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Post by fireweed on Apr 4, 2010 13:55:38 GMT -5
It is down to the wire for taxes as us US members know so that is my big push know. Last year I just didn't deal with it. I don't know why exactly but somehow I just could not make myself sit down and work on them for long enough to get them done. And I don't actually do our taxes, someone else does, it's just that getting everything ready for her is my job. So this year I have TWO years of taxes to work on  . I have a lot of things all together for both years but still piles of paperwork. Yesterday I sat down with the piles and made a HUGE dent in them  . Perhaps bigger than ever and I started this morning doing the same thing. It's great because I'm finding bills and other things I need so I've been able to get a few other odds and ends accomplished too. I notice now that as I'm walking around the house I'm picking things up, throwing them away, putting them in the dirty clothes, etc. instead of just walking by. I notice now, and I've noticed before whenever I've made some progress on the paperwork part of my life, that it seems to clear my head like nothing else to tackle the rest of the problem areas of my life. This is extremely motivating! Does anyone else have anything in particular that is an activity that triggers further positive steps in your life? I'd be interested to know. |
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Post by dtesposito on Apr 4, 2010 14:35:14 GMT -5
I don't know that it's any particular activity for me, but ANY activity that I can succeed at triggers further effort and success. That feeling of accomplishment is so gratifying that it makes you want to do more. I particularly see a connection between my clutter and my weight maintenance/fitness efforts. If I'm doing well in one it gives me motivation to do well in the other. If I start cluttering things up, everything I do slows down, including my exercise. Clearing up that one desk or one table gives me something to look at that actually makes my mind feel clearer, and good things follow.
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Post by success19 on Apr 4, 2010 22:49:38 GMT -5
Break the taxes into steps over a week or two - get stuff ready - then read the workbook - then do a practice one - then the real one - then proof read - all on different days.
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Post by slothzilla on Apr 5, 2010 8:15:51 GMT -5
I just do the easy tax form and it takes about 5 minutes. In the past though, it would sometimes take hours of frantic searching to find my W2 forms! Not these days though, thank goodness (one year the accountant had to print me new W2s, because I couldn't find them! I finally found them last summer,  ) Acquiring new furniture always 'triggers' a cleaning spree for me. For instance, I just put together a new dvd cabinet. To make room for it I had to move an old bookcase, which I was storing dvds in, to a new spot. The old bookcase was also cluttered with other stuff, which needed to be cleaned out and reorganized. And then I had to move another set of shelves up to my bedroom, which had been in the spot where the old dvd bookcase was being moved to (and that set of shelves was cluttered with stuff too). And the area in my bedroom where the extra set of shelves was going, was filled with boxes of stuff, which need to be moved and cleaned out...sorry for the rambling, but you get the idea. |
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Post by fireweed on Apr 6, 2010 12:16:12 GMT -5
These are some good suggestions. I know that making any improvement, even a small one, can be a trigger for more positive actions. However, when I find out where I stand "on paper", when I go through tax paperwork or bills or correspondence, it really helps me more than anything to get going on the rest of life. Plus, for me paper piles are a big part of the problem.
I have also found that trying to make too big of an improvement at once, in biting off more than I can chew, that it can backfire and I can wind up with even a worse mess!
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611 
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Post by MiSC on Apr 6, 2010 20:50:56 GMT -5
2 Things: 1. I always scream "MOTIVATION FOLLOWS ACTION!" and I'm right.  2. My father always said that if you had something to do that you couldn't do yourself, give it to the busiest person you know. They'll get it done. If you give it to someone who has plenty of time, they won't get it done. |
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Post by Peach on Apr 6, 2010 22:34:10 GMT -5
You have company in the tax department, Fireweed. I also have almost 2 years worth to do this year. I did last year's Federal but got stumped on the State return. Have to do my mother's Federal and State for 2 years also. But, her's is simple.
Doing taxes always forces me to get our paperwork in order from the prior year. And, that's always a good feeling.
This year I'm using TurboTax and it seems to be far superior to the tax applications offered by the IRS. (That's where I went wrong last year -- selected one that wasn't robust enough.) Thankfully, our auto insurance company is offering TT online at a deeply discounted rate to members. Otherwise, I'd be back to doing it by hand and pulling my hair out trying to understand the IRS' convoluted way of explaining stuff.
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catbiscuit
New Member
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 51
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Post by catbiscuit on Apr 6, 2010 22:41:56 GMT -5
Hi Fireweed!
I have the simplest income tax return in the world and I don't even do it myself - a book keeper friend of mine does it but it always seems to take me months to find the 3 pieces of paper I need and I will always leave it til the absolute last minute (we only get 4 months to do our tax here in Australia otherwise we get fined).
I find that if my kitchen is clean and tidy the rest of the house seems to flow along ok. When the kitchen is clean and my pantry and fridge are full it makes me feel soooooo good and happy! It motivates me to keep the rest of the house tidy. But ALAS, it never lasts for more than a week or a few weeks at most before it slides into foulness and filth again. Then I get depressed about it then the whole house falls into chaos and then I get overwhelmed by everything and it can take a couple of months before I decide to clean it up again. I am in the middle of a foul and filthy episode right now!!
Catbiscuit
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Post by eagle on Apr 6, 2010 22:53:06 GMT -5
Inviting people over.
Having house guests (over night or longer).
Helping someone else who is decluttering, organizing or desqualoring their own home.
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Post by mickey on Apr 7, 2010 15:46:22 GMT -5
i love my timer.
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