Where did my time go?

 Have you ever wondered where your time went? Sure, you have…we all have at one point in our lifetime. We all sit around looking back at a series of wasted time we invested and wonder where the time went. If we had planned, organized, worked hard, and set goals, we would be looking back and wondering how we can move beyond our already achieved goals. But no, we did not have a plan, set our goals straight, stay organized, or work our booties off to achieve the goals we planned. Don’t complain, you did it!

Planning is a step to managing time. When we plan, we set goals that we can achieve over time. Every day, if possible, you should make a list of the tasks you want to achieve and work through those tasks until they are completed. Anytime we complete a task, we are encouraging our self-esteem and promoting motivation.

When individuals set clear, achievable goals, they have a roadmap to follow. This helps in breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, making it easier to track progress and stay motivated. Additionally, planning allows for better prioritization of tasks, ensuring that the most important activities are completed first. This reduces the likelihood of wasting time on less critical tasks and helps in maintaining focus

By anticipating possible obstacles and having contingency plans in place, individuals can adapt more readily to changes and continue making progress towards their goals. This proactive approach minimizes downtime and keeps momentum going, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

Life is unpredictable, and sticking too closely to a strict plan can lead to stress and frustration when things don’t go as expected. This rigidity can also stifle creativity and spontaneity, as individuals may feel confined by their plans and reluctant to deviate from them.

Some individuals may spend so much time creating detailed plans that they delay taking action. This can result in missed opportunities and a lack of progress, defeating the purpose of planning in the first place.

While flexibility is important, a balanced approach to planning can incorporate adaptability without sacrificing structure. By setting clear goals but allowing for adjustments along the way, individuals can stay on track while remaining open to new opportunities and changes. This balance helps in maintaining focus without feeling restricted.

Regarding the issue of over-planning, the key is to find a middle ground. Spending time on planning is essential, but it should not become an excuse to avoid acting. By setting specific, time-bound goals and regularly reviewing progress, individuals can ensure that planning serves as a tool for action rather than a barrier to it.

Effective time management through planning is a powerful tool for achieving success and productivity. By setting clear, achievable goals and being prepared for potential obstacles, individuals can stay focused and motivated. While it’s important to remain flexible and open to change, a balanced approach to planning can provide the structure needed to make consistent progress.

To avoid the pitfalls of rigidity and over-planning, individuals should aim for a pragmatic approach. This involves setting realistic goals, being adaptable, and regularly reviewing and adjusting plans as needed. By doing so, individuals can make the most of their time, achieve their goals, and avoid looking back with regret at wasted opportunities.

In conclusion, planning and time management are essential skills for making the most of our time. By understanding and balancing the benefits of structure with the need for flexibility, individuals can achieve their goals and lead more productive, fulfilling lives.

 

What do to?

For those of us in Canada, there is a great deal of uncertainty about what we can do when we are vaccinated. In the U.S. the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines on March 8 for fully vaccinated individuals, saying they can safely meet indoors without masks or physically distancing with others who had received both shots.

The CDC also said those who have had both shots can visit with unvaccinated people from a single  household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19, as well as skipping quarantine and testing if exposed to COVID-19 without showing symptoms.

We in Canada are left wondering what they can do after getting vaccinated and if we can safely see our families, other vaccinated people or generally feel less at risk from COVID-19 after a year under strict public health measures.

But the recommendations still haven't been updated leaving many of us tempted to make up our own rules while we are waiting for our Public Health Agencies across Canada to tell us what we can and can't do after being vaccinated.

In Canada, we are waiting four months at least for our second dose, so what are the guidelines for Canadians who have only had one dose?

The science is clear, we are only fully vaccinated after two doses. Does this mean that Canadians will have to continue practicing physical distancing, proper hand hygiene, avoiding crowds and wearing masks in public?

There is some science that says you are “still at risk even though you're fully vaccinated," says Kelvin, who is also evaluating Canadian vaccines with the VIDO-InterVac lab in Saskatoon. He goes on to say that “even with two doses, you can still be infected and transmit the virus — you just might not be as ill as somebody who wasn't vaccinated.”

