Currently, my life is a whirlwind. March is feeling like I am juggling flaming torches on a tightrope. “Why?” you may ask. It is all about adding the sale of our home into the mix while still keeping the work life afloat. Then, just to keep it spicy, throwing in a visit to the dentist and the preparation of month-end reports for our expanding stable of lovely bookkeeping clients. Phew! Who thought that was a clever idea? I am grateful we decided to get the sale sorted before EOFY and I am somehow managing to stay sane. I have even found little moments of joy amidst the chaos. My favourite joyous titbit was sharing the Appy Books office with the incredibly talented Electra Frost of Electrafi for a couple of days. What a delight she is!
So, what is my secret to pushing through? Below are my tips and tricks in case you are ever silly enough to follow suit. These will help you glide through this juggling act like a seasoned circus performer.
First things first, let's address the elephant in the room: selling your family home. It is emotional, it is stressful, but it is also an exciting new chapter waiting to unfold. My advice? Embrace the process, but do not let it consume you. Set aside specific times to deal with real estate agents, paperwork, and viewings, and try to keep those moments separate from your work life. Creating boundaries will not only help you stay organized but also preserve your sanity in the midst of it all. And try not to stress about having your home perfect all the time. I am afraid it is impossible for me to follow this little nugget of advice,
Onto the work front. With a growing stack of bookkeeping clients relying on you to crunch numbers and whip up month end reports, staying on top of things is non-negotiable. I have a selection of tricks up my sleeve to help you streamline the process and emerge victorious:
Prioritize like a Pro: Not all clients are created equal, and neither are their deadlines. Identify the high-priority clients and tackle their reports first. This way, even if the juggling act gets a little wobbly, you have got the most important balls in the air.
Automation is Your Friend: It is in our name – Get Appy! Say goodbye to manual data entry and embrace the wonders of automation. Invest in accounting apps that can handle the heavy lifting for you, from reconciliations to generating reports. Trust me, your sanity will thank you.
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate: You are a superhero, but even superheroes need sidekicks. If you have a team, do not hesitate to delegate tasks, and spread the workload. And if flying solo, consider outsourcing certain aspects of your work to trusted professionals. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Chunk It Down: Instead of staring down the daunting task of preparing reports for all clients at once, break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Set aside dedicated time each day to focus on a handful of clients and watch those reports practically assemble themselves.
Schedule Sanity Breaks: Amidst the chaos, do not forget to prioritize self-care. Schedule regular breaks to recharge and reset. Whether it is a brisk walk around the block or a 10-minute meditation session, taking care of yourself is key to maintaining balance in the midst of the madness.
So, there you have it! Selling your family home while juggling a mountain of work may seem daunting, but with a little bit of planning, prioritizing, and maybe a touch of magic, you can navigate this juggling act with grace and ease. Remember, you've got this, and there are a ton of people cheering you on from the sidelines.
Oh, and if you are wondering about the outcome of the house sale, it sold in 4 days! Two open homes and the deal was done. I guess all the stressing about keeping it looking like a display home was worth it. Now it is time for a well-earned nap.
Stay ‘Appy!
