Back to school … back to work. Yup. Summer is officially over and it’s focus time. Time to get serious about taking steps to make sure that you don’t fritter away this last bit of what’s left of this amazing year.
Like many, I began this year with some pretty lofty goals. Some I’ve completed. YAY for me! Some new stuff came in and I got those done. Good for me. Some … well, uhm … how did we manage to get to September already!??
We’re in the home stretch now, so it’s time to get serious and get at least one big-ticket item done before the end of this year.
If there’s any one project or goal that you want to get done, I have a few tips that will help you get ‘er done.
Check these out.
What is it? I know this may seem silly but really get clear on what specific thing you want to accomplish. Write it down. Somewhere. Anywhere that it can serve as a reminder that this is an important priority.
What is the benefit? Seriously, you need to understand what the benefit of getting it done will be. Imagine it. Get that picture in your head. Once you know what the real benefit of completing it is, you’ll get excited and motivated.
Break it down. If it’s a big thing, it will likely take a few steps to actually get it to completion so get pen to paper and break it down into smaller bite-sized pieces. That way you can chip away at it a little at a time.
What are the obstacles? We all have them. They can be external such as a full plate of work – you may have to defer some things. Obstacles can also be internal – your inner dialogue. You know … that little critic that tells you things like I’m too busy or What’s the point or … fill in the blank. Get them out in the open because ignoring them will only hold you back. Challenge them and take steps to ensure you will get to the end in spite of these obstacles.
Make the time. You will never just ‘get more time’ so you may as well start blocking off some time in your busy calendar for this. Make appointments with yourself – even 30 minutes at a time is 30 minutes closer to getting it done. That’s why you need to break it down into small pieces, to begin with.
Respect your time. It’s way too easy to give that time up to something else. I know. I’m guilty of it sometimes too. Have as much respect for that appointment as you would for a client appointment. Don’t ignore it. Be intentional about when you are scheduling the time in your calendar. Choose times where your brain is ‘on’ – avoid the 3:00-dragging-my-butt time of day. Set yourself up for success.
Support. What kind of support might you require in order to accomplish this goal? Do you need an accountability buddy? Do you have a coach that can help keep you on track with it? There’s no rule that says you need to do this alone. Reach out. Ask for help.
Celebrate! Rather than seeing what’s still left to be done, look at what you’ve already done. Every time you get one step closer to reaching your goal, take a moment to acknowledge yourself. That’s called motivation. So go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back, or high-five, or whatever. You deserve it.
With a little bit of focus and determination, plus using these steps, you’ll be well on your way to getting that one big thing done before the end of the year. Won’t that feel great?
Roll up your sleeves and get back to work. Get more done.
Now, get on with your day!
