time budgeting
One of the reasons we find some of our days wasted or lethargic, or sometimes feel unsure where the time went, such as during a weekend or vacation, is the same reason we find our savings are gone sometimes.
One of the reasons some of us remain poor or are always short of money is the lack of financial budgeting. They say that first we have to pay ourselves, i.e., savings, and then proceed to spend on weekly or monthly expenditures. If this is not done, then we are always strapped for cash at the end of the week or month. This syndrome is avoided by making a monthly or weekly budget of our finances and maintaining spending discipline.
Similarly, there is a need to make a daily or weekly time budget. If this is not done, then we won't know where the time has gone at the end of a day, week, or month. By making a time budget, we will have clarity on necessary expenditures for the day, such as cooking and washing up. Detailed budgeting, which includes regular commutes, also helps identify the true free time available for productive work.
Many of the concepts of time blocking allude to this, but if this process is approached from the concept of financial budgeting, it makes a more powerful impact on a person's productivity. After all, time is the only true currency and is always dwindling.
Having done this budgeting for this week, I have become very clear about the time I have for necessary activities as well as the time I have for hobbies. Instead of feeling bad that after six months that I haven't gone to the gym two days in a row, this forward-looking budgeting allows me to realize where exactly the time exists to go to the gym.
I'm liking this paradigm. If you are interested in the techniques of time budgeting, please upvote. I will describe this in a future post if there is sufficient interest.