The Cup Method

 

I'm a self admitted workaholic. It isn't intentional and it's something that I have mixed feelings about. I've historically used work to escape dealing with other areas of life that I had less control over. It's allowed me to achieve a lot on paper, but there are negative side effects that I won't go into right now. 

However, I get asked semi-frequently what my 'process' is. How do I find it so easy to concentrate on tasks for so many hours day in day out without getting bored? The answer is, I don't. I would get just as bored as the next person, require copious amounts of caffeine to even function at basic humaning in the mornings and I burn out if I'm forced to work on something I have no interest in for longer than a few hours. If anything, I have less intrinsic concentration skills than most people I've met. The difference is that I realised this at a young age (I'd probably be diagnosed with ADHD if tested now) and was in a very competitive environment where I was expected to perform at consistently high levels or face various forms of punishment. So I had to adapt quickly.

Over the years I've read various 'CEO lifestyle' posts that advise you to get up at 5am while it's still dark outside, have cold showers every day, run for 5 miles before breakfast, etc. Every so often I'll try this for a month or so out of curiosity. It is pure torture. Every single time my productivity crashes, I feel exhausted, depressed, and end up having to play catch up the following month. I've learned the hard way that you have to work with your natural rhythm. What works for one person doesn't neccessarily work for another.

For me, my natural state is that of a night-owl. My routine is completely backwards compared to the stereotypical CEO. I'm useless in the morning and use that time for creative brainstorming. My mind can't focus on one thing and automatically wants to branch off in multiple directions. So I use that to my advantage. I'll wake up around 8-9am, have breakfast, write out what tasks I need to do that day, then take my time getting ready, reading the news, checking/trading stocks, etc. I'll then do any design work, rough sketches or tasks requiring creative thought. I also find it's a perfect time to do any type of therapy or meditation, as I'm already in a semi-conscious state and can more easily deal with certain topics that the logical part of my brain would otherwise fight against.

By around 11am, I'll have consumed enough caffeine to switch on the logic part of my brain and can start working on tasks that require more focus. My concentration and energy levels continue to climb until about 7pm, when I start to get hyperactive unless I go for a walk or exercise in some way to burn off the excess energy. If I try to exercise in the morning (as most PTs recommend) then I feel drained for the rest of the day. When I get back I'll normally return to work for a few more hours. My peak productivity is always late afternoon/evening, sometimes later if I'm really switched on and enjoying the task. Trying to do things the other way around just doesn't work.

My brain also hates being told what to do (even by me!) so I've experimented with various techniques until settling on the below cup method. I have no idea if there are better methods out there (probably), but my philosophy is always 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it'. This method has worked well for me over the years and might be useful for anyone else reading this who struggles to get things done.

After writing out my tasks for the day each morning, I'll cut them up into individual bits of paper, fold and stick them in a cup, and pick one at random. I'll work on that task until it's either complete or I'm bored (in which case it goes back into the cup). This tricks my brain into feeling as if everything I do is a random surprise and I get to constantly switch things up so I'm not forcing myself to keep working on something when I'm out of the zone. I still get everything done, just in a non-linear fashion. This works especially well for really tedious and/or repetitive tasks that I can break up into 30-60 minute blocks and fit around other tasks in the day.

The same method applies to any big projects that I work on that can span 2-3 years. I'll break it all down into minor tasks with a (digital) 'cup' for each of those. I'll then split each task into smaller tasks and add them to the cup. Each week I'll pick a cup at random and work on tasks within that cup until I get bored (at certain times of the month, I'm also far better at technical or creative work due to hormones so that also impacts which tasks I choose - I'll maybe do a separate post on that for the ladies!). There are a couple of other ADHD types in my team find the same method really helpful. The work all gets done, just in a more roundabout way. We've tried other methods in the past and people would work hard-core for a bit, then burn out and quit the project. So far this way of working has been the most successful.

Does anyone use a different technique to stay motivated? Or have you tried something like the cup method and found it beneficial?

Buy All The Things, All At Once!

Ok, not literally. But I mentioned in previous posts that I've made a habit of buying everything I need for the year (or more) en masse in the January sales. Bulk purchasing items can save you a lot of money in the long run, assuming you follow some simple rules. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in you wasting money, so don't just rush in with your wallet before thinking ahead.

Try before you buy!

This may sound incredibly obvious, but don't buy any items that you haven't already tried and know you like. Splashing out £500 on 30 boxes of random deodorant, only to discover a day later that it leaves the underarms of your t-shirts looking like a bottle of Tippex exploded in the wash is a quick way to lose £500! Only buy products that you have tried in the past and know will be put to good use.

Avoid perishable goods

Another seemingly obvious one, but don't bulk buy anything that will go off long before you get round to using it. 10 crates of blueberries for £20 is a bargain only if you plan to eat, freeze or preserve them immediately. I tend to keep bulk purchases of most food items to a maximum of a few months supply and only do yearly stock ups of items that I know will last a long time. Also, a year of eating the same food can get pretty boring after a while if, like me, you prefer to change things up every now and then. Plan ahead and make sure you can either store or eat anything that could go rotten. Sometimes the amount of time and work needed to properly store it just isn't worth the money you save.

Check you have storage space

Following on from the above rule... if you do plan to store either perishable or non-perishable items, then check you actually have the space to fit it all somewhere. If you live in a tiny bedsit and only have one plastic container and a few empty gaps under the bed, then don't go crazy and fill up the entire place with 1000 loo rolls. Unless you enjoy living in a pretend fortress and want to relive the excitement of hiding in the supermarket stacks as a child (which is entirely understandable). If you're more of a minimalist type that recoils in horror at having a single ornament littering the perfect lines of your otherwise empty home, then make sure you know where all of your supplies will go before buying anything. Having to pay therapist fees for a psychological meltdown will quickly eat up any money you saved!

