Making sure you reach the finish line
As a person that sets many goals, I often get overwhelmed or feel like I’m underperforming, just because I’m not meeting everything that I’m supposed to be doing.
One of my main goals right now is launching an online business that generates sustainable income.
To me, that’s step one in the grand plan of building a life of choice.
I also want to inspire and share my journey with people, because I want to do something that matters, and contribute to other people while they are on their journey by sharing my challenges, and how I overcome them. That’s where this blog comes in.
But when you’re working a 9-to-5 and have other commitments and priorities on your plate, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing.
It’s so easy to feel like you’re letting yourself down every time you end up going to bed early instead of writing that blog post you were supposed to.
It’s easy to doubt whether you’ve actually got what it takes to get this damn thing off the ground.
I’m sure we’ve all been there. And I think the number one thing to say is: it’s okay.
It’s part of the process, and it’s part of the struggle. What’s important is not letting emotion get in the way of achieving your goals.
I think what really works for me is being realistic. A lot of people overestimate what they can do in a week, which eventually leads to repetitive failure and a sense that they aren’t really going anywhere.
Here’s what I found helped me:
Being realistic about time management
Being specific about the tasks I need to complete within the week
Outlining times to do each of them over the course of the week
Making sure I’m accounting for the “me-time” or “life-time” that is inevitable during the week
Planning contingency times, in case things don’t go according to plan (this one really helps!)
Not adding more to the list until I’ve completed what already needs to be done
If I find myself repeatedly making excuses, or missing out on what I’m supposed to be doing repeatedly, I take a good look at why it’s happening.
If I find that I’m making excuses, or skipping out on what I’m supposed to be doing because of laziness or distraction, I use a punishment tactic to discipline myself.
If I don’t do X within the week and time frame that I’m supposed to, then I’m going to have to give up my Saturday lunch with friends and do it then, etc.
If there’s just too much on my plate, I always sit down and go back to looking at everything that’s on my plate. Then I regroup and setup a more sustainable plan.
The goal is making sure I get to that finish line.. as fast as possible, but in a sustainable manner that ensures I actually get there.
Even if it’s slow and steady. Because consistency really is key.
