Settling into February
February has arrived and with it comes the reality that normal life has returned. The holiday season is over, and we have now had ample time to recover and reset. We are back to normal work weeks, we must focus on our professional responsibilities, and we must put ourselves in position to have a strong 2024.
Finances
Now that we have settled into 2024, we must finalize our financial obligations from the previous year. Most notably we must pay our taxes. W2s and other tax documents are being prepared and sent out and the clock has started to file our tax returns for 2023. This must be done personally and professionally. Meaning that we must prepare in two separate ways. This is more burdensome based on your career but preparing financial statements effects most Americans. This can be as simple as submitting an expense report to having to audit an entire division of a company based on your roles and responsibilities. While doing this we must also figure out how to process our personal tax returns. We can do it ourselves or we can hire someone to prepare and file the required documents for us. There is no right or wrong way to do it if it is done accurately and per all regulated guidelines. Just do not procrastinate, Tax Day is April 15th, and that date arrives quicker than we think.
Scheduling
Part of the grind of everyday life is coming up with a schedule that works for you, your family, and your employer. No one can be everywhere at the same time and the best way to avoid scheduling conflicts is to come up with a plan. This is the time of the year when we must assess what deadlines we have in 2024 and what other obligations we must meet. This will allow us to ensure that we do not create conflicts throughout the year. Scheduling conflicts will always occur, but we can minimize them. The easiest way to achieve this is to start big and work our way back. That means finding and identifying the most important events in your year and getting them on the calendar. These could be major things like required work conferences, projects with deadlines, or critical family events or less pressing events like birthdays, vacations, and social events. Once a baseline is established, we will have a template to work from to allow us to schedule short notice events without too much of a headache. Additionally, it gives us time to come up with solutions to any scheduling conflicts that we identify.
Education
Education is a commitment that we make for ourselves and our children and to succeed it takes a lot of work. Many people never end their education and always try to expand their expertise and capability and doing so takes a lot of time and energy. Additionally, ensuring our children get the best education possible involves a commitment from us to help, encourage, and monitor. Most schools and advanced learning institutions take winter breaks and spring break. Planning around these school vacations is a must but what happens between the two matters even more. It is easy to lose focus and become relaxed in the advancement of ourselves and our children following the holiday season. Now is a great time to take a moment to refocus and figure out what must be done to maximize our whole family’s education. Remember, do not focus on the grades or the past but think about how we can make improvements going forward. This can be more study time for us and our children or an entirely different approach to how we learn. Once again, the correct answer is unique based on each person’s situation and needs but we must spend the time and effort to figure out what to do. Education is our future and that of our families, it must be a priority.
Normal life is upon us, and the craziness of the Holidays and the New Year is far behind us. The start of February is a great time to wrap out our 2023 responsibilities and set up our schedule for 2024. This will ensure we are in the best position possible to have a successful 2024. Finally, our comfort when we work and where we study is important. If you find your current workspace needs an upgrade or if you have any advice on office chairs, desks, or any other commercial furniture please feel free to contact us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com.