Hard Times

We’ve all been through some hard times. This is especially true when it comes to our finances. Whether that’s in the form of a job loss, increased prices on pretty much everything, needing to rely on credit cards again after paying them down, or anything else that ties in with this current economy and record inflation. The simple fact is that these are definitely harder times than most of us have been used to previously.

How exactly do we navigate the difficult times that we’re going through? What’s more, and maybe even a better question, how do we come out on top of all of this?

First, we have to make sure that we are not getting overwhelmed. It is far too easy to focus on everything all at once. Doing so is a surefire recipe for getting completely overwhelmed and unable to truly focus on any one task at hand. The best way to avoid becoming overwhelmed when dealing with several situations at the same time is to simply make a list. Whether you decide to write the list out, type it up on your computer, or use an app on your phone, make sure that you take the time to write out every item that is causing hardship for you right now.

It doesn’t have to all be related to personal finance, either. Personal situations and other issues can absolutely affect your personal financial health, so feel free to write those items down on the same list.

Once you have your list, now it’s time to sort that list in order from highest to lowest priorities. Some items may be time-sensitive but not as high of a priority, but you may still need to list that towards the top since you have to handle that particular situation in a relatively shorter period of time.

The next step is to get to work on the very first item on your list. Decide how to best resolve the issue or decide on seeking counsel on how to best resolve the problem at hand. As long as you have planned action steps, that is what is important here, even if those action steps don’t necessarily resolve the problem immediately. Any action taken is a good thing.

Now, continue down your list and repeat the same steps until you’ve gone through the entire list. As an example, if you have been dealing with a job loss, one of your action steps might be to carve out a portion of your day and actively seek out available employment opportunities. Another action step might be to brush up your resume or get in touch with a friend or family member who is particularly good with writing and can help you with your resume. Again, any action steps taken is a good thing.

Of course, I understand that some times are much harder than others, and a simple list and working through items on the list may not apply in all situations. If that is the case for you, I would highly recommend seeking help sooner than later so that you can handle things before they spin out of control.

Whether you need counseling services, financial services, legal services, or any other services that are available to help you with the particular difficult times that you are dealing with, take the action steps necessary to get in touch with the appropriate parties, and get the help that you need.

Getting help from another party is still considered to be an action step, and taking these steps is what’s important to get through the hard times. God bless.