Has this ever happened to you?
You have a deadline to meet that you’ve known about for a month. It’s now 2 days before you have to make your presentation and you’re just getting started. Some call it classic procrastination, but you know that you’re really not a procrastinator. And you can’t use the excuse that you’ve been utilizing your time more effectively on other projects, because, in your heart-of-hearts, you know better.
Think you need a better “To-Do List?” “If I could just get control of my to-do’s!” Nope. That’s not it.
Think you need a new gadget, to become more technologically saavy, “I need the cloud!”? Nope. That’s not it.
(Although, home girl here does L-O-V-E the cloud!)
This has happened to all of us at one time or another and I am the proverbial pot calling the kettle black in this situation because I have been guilty of this a time or two (wink-wink) myself. But it happens to me rarely now and I’d like to share with you why I believe I’ve been able to avert this particular time management issue for some time. (I’m writing this hoping that my friends who call me at 1:30 in the afternoon while I’m getting a pedicure will stop hating me for it - THIS IS HOW I CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT - FOR REAL!)
Over the years on this blog, I’ve shared many of my success tips. But the single, most important tip I have around time management and avoiding the time crunch trap is this: Set goals.
Now, I’m getting ready to link you back to some old posts that will throw you into information overload on goal setting. And I know you think you know this stuff already, (’cause you do - yes - I’m talking to YOU), but i want you to read it again anyway. Why? Because we all get away from the basics sometimes. Professional athletes are guilty of it, spiritual gurus are guilty of it, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in bigger, brighter, prettier, shinier, newer ways of doing things and forget the basics. So a review is called for every now and again and today is your day - congratulations! (You wouldn’t have been drawn to this post if you didn’t need to do this, so don’t even think about bailing on me now.)
Here’s why this is so important and why I want you to re-read goal setting articles. First, setting goals for yourself helps you say no to projects that don’t fit within your value structure. But you have to know what your goals and values are before you can separate the wheat from the chaff.
Second, if you don’t have goals of your own, you’ll get caught up into everyone else’s. Have you ever noticed that when you’re focused and have your priorities in order you have more personal time and freedom? That you live life more joyfully? Why is that? Because you’re not taking on the problems of the world. Guess what - you’re not supposed to anyway! When you’re not focused you become a target. Things get dumped on you because you appear aimless and the fact that you say “yes” to every request has a lot to do with it, too. It all comes down to how you project yourself, which starts with how you view yourself. If you view yourself as important and a person with a mission, you’ll act as such, and you’ll be treated likewise. Don’t believe me? Prove me wrong.
Now, rest assured, I do have some new titles coming around time management skills, such as, the power of focusing, the 80/20 principle, always working from a calendar, using action to inspire your vision, and much more, so stay tuned for these updates, but in the meantime, get back to the basics - set some goals.
So without further ado, here are some of my top-rated posts on goal-setting.
How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve
The Value of Interim Goals
Determining Your Values
How to Write Your Personal Mission Statement
5 Ways to Use Your Time More Efficiently
How to Maximize Your Personal Productivity
Until next time,
Live Joyfully!
Posted under Motivation
