at your debt without bankrupting you. Their only goal is to get the money that they’re owed, so as long as you’re able to make small, consistent payments, they’ll work with you on costs, dates and deadlines.

3. Hire a Professional

If your financial situation has spiraled out of control, it might be time to call in an expert. Type something like “financial advisor near me” into a search engine and see what pops up. Is there anyone in your city who specializes in your particular area of need? For example, if you’re struggling with probate issues, is there a probate expert in town?

4. Monitor Everything

Last but certainly not least, stay on top of your financial situation. Track your expenses. Monitor your credit score. Keep your tax documents neatly organized and filed. It won’t help you at all to bury your head in the sand and simply hope that your money troubles go … Read more

Three Simple Strategies That Can Help You Stop Procrastinating

While many behavioral patterns can hold people back in life, procrastination can be a particularly debilitating force in a person’s daily world. This is the case because procrastination causes people to put off the process of making changes that will help improve their self-esteem, optimize their social interactions, and realize personal or professional goals. If you’re currently trapped in the world of procrastination, now is the time to begin implementing strategies that will help you change your troublesome ways. Below are three techniques that can help you stop procrastinating:

1. Meditate.

Meditation is a wonderful way to help you overcome the proclivity to procrastinate because it takes your mind out of the realms of past and future by keeping you firmly grounded in the present. This reality is powerful because people who procrastinate oftentimes develop cognitive patterns which involve conceptualizing a future date as the point in time in which they will make substantive change happen. By remaining firmly grounded in the now through a meditation practice, you can undergo a substantive mental shift marked by an awareness that growth and change are immediately available if you access what the unfolding moment has to offer you. Once you recognize your ability to make substantive change in the moment rather than constantly conceptualizing reality in terms of things that can transpire in the future, you’re on your way to ending your affair with procrastination.

2. Come Up With Consequences.

Another strategy you can implement to limit the experience of procrastination is coming up with consequences. An example would be telling yourself that if you don’t prepare a nutritious dinner at home at least three times a month, you are not allowed to participate in any social events. This type of strategy ensures that you put yourself under pressure to get things … Read more