I’ve chosen not to have a regular job and without it, I’m conscious that my days don’t have the structure they once did. Consequently, they often pass one to the next without me clearly noticing how that time has just gone.

My beloved spent 50p at a car boot sale and bought me a little desk calendar. You open it up each morning and move the cubes around, for day and month, by hand. This small thing brought home how little I’ve been accomplishing each day.

Similarly, paying with cash brings your attention to what you’re spending.

Smooth automation is obviously helpful. Seeing what’s really happening can be better still, now and again.