Shop around or wait for bargains

Buying things in bulk will usually save money anyway, but ideally you want to save additional money buy waiting until the items you need are on offer. Look around for deals before you bulk buy anything. Haggle further if you can, as some suppliers are happy to give you a better deal if you are willing to take a large amount of stock in one go. There are a couple of markets that I frequent where the traders will offer extra reductions if I pay in cash.

The January sales are a good time to pick up a lot of good bargains. Although check you are actually getting a good rate, as some shops will offer 'discounts' that really aren't. Just because the item is included under a big 'SALE' sign, doesn't necessarily mean it's worth buying. Check the price per item first.

For the less mathematically able among us, to calculate the price per item you just take the total price and divide it by the number of items included. For example, if a shop is selling a crate of 80 oranges for £12, then you would divide £12 by 80 to get a cost per individual orange of 15p.

Online cashback or coupon sites

If you prefer to shop online for most things, get into the habit of checking for extra discounts or coupons via sites like Top Cashback rather than going directly to the shop website. Obviously don't buy things just for the cash back, as that defeats the whole purpose. But if you are planning to stock up on an item anyway, then check if you can get a better deal. It's also worth asking around your friends and family in case they have coupons for items they don't use. Sometimes you can swap them for something you won't use. Which leads to...

Network, network, network!

Do you know others in your social circle that are trying to save a bit more money? If so, it might be worth teaming up and buying even bigger stacks of items in one go. You may find you get an even bigger discount if you purchase 40 boxes of something together rather than 20 boxes each as two separate customers. Or perhaps there is an item that both of you use, but you can't justify buying enough of in one go to get any discount. Teaming up with a housemate/colleague/friend/relative could mean that the total purchase qualifies for 5% off, which benefits you both. Just ensure you live close enough that you don't waste all of the money you save on delivering their shopping!

Buying things in en masse can save you quite a bit of money if done right. Just make sure you plan ahead and avoid any hidden costs.

New Landlord, New Career

With the summer out of the way, I've had a chance to sit down and examine where I am now compared to when I started this blog back in 2011 - something any good life coach would recommend. Not that I've ever been to a guru of any kind, but I imagine it's the sort of good advice one would give. It's the sort of advice my mother would give and she'd make an awesome guru. She's one of those lovely, tree-hugging, world of peace type ladies that you get on the cover of Time, decorating tanks with pretty flowers. I doubt she's ever considered her own life goals, but if you're already at one with existence then why bother?

So far I've managed to save £10k on a fairly low income (closer to £11k once my salary reaches the bank on Monday), moved across the country in search of a job, have jointly taken over the literary scene in my local town, and I'm nearing the end of my degree. Which leaves me wondering what I should do next.

My immediate concern is deciding on a career, so that I'm ready to move on to better things once I get that piece of paper in my hands. I work with some brilliant people and I'll miss them a lot, but there's not much scope to progress in my current role and I mostly turn up at the office to rest and relax from all the work I do at home - it isn't challenging in any sense. It was always intended as a stop-gap until I graduated, and it's been fun while it lasted. But onwards and upwards, as they say!

(I'll also mention the new landlord, as it's taken an extra £70 out of my savings (on top of an increase in monthly rent - sob). Not a good development financially, but it may only be a temporary glitch if I end up relocating for work next year.)

So... off to job hunt!

Route To Riches

Can you save up a million pounds? Can you save up a million pounds without a well paid job, rich relatives, a lucky break on the stock market or winning the lottery? What about during an economic downturn? How long would it take? How much would you have to sacrifice in order to achieve such a goal? Would inflation decrease the amount so much to make it no longer worthwhile? Is there really a simple, easy method of making a million pound fortune that anyone and everyone could follow?

I am going to find out. I'm going to attempt to do what so may of us dream of and so few accomplish. I want to be a self made millionaire. And I want to do it by the relatively young age of 35!

I have heard stories of 'a friend of a friend of someone who knew this guy who saved all of his dinner money forever and made a million pounds', but I have yet to personally meet anyone who became rich through anything but luck and extraordinarily good business skill. I've known many individuals who have tried the hard work route - slaving away to run their own business, spending every spare second analysing the stock market. Others have tried their hand with property. There were a few minor success stories, but no one who reached that magic six figure mark without some kind of outside help or a lucky break. What about the rest of us? The cleaner, the office slave, the low paid and overworked proletariat. Is the task of saving a million pounds so far out of reach?

I believe it can be done. I believe that anyone, regardless of salary, education, background or contacts can realistically save a million pounds if they really focus. I also believe that it can be done at a relatively young age. Although a million pounds isn't what it used to be, it's a pretty good first stepping stone to have. 'Millionaire' also has a nice ring to it! I am 23 now and my goal is a million pounds in the bank by the age of 35. This has to be pure liquid cash, not assets like cars, property or a company. £1,000,000 in my bank account!

To set the record, I am currently earning £15,000 a year (£12,100 after tax!), owe £4700 in a student loan and £5700 to my parents from college fees. I have no degree and no rich relatives. I do not own any property and do not have my own company. I have a low level office job, which doesn't appear to be going anywhere fast!

I have decided to break up this seemingly mammoth task into smaller goals to make things easier. My first mini goal is to save £5,000 and pay back all of my student loan (£4700) by the end of 2008. Not easy for a university drop out on practically minimum wage, but it can be done. I'm feeling positive! With that I am off to work, to begin my first day as a potential millionaire.

Best of luck to anyone who is thinking of joining me! To everyone else, I hope you are happy, healthy and content.