Discover a clever 3-step technique on how to weed out your time-wasting activities and set clear goals.
When you have clear goals, you can manage your time, energy and focus better – plus you’ll only freak out on a realistic scale instead of feeling the world is permanently on your shoulders.
Remember back to the beginning of the year when you made all those New Year’s resolutions? It was a time when you felt ready for change. To turn a new, fresh leaf. Look at where you are now. Is that momentum for change still running? If not, let’s reboot it. It’s time to plan. Time to quash the overwhelm.
How To Move Forwards This Year
It’s time to make a real plan to move your projects forward and give the ones that aren’t serving you the heave-ho. By actively seeking solutions and defining deadlines, you create your own momentum. This push is really about spring-cleaning your To Do and projects lists. The 3-step technique below is designed to help you do this as easily as possible and in most cases, in just under an hour.
Step 1 – Define Your Obstacles
Figure out where are you stuck and write this down. Write everything down. Which projects are taking up too much of your time? Which New Year’s resolutions have already hit the fan? Are you falling behind on housework? Did you give up on your diet? Or you spending way over your limit? Is that book you’ve been meaning to write just never going to get written? Where are you not pushing yourself but should be: at work or in a love relationship? Write down all the areas where you are stuck or not making progress.
Step 2 – Be Your Own Best Friend
We’re always really good at giving advice to our friends so apply this to yourself. Imagine your problem is your friend’s problem. Imagine they are expecting you to provide them with possible solutions as usual. Even go so far as to pretend they are coming to see you in an hour or ten minutes, so you have to get your thoughts together quick and come up with a plan for them. Write it down. You must do it within an hour as your focus will begin to diminish – actually according to the latest research, our brain gives up after 52 minutes of thinking time. (Use some of the methods listed below).
Step 3 – Call For Backup
Even though you are being more objective because the “problem” is not your own, you can also get creative with this process and ask friends to help out. Present your proposals from Step 2 to a friend. I asked a friend of mine who runs several bars and cafes to give me one hour of her time as a consultant. Just knowing I’d have to present my position to her made me write everything out with the pros, cons, investments, projected revenue, spider diagrams, business wheels, SWOT analysis, in short, the lot. I answered most of my questions before she arrived, but having her there resolved the stray ends and consolidated my areas of focus.
Food for thought: If you have a friend who is a plumber, you’d ask her to check your pipes, right? What is the difference then if you have a friend who is successful in business? Asking her for advice is not a sign of weakness, it is more a sign of respect.
Now It Is Back To You
Don’t delay. Do the above in a day. Don’t take more than an hour to find solutions. After you have planned out your priorities you’ll finally feel in alignment with your inner values and core beliefs. If you ignore them again and continue fire fighting and spreading yourself thin, you will continue to feel overwhelmed, dissatisfied and tired. Life is so much more of a breeze when your dancing to the rhythm of your own beat. Pay attention to your internal compass for navigating your life and knowing what needs to be looked at.
Work Smarter Not Harder
Remember how our parents used to say stuff like:
- Work is good for the soul.
- You must work hard in life to succeed.
- All this hard work will pay off in the end.
Well scrap that. You only need one mantra from now on and that is:
Work smarter not harder.
I also recommend including this reminder on your screensaver. Don’t fall back into the old habits of grinding away at futile and unfruitful projects. Channel your energy into areas that bring back rewards – both spiritual and financial. Keep your plan simple. Keep referring to it.
Results
After going through the above process, I cut over half of my projects off my To Do list. Just because it is a good idea doesn’t mean you have to do it or just because someone else is doing it doesn’t mean you have to – keep these projects on the back burner for when you have time some day in the future. Now instead of inching forwards with multiple projects, you’ll have core areas of focus that will propel you forwards through a more targeted use of your time.
Simplicity is key
By having a plan that is clear and simple, you will no longer be working non-stop or becoming despondent that your projects are not moving forwards because you’ve been spreading yourself too thin. Now you’ll have time for some self-care (a big favourite of mine: www.wellnessandwriting.com) and you’ll have time to think and reflect, therefore ultimately make better decisions, both on a personal and professional level.
Structure Will Give You Freedom
Try getting organised using one or all of the methods below (everyone has a way that works best for them). See how you can then start to free up some time for your well-being and how this makes you more focused and productive. Notice also how you are more satisfied and content with yourself and your work because it is moving forward.
– To Do List: If you’re a checklist person and like crossing things off, make a To Do list every day so you can cross some great big fact juicy lines through your list and get a sense of satisfaction. Only include your priorities, write the “blue sky” stuff on a separate list.
– Start using a planner – e.g. Asana or your google calendar or simply with a writing pad. Divide it into your main areas of focus. Keep a cover sheet with an overview monthly calendar so you can see when important deadlines, dates or events are looming. Keep you to do list on the top, visible at all times. Write this list every morning (or at the end of your work day) so you are ready and have direction.
– Divide the big jobs into smaller jobs. If you’re a real organiser like me, set aside a few hours for planning each of your main projects and subdivide them into major tasks and then subdivide those down into the smaller tasks until you can create a timeline to getting your wish list done (Gantt chart).
By creating routines, systems, structures and processes in your life this month you’ll be creating an environment that supports change, innovation and continued improvement. You’ll be creating the framework that will give you freedom as your projects take flight.
Top Tip
Get an accountability buddy. If you are on your own or do not have a “suitable” partner (professional or personal) to talk things through with, create an accountability buddy. This can be a friend or someone in a Facebook Group. You can both decide to have progress meetings, maybe weekly or monthly. We are surrounded by such talented women, both online and in our lives. Why not use them and help them. Helping each other, we move forwards. It’s time to get clear, get planning and get things moving.
The ultimate motivation guide by Francesca Hepton to help de-clutter your mind, find focus and resolve: “How to Get Fit with Reiki and Music”
Bio
Francesca Hepton: Personal development author and wellness blogger. Creator of the World of Wellness and Writing focusing on the benefits of self care for writers. Her blog offers free advice, online courses and tips to writers on how to improve their well-being and uplevel their writing.
www.wellnessandwriting.com
Twitter @FrancescaHepton
Facebook @WorldOfWellnessAndWriting
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