So, currently, it appears that we, in Canada, needs to continue to follow the strict rules we have been under for a year, but with some loosing of a few restrictions. The sooner we can get the second does, the faster we get back to near normal.

Are you prepared 4

This is one of the most important pieces of advice that is ignored by many.

Often people make a plan or put a kit together but when it is needed the components cannot function, (e.g.  The flashlight batteries are dead, the radio does not work, etc.) 

So maintain your plan by:

·       Reviewing your emergency plan every 6 months

·       Updating contact information and redistribute

·       Conducting an emergency evacuation drill on a regular basis at least twice a year

·       Replenishing your emergency kit once a year

Are you Prepared 2

Why is a plan important? If you are prepared and have a plan, you are ready and can act without having to think about what you need to do in the emergency. Remember, that the likelihood of surviving a disaster or emergency depends greatly on the planning and preparation done today. All households need an emergency plan, because a plan helps you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency

During a fire or other emergency, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Be ready to get out as fast as possible. Be sure that everyone in your household is aware of the best escape routes out of your home or where the safe places within your home are too. In making your plans, draw a floor plan of your home and show escape routes.

Steps to preparing the plan that works for me. My first step is to visualize the emergency situations which are applicable to me and to you.  Then I make sure that I and everyone else knows where the electrical box, gas shutoff and water shutoff are in the house.

In an emergency, if you can shut off power, gas and water, as part of your escape strategy. In addition to making sure the power, water and gas are off, identify emergency exits from each room in your home. If you live in an apartment building, plan how to get out without using the elevators. Identify an escape route from your neighbourhood, just in case you have to leave the area. If people are not home or you get separated agree on where you will meet. The meeting place should be a relatively safe place reasonably near your home but outside of the immediate neighbourhood. Also it is a good idea to know what your community has planned, they may have a specific place to go and register in emergencies

As part of your overall plan, it is recommended that you create a written communication plan which you keep with you in your emergency kit, but can also be passed along to family or friend. This plan should include important phone numbers such as family members, out-of-town contact, emergency services. Your friends and relatives out of the area, will have a need to get in touch to see if you and your family are well, so you should pre-arrange an out-of-town contact. When you do this choose someone readily available so you can describe your location and exchange messages with family and friends.

Keep a record of vital information and carry a copy with you. This vital information should include:

·       Contact details (phone and e-mail information) for the out-of-town “link”, family, friends, doctors, neighbours, insurance agent and policy number, etc.

·       Personal medical and

Once you have the information, organize your personal documents (e.g. passport, power of attorney and will) in one place. It is recommended that you use a fire-proof box (or your freezer) or a safety deposit box.

Ensure that someone other than you (someone you trust) knows where your documents are stored. Establish a personal support network to assist you in preparing for a disaster and to help when it occurs. 

Emergency preparedness officials recommend that seniors have at least 3 people you can trust who are close by, will check on you and provide help within minutes. These people should be familiar with your home (e.g. location of gas and water shut-offs). 

You should review your emergency plan with them along with health information, e.g. medical conditions and history, allergies, surgeries, medications, you may have. These people should also know your capabilities (I.e. functional/physical limitations) and other needs you have.

If you have special equipment, (walkers, canes, medical equipment, etc.) you need, label and provide instructions for equipment use, and if applicable, teach your supporters how to operate medical and mobility equipment. Keep all your medical equipment and supplies in a designated place.

In addition, it may be important to practice giving directions (Clear and concise) should you have to describe them to rescue personnel. Also, keep a list of your medications on the fridge or inside front door. Many emergencies happen at night, here is a simple idea, stash a pair of hard-soled shoes under your bed so you will have proper footwear when you leave.

Store your treasured photographs in one place or scan them onto your computer if you can. Backup your computer files onto a hard drive regularly and keep it somewhere safe, or backup your files online

If you live in an apartment building contact the building management about emergency procedures and evacuation plans  Ask the building manager, especially if you have functional limitations, to clearly identify and mark accessible exists and areas designated for emergency shelter.

If you rely on home support services, you should contact that agency to find out if they have special provisions for emergencies (I.e. if home support worker cannot make it, can services be provided in an alternate location?)

This next part of the plan, is for those of you who have pets. Remember that pets may not be allowed in emergency public shelters so you might want to make alternate arrangements for pets in case of emergency.  For example, find pet-friendly motels (or friends) in advance

In case of evacuation, try your best to take pets with you, if you can, remember they will be frightened and may act differently than normal, so do not endanger yourself trying to save your pet. First responders are better equipped to help your pets, especially if they are frightened.

Add pet food and supplies to your emergency kit, as well take their medications and any special food they may require. If you are able to get your pet, make sure they are secure by using a carrier and/or leash.

If you cannot take your pet, post a sign to let rescue workers know the number, description (or photo) and names of pets left behind, leave plenty of water and dry food in a dispenser and call on your support team for help.

Tomorrow I will focus on preparing an emergency kit

Get the facts straight.

The following is an interesting response from a Canadian perspective on a letter that originated in the US in 2011 and is still making the rounds on the Internet with different names and situations. I like the response, the problem is that there is no Canadian or American Senator named Jeff Smith. There is also no person that I could find name Patty Johnstone in Ontario, who will admit to writing this email and I am not sure about Patty Myers either.

The original response was from an American citizen to a statement made by a US senator as outlined by TruthorFiction.com. Even if these two people do not exist, I do agree with some of the sentiment of their response. I believe that we as Boomers have paid our fair share of taxes to support government programs, which may help us in our retirement. I believe while others don't, that those taxes are the price we pay for a better society. The original writers may be unknown, but the sentiment and anger are real and it was this anger that allowed Donald Trump to win the election in 2016 in the US and what gave Doug Ford the win in the recent Ontario election in Canada. 

Both these men, understand this anger and used it to gain and hold onto power. The anger that was in the original email back in 2010 is still there, for many people the anger is just under the surface, and because it is under the surface the anger is being ignored by many at their peril and being classified by some as fake news. There is a growing minority that allows their anger to come to the surface and a few are acting out on their anger. The actual emails are fake, but the underlying anger is not.

The comment of calling senior citizens the greediest generation was made by Senator Simpson in response to criticism from the opposition of the Simpson Bowles proposal to reduce the deficit and cut spending. 

The angry letter to Simpson surfaced on the Internet in early 2011 but in its original form was anomalously signed. It was not until late 2012 that this letter began appearing attributed to the authorship of Montana citizen Patty Myers.

TruthOrFiction.Com is still working to confirm the real author, but as of today still have no idea who wrote the original letter.

Jeff Smith, the Senator from Québec calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Insurance" to a Milk Cow with over a million teats.

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY JOHNSTONE in Ontario ... I think she is a little-ticked off! She also tells it like it is!

Oh sooo true!

"Hey Jeff, let's get a few things straight!!!!!

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.

2. I have been paying Canada Pension Plan (CPP) & Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3. My Canada Pension payments, and those of millions of other Canadians, were safely tucked away in an interest-bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Insurance into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled the proverbial football away from millions of Canadian seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I and millions of other Canadians have been paying into OHIP & CPP from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from OHIP & CCP to pay the bills.

6. I and millions of other Canadians have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you "incompetent bastards" spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the Canadian taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt. To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" to your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU:

1. How much money have you earned from the Canadian taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the Canadian taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Parliament who is the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nut case thieves who have bankrupted the Canadian Pension, OHIP and stolen the Canadian dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.

And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech.

That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted our benefits for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch. NO, I didn't stutter.

P.S. And stop calling CPP & OHIP "entitlements". WHAT AN INSULT!!!!

I have been paying into the CPP system for 45 years "It's my money"-give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks

EVERYONE!!! If you like the way things are in Canada delete this.

If you agree with what an Ontario citizen, says, please PASS IT ON!!!

=================================================================

The American response by Patty Myers is below:

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!

"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight!!!

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.

2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest-bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age, 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to pay the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you "incompetent bastards" spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt. To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" to your incompetence.

Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU:

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.

And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech. That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

And you can take that to the bank, you miserable s-n of a b-t-h. P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits "entitlements". WHAT AN INSULT!!!! I have been paying into the SS system for 45 years “It's my money”-give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks.

EVERYONE!! If you agree with what a Montana citizen, Patty Myers, says, please PASS IT ON!!!!

My advice, don't pass it on, it is fake, get the facts straight.

More thoughts on planning for retirement

I was talking to my accountant about planning for retirement and he mentioned that there is one thing that young people and my people age do not plan for. He mentioned that people including sonic boomers have roughly $3,000 to $6,000 in medical bills not covered by any plan. He also said that many of his clients who are living on just Old Age Security and the supplement are sitting on homes that are paid for, and if sold would help the person have a better quality of life. He said that when he mentions this his clients respond with this sentiment: I would love that but if I do, what would I leave my children?" 


So poor planning and misguided sentiment (in my mind) leave people living in poverty or near poverty. I am sure that people understand the need to save, I am not sure why they don't save. That is why I found the ideas expressed by Olivia and Stephan interesting, I hope you do as well.


What might explain this apparent inability to plan properly for retirement? People try to save for retirement, but they too often not able to execute intentions. In a sense, saving for retirement requires behavior similar to those undertaken in other behavior modification programs such as exercising, dieting, quitting smoking, or following through on New Year’s resolutions. In other words, a key obstacle to saving more is not necessarily lack of awareness, but rather the ability to take action on the knowledge.  Here are some reasons why this happens.

People understand their inability to act even when they have good intentions and often seek to protect themselves through the use of commitment devices, or mechanisms that help foster desirable changes in behavior.

“Pay yourself first” is one of a number of standard commitment device used by financial planners and others who want to encourage disciplined saving and budgeting. Other commitment devices include tax refunds and Christmas or other Clubs, where individuals engage in economic activity that on the face of it are not economically sound (e.g. loaning money to the government or to their local banks at below-market rates). What the individual gets in exchange is a disciplined approach for accumulating savings. Another commitment device that is used by the government is to impose high penalties and withdrawal restrictions on retirement plans. The idea is that once the money is allocated to these plans, a psychological and financial hurdle is imposed on the individual accessing the money, which will help to counteract lapses in personal willpower.

People can be easily influenced by decision framing. In traditional economic theory it is assumed that rational economic agents (individuals) would not be expected to vary their responses to a question based on how it is asked. We know this is not the case. The simple rephrasing of the saving question elicits a different response in plan participation rates. Researchers have shown that when workers whenA faced with the option that requires them to sign up for a savings plan then they do nothing. If the employer institutes an automatic enrollment plan (that you can opt out of at any time) with a saving rate specified by the employer or the union more people save at the rate specified by the employer. This behaviour is explained by the idea that when confronted with difficult decisions, individuals tend to adopt shortcuts that simplify the complex problems they face. One simple shortcut is to accept the available default option—i.e., rather than making an active choice, accept the choice made by others. For one large US firm, plan participation rates jumped from 37 percent to 86 percent for new hires after automatic enrollment was introduced.

Evidence reveals another anomaly about individuals and their saving behavior: the important impact that inertia or procrastination plays on decision-making.  Researchers have concluded that, many of us follow “the path of least resistance” in our decision-making. We make the easiest, rather than the best, decision. This passive approach to decision-making is indicative of individuals being somewhat imperfect rational economic agents in their retirement and savings decisions, especially when there is a great amount of choice.

Offering workers many investment choices can produce choice overload; faced with complex investment choices, some participants may elect to simplify the decision by following their default plan, i.e., don’t decide, don’t join the plan, or find out what friends at work are doing. Many of our saving decisions can be strongly influenced by peers.

Just as our saving choices can be affected by framing, so too can our investment decisions be influenced, sometimes strongly, by framing effects.