My client “Janice” (not her real name) is 66, vibrant, and sharp as a tack. She runs her own consulting business, helps care for her grandchildren three days a week, and juggles chronic pain on top of everything else.
One day in session, she shook her head and said:
“I know I should be tracking my spending better. But honestly? I don’t even have time to think about it.”
She’s not an outlier. She’s the norm.
Many of the women I coach are wise, accomplished, generous women who come to me not because they lack motivation, but because they’re overloaded. Not lazy. Not clueless. Just… full.
Time Scarcity Isn’t About the Clock
You’d think that after retirement, or once the kids are grown, things would open up. But that’s not always the case.
Time gets filled. With caregiving. Volunteering. Side businesses. Friendships. Health appointments. Home repairs. Emotional labor.
Even when there’s technically time on the calendar, there’s not always mental time, the emotional spaciousness to sit down and sift through paperwork or budgeting tools.
And so the pile grows. The avoidance and anxiety grow with it.
Perfectionism Masquerading as Responsibility
Many of us carry the belief that “once I catch up, then I’ll feel better.” We wait for the elusive moment when everything is organized, accounted for, explained.
But here’s the truth:
Catching up is optional. Regaining clarity is not.
You don’t need to sort every receipt or calculate every dollar from the last six months. You do need to know: Am I safe? What needs my attention next?
Instead of trying to tackle everything, start by asking: What actually matters TO ME right now?
Maybe it’s one bill. One account. One pile.
That’s more than enough.
Interrupting the Spiral
When financial tasks go undone, it’s easy to slip into guilt: I should have done this earlier. What’s wrong with me? I’m bad with money.
That spiral is not truth, even if it is familiar.
You can interrupt it gently.
I sometimes encourage clients to notice those spirals and say, “Ah, here it is again. The voice that says I have to do it all, perfectly, and yesterday.”
Notice. Breathe. Choose one small, elegant step instead.
One Tiny Action Is a Triumph
One envelope opened. One password reset. One dollar moved into savings.
Micro-actions like these aren’t trivial, they’re proof of re-engagement. They teach your nervous system, “I can do this.”
Sometimes, after a small step, I invite clients to ask with a smile:
“Did I die?”
It’s a silly phrase, but it helps.
We build resilience by showing ourselves that discomfort isn’t danger.
(Important note: If that question brings up shame instead of lightness, skip it.)
It’s the System, Not You
If your budget stresses you out, your receipts never make it into the app, or your tracking system causes dread… that’s not a personal failing.
It might just be a system mismatch.
A good system fits your life. It adapts when things get busy. It respects your energy, your values, your pace. A good system complies with your messy, beautiful life and never expects you to comply with it.
Instead of asking, “Why can’t I make this work?”
Try asking, “How could this system/routine change to better fit my actual life?”
You Deserve Tools That Make Room for Your Life
You are allowed to have full days and full emotions. You are allowed to pause, to be messy, to do less.
And when you’re ready to re-engage, you deserve support that feels like a deep breath, not a punishment.
And remember:
Not having time to think about money doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’ve been busy being human.
Start small. Stay gentle. Your clarity will return.
Your Thoughts:
How does time scarcity impact your finances? What systems and routines have you built that serve YOU – financially, emotionally and every other way?