Beating the Life Admin Battle

Emails, bills, diary alerts, and of course the dreaded snail mail; they all have a nasty way of getting on top of us. Dealing with them is never going to be fun, and if you’ve taken to unorthodox methods to avoid them, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey found that 32% of Brits ‘manage’ their bills by binge watching Netflix to distract themselves, whilst ‘hoping for a miracle’. It’s little wonder then that 30% of millennials feel anxious about their household bills. 

For many, this feeling of being overwhelmed seems to come from not knowing where to start in tackling the mountain of life admin that comes our way. After all, even though 59% of people are already considering changing service providers (therefore well aware that they could be getting a better deal elsewhere), a quarter of them have no idea how to actually go about doing it. 

If all of this is ringing true, here are some simple yet effective tips to help you take back control and get Bill Brave in 2018. 

• Clear the backlog – If you’ve been burying your head in the sand with regards to your life admin, chances are you’ll have drawers full of envelopes and pages worth of emails that need sorting out. Think of it like finances; if you want to start saving up, it’s best to clear existing debts first, right? It’s the same principle here. Grab the bull by the horns, tackle those oft-ignored bills, and you’ll be in much better standing (and headspace) to start moving forward. 

• Become the app master – Technology is your friend when it comes to navigating the traps of modern living, and admin is no exception. There are all sorts of apps that can help with everything from time management and productivity, to efficiency and general organisation. WonderBill is a great example. Displaying all your household bills in one place, accessed via a user-friendly dashboard, it allows you to monitor your various accounts, review outgoings, and switch deals with ease. 
• Routine is key – We’ve all done it: putting admin off and telling ourselves we’ll get to it later, when in reality, we know that ‘later’ will never come. Building life admin time into your regular routine allows it to become habit, stopping it from feeling like such a chore, and preventing a backlog from building up again. Be it short, sharp bursts (like 10 minutes every morning) or setting aside an afternoon each week, find what works best for you and stick to it. 

With a few easy steps, a little bit of savvy thinking, and a more proactive attitude, conquering your life admin suddenly seems like a much less daunting task. 

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/beating-the-life-admin-battle/