Greetings from New York City! Thanks for everyone’s patience while I went through our move, it has been an interesting few months. Yes, I am still doing sessions! I also have the spiffy new scheduling calendar here – check it out if you would like to schedule (and of course you can still email me if you prefer).

I’ve been hearing a lot recently from people about overwhelm. It’s a difficult feeling, and ironically, the feeling makes it even harder to tackle our finances. I have had a great opportunity to think that all through as we moved from California to New York. While I love our new space (600 square feet – *nothing* to maintain!), it has been an experience to set everything up anew, and a great reminder of what it takes to get things working. Overwhelm would be a very easy place to go to…

Here’s what I have realised: there are 3 things that we need in order to take care of our finances: space, time and a system. If these are in place, they can create a strong support and a structure that helps us keep moving forward.

I have talked a lot in the past about time – the Money Hour, “put it on your calendar”, and so on – many of you have heard this. But as I sat in an unfurnished apartment and dreamed about filing cabinets, I realised that I have tended to overlook the space part.

So let’s talk about that. Previously, I had had a designated workspace for so long that I had forgotten that it was even a factor. The money work is work, so we need a desk or work surface of some kind. Ideally it needs to be clear so that we can spread out our papers and have room to work through them. Even if you’re fully digital, you need a clear space just for the brain to think. The first step then, if this is not you, is to set up and to clear that space. Take a half day (put it on the calendar!) to clear your space, clean up any clutter and make some room for your finances.

If you don’t have an actual space, you may need to create one. Not everyone has the room for a separate desk or office, so consider your options – a board on the bed? Something that folds down from the wall? Dining table? Either way, make sure that you have a physical space that will allow you to set up. In this case it can help also to collect up the items that you need and store them in a box or drawer so that you can pull them out quickly and not be scattered.

I have been very grateful that our building has a “business room” that we can reserve (see photo below). It made it possible for me to keep going before we had our own space set up. (It’s also been a great reminder of the advantages of shared space – another option.) This is where you will see me when we do sessions, by the way, either in person or online. The building even has a shared printer – hallelujah!

When you hit overwhelm in your finances, take a breath. Then take a few more to drop down into your body. Remember that all you need to do today is take one small step, and consider what that would be. Schedule a time on your calendar, make a space, and you will be moving.

If you need more, always feel free to call me. I will be starting another Accountability Group in September, so let me know if you are interested in that.

Please feel free to share these articles with your friends, family or colleagues, and thanks so much for your referrals.

The business room in our building – a great space to work before we had one of our own (and after!)

p.s. the image at the top is the view from our building rooftop looking out over Manhattan.