I’m rather embarrassed to admit this but if you read this blog or listen to my podcast then you need to know: I’m horrible at paying attention.

Does that change your view of me? I hope it doesn’t. The reason I teach (and preach) so much about paying attention to your finances is because I know first-hand what happens when I don’t pay attention to my own!

• I’ve taken $40 too much out of my Blow Money category
• I forgot to send in a bill before the due date
• I went into overdraft

Only one of these have happened in the past few years, so I thought I was getting better.

That was until I found the Luminosity app (click for link to the free app in iTunes).

Training my brain

This app is really cool. It consists of games designed to test your memory, reaction speed, and attention. It trains your brain with math problems and some very interesting puzzles.

Memory Matrix

One game shows you a grid with some squares filled in. Then it gives you the same grid but you are to tap on the squares that used to contain the filled in ones. It’s kind of like the old ’80s game “Simon”, but without the need to follow a sequence.

My favorite Luminosity game

My favorite game asks you to swipe your finger in the direct that the center bird is heading – not the other birds around it.

The game is simple but important to measuring our desire to answer quickly rather than make sure we get it right.

Raindrops

Raindrops has simple math equations that fall from the sky. Use the keypad to solve each problem before the drop hits the water. Talk about a fun math challenge!

Even though I score fairly well in this game, it’s the combination of responses to all the games that gives me an overall attention score. There are other measurements like speed, flexibility, etc.

Why I need to focus on paying attention

Last Saturday I was replacing a couple fenceposts. It had been set in 18″ of concrete so pulling it out of the ground was not an easy task.

I wanted to give up. I wanted to cut the post at the ground level and move on. My impatience made me want to quit and move on to something more interesting.

My daughter was helping and 30 minutes later I was about to give up. She said “We can do this dad. Don’t quit”. We focused all our attention on the problem and finally hoisted the stupid thing out of the ground.

Nothing great happens when you stop paying attention

When you think about it, nothing good happens by accident:

• Grass may grow but dandelions will overtake the yard if you don’t pay attention to the weeds
• You could get a raise but promotions go to those who focus on their work
• My daughter will grow up but she won’t be a strong, confident woman without her daddy’s attention

One of the “10 Steps To Improve Attention and CashFlow” is to deal with the distractions and track them. Have you started making note of each and every distraction that happens to you during the day? I’ve only begun to track it and I’m amazed at how often my phone takes me away from my task. A load of laundry seems innocent enough until you realize it costs you about 10 extra minutes of your life just going up-and-down the stairs between the wash-and-dry cycle and taking the hangers upstairs.

How I pay attention to our money

Here are some tricks I use to keep me focused on our money:

• Limit the amount of spending money (cash in my pocket) so I don’t blow it all too quickly
• Enter transactions into my smartphone using the YNAB app so I don’t forget
• Balance our checkbook monthly so to make sure we’re on budget and our account hasn’t been compromised

I’m also going to keep playing Luminosity until my Attention rating is in the 900’s. I just have to promise myself not to let it distract me from more important things.

What are some tricks you use to keep from being distracted in life? Share it on FaceBook or in the comments below. Thanks!