Happy Memorial Day

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Please take a moment to remember everyone who has fought and died for our freedom.

Killing Yourself For Your Job

I saw a quote on twitter the other day:

"You're killing yourself for a job that would replace you within a week if you dropped dead.  Take care of yourself."

Wow, did that quote strike a note with me!  It's ingrained in me to work hard.  My mother is a hard worker, always has been and always will be.  Her biggest struggle with aging is having to slow down.  My Dad was a hard worker, but he knew how to relax and was not afraid to speak up when he needed a break.  My mom would just go and go and get upset and angry when she was worn out.

As an insurance defense lawyer, my job is based on billable hours.  The more hours I bill the more successful I am in my position.  Working and billing clients makes money for the firm and is the main evaluation tool used by the firm. (but not really because the firm doesn't do performance evaluations.  Generally, the partners will look at the billable hours spreadsheet at the end of the year and complain about the lack of hours- mostly from the partners themselves. Anyways.) Most insurance defense firms encourage long hours and weekend work.

Over the last few years I have been trying to back off at work and do less. I've been so busy this year that backing off hasn't gone well.  Nevertheless, I've still found a few ways to stop taking on so much at work:

1. I told my boss I'm busy and I can't take on any new projects.  That worked for a limited time, until he decided to drop some work on me that he didn't want to do!
2. I refuse to answer phones and greet guests at the front door when all of the support staff leaves early, calls in sick or is working from home.
3. I'm trying to not come in as early.
4. I've stopped putting the burden on myself to save the firm money.  If it's better for my health to stay overnight at a hotel, then I do that.  Even if the hotel charges will not be reimbursed by the client. No more 18/19 hour days for me.



It's taken a long time, but I've recognized that my job is simply a job.  I replaced someone else who worked there and, at some point, someone else will replace me.  I've worked at other places, in other jobs and when I quit I was replaced.  I'm not so invaluable that I cannot be replaced by another lawyer.  Balance is a must in the workforce.

2018 Roth Maxed!!!

Yesterday was payday and I maxed out my 2018 Roth!!! This is the 4th year in a row and I am so excited.

My goal this year was to contribute $10,500 to my retirement savings. I planned to contribute $5,500 to my Roth and $5,000 to my taxable brokerage account.


In case you were wondering (and I would because I am a nerd ), I have been tracking my retirement contributions for the year.  These are the contributions for my Roth, they are as follows:

1/15/18    $1,390
2/15/18    $610
3/15/18    $1,270
4/16/18    $765
4/27/18    $55
5/11/18    $55
5/15/18    $1,355


Now I only have $5,000 more left to contribute for the year and I hope to be done by September.


How are your retirement savings going?  Are you on target to make your goal? 

Burnout

Guys, it's May.  I don't know what happened. It was late April and now it's May. May 6th.  Time is still flying and I feel perpetually behind.  On everything, work, life,home, etc.  I'm feeling especially burned out at work.  It's been rough lately and I have been working every weekend.  Except this one.  This weekend I decided that I just couldn't go into the office.  I truly could not bear the thought of sitting in the office for hours.

On Saturday, I got up early, went to Lowes and bought some stuff for the yard.  Then I met up with my friend and we went for a walk.  I came home and cut the grass, trimmed 2 trees, cleaned out a very overgrown and messy flower bed, trimmed the grass over hanging the sidewalk, picked up the limbs from the tree, pulled weeds out of another bed out front, pulled some vines that had grown into the bushes, and sweated like a pig.  I took a long nap afterwards.

Earlier today (Sunday), I went for a walk with my friend.  I came home, planted some flowers, trimmed up 3 trees on the side of the house, trimmed some flowers on the side of the house, re-mulched the bed on the side of the house, finished bagging some grass I pulled out of the bed out front, trimmed all of the hedges on the front of the house, picked up and bagged all of the limbs, blew all the grass off the sidewalk and bagged it,  washed part of the side of the house with some house cleaner and then power washed part of the side of the house (still have to finish- it's so much work- so much algae, etc). It's hot here, the temperature reached about 90 both days (I am a beautiful golden brown right now!). I took another nap and a hot shower.  Right now, I'm kinda of considering a walk.  I think the sunshine and fresh air did me good, another shot of it won't hurt. I also need to take the trash out- such a chore- ugh!

 Don't forget Mother's Day, it's next Sunday.  I gotta order my Mom's present because she will be here on Thursday. I also need to buy her some flowers.  Remember to call your Mommy.

I'm definitely not looking forward to work tomorrow.  I'm already kind of stressed about it, but it's okay.  Work is simply a trade off for money.  The money will help me meet my financial goals.  I have to manage it right, save it and make it work for me.