There are times you know that you could be doing better.
There are other times that you set some stretch goals, despite how busy you are, because you know it’s important to keep growing.
Well, you don’t need to take all of it on at once. When things loom too large you go into overwhelm and that won’t help you reach your goals or make those changes.
Here are 7 simple and easy suggestions for you that will help you get where you want to go.
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Break it down. Instead of focusing solely on that Big Hairy Audacious Goal, break it down into smaller goals and milestones and target dates. You’ll be glad each time you get to check off one more milestone and it will keep you motivated to keep going.
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Schedule time every day. Each and every day prioritize one thing you need to do to reach your goal. It can be as simple as making a phone call or connecting to someone via email. The idea is to be consistent and keep your eye on what you want to achieve. If you don’t make time, your time will be absorbed by other things. Put it in your planner or calendar so each day you are moving forward.
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Simplify. Sometimes we simply make things so much more complicated than they need to be. Where can you simplify? Can you systematize something so it runs on its own? Are you using other resources to help you? Simple things that are immediately do-able create a sense of accomplishment. KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie) is always a good plan.
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Remember the 1 degree of deviation principle. If you stay on course you will get somewhere but not necessarily where you wanted to go. This principle alludes to pilots when they navigate. The plane is constantly moving off course so attention to the deviations and making adjustments based on conditions is necessary to arrive at your destination. You may find you need to adjust plans, timetables and strategies to make the most of current conditions.
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Manage your energy. You may be a morning person, making you most productive and focused in the early hours where your energy is at peak the time when you want to tackle your big tasks. Or you may be the opposite. Knowing when your energy is high will help you plan your day and tasks so you’re more in the flow of productivity and there is less struggle and anxiety.
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Rest. Even when you feel you cannot afford some time off, take a step back and pause and rest. Those may be the exact moments of stress when you most need to rest and recalibrate. Athletes know that only after they work out and rest does the body have time to recover – and get stronger. Remember this isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. Staying rested and healthy are important to achieving your goals without compromising your health and wellbeing.
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Celebrate even the little achievements. Don’t wait to celebrate once you’ve reached your goals or made your change. Incorporate gratitude, appreciation and celebration when you reach milestones or when you’ve achieved something challenging on the way. You may not have someone to pat you on the back so be sure to do that for yourself and acknowledge your own hard work.
All of these suggestions are easy to do if you’re paying attention to yourself and committed to achieving a specific result or goal. Keep this list handy so when you stray or drift you can recalibrate your course (see #4).
Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash
