Using a Quarterly Review to Stop Feeling Perpetually Behind the Curve

I have felt behind the curve in work (and life) for … well, let’s just say for a long time now. I encountered a series of health challenges that set me back. That snowballed into some financial challenges. After that came COVID-19 which required new adjustments. And now it seems like almost a way of life: always feeling like I am several steps behind what I want to be doing to move forward. I’m hoping that a new quarterly review process will help me get back on track. Maybe, if I really work at implementing it, it’ll even help me to get ahead!

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How I Already Use a Quarterly Review

The quarterly review isn’t entirely new to me. I’ve worked for myself for a long time. Therefore, I’ve established a variety of different work and personal finance routines that work for me. Historically I’ve done a quarterly review of all finances. Actually, I do an end-of-month review, but then at the end of each quarter I go into more depth with that.

So, at the end of each quarter, I review:

How much I’ve earned and where it’s coming from
Total debt including interest rates and repayment amounts
Debt-reduction opportunities including balance transfers
Breakdown of where all money is going (budget review)

Honestly, I’ve dropped the ball on this in the past year. 2020 was rough for many reasons. Therefore, I need to go back and do my 2020 financials. As a result, my 2021 financials started off with less review than usual as well. However, we’re only two months in, and I can get back on track. Part of the benefit of the quarterly review is that it prevents me from slipping too far behind. So by March 31, 2021, I will have this routine back in place.

New Ideas to Benefit from a Quarterly Review

I want to stop feeling perpetually behind. I’ve been behind on deadlines for a long time now, which isn’t like me. But more than that, I’m behind on the projects and ideas that I personally want to establish. I’m hoping a quarterly review will help me feel like I’m catching up.

Here’s how I imagine this going:

The first two months of every quarter will be for planning, starting new activities, and promoting my work
The third month of every quarter will be for catching up, review, and rest

So, for example, I’ve spent a lot of time in January and February trying to plan out the year. I’ve started a bunch of new projects – or at least the initial stages of them. If I kept that up the whole year, I’d always feel behind. Instead, I’m going to take March to assess and make progress on what I’ve done in January and February. Instead of starting new things or committing to new deadlines, I’ll just catch up and get organized. Then in April and May, I’ll resume planning, spreading the word, looking for new projects, etc.

My hope is that having a stop-gap every third month to just catch up will actually assist me in moving forward.

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Kathryn Vercillo

Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.