Focusing on money can be difficult in our current world full of distractions. A commitment to single tasking may be an effective way to improve your relationship with money.
As Dr. Mike Dow, psycho-therapist and best-selling author of The Brain-Fog Fix, says, “Mindfulness – doing one thing at a time and paying attention while doing it – is a powerful antidote to the barrage of distractions that come at us day and night.” Giving our attention only to the task at hand enables us to accomplish more while feeling less anxious and less scatterbrained.
I have been battling brain fog since I had a mild case of Covid-19 in November 2020. This afflicts roughly 20% of people who contract Covid. I have found it to be the most frustrating aspect of dealing with my long haul covid symptoms. My Post-Covid Long Haul Journey – FiscalDad
I decided to start trying meditation in the mornings by using an app on my phone. While it took me a while to get used to the practice, I have found it to help my focus in the mornings. One of the tenets of meditation and mindfulness is to focus on one subject for a period of time. This was difficult for me at the start, but I am improving.
I found a new way to look at things during my reading preparation for a small discussion group that I lead through my Unitarian Universalist Church of Lincoln. This was during the January curriculum that was based on new years resolutions. There was a challenge to commit to single tasking for 10 minutes a day and build each day. This has helped my brain fog over the 5 months since I’ve made it part of my day. I found it very frustrating to concentrate on a book after my long haul covid symptoms set in. I committed to focused reading for 10 minutes and then let my mind wander for 2-3 minutes. I have increased my ability to read with focus to around 25 minutes without a break.
I have found this technique very helpful with dealing with money. I do the work of paying the bills, updating accounts, and preparing numbers for our regular money meetings. Even though I do the detail work, Anne is involved in every money decision we make. I have found that focusing on one task at a time has improved my record keeping and attention to detail. I turn off notifications on my phone and listen to music in headphones. We make sure to focus on one line item or one subject at a time during our money conversations. This focus has led to more effective decision making and leads to more efficient meetings.
While I may use the 80/20 rule as a general term, I understand the importance of dealing with each situation on its own merits. This is why the bread and butter of FiscalDad Coaching is person-to-person individual coaching. Click on the “Book Now” button to schedule a free, 30-minute no obligation meeting to decide if we can connect on a personal level.
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