Setting
goals is the easy part -- but sticking with them over the long run
can be a major challenge! Some people think that motivation requires
will-power and dedication. Actually, staying motivated is all about
setting up an environment that is conducive to you accomplishing
your goals. Here are ten “tricks” for giving your goals staying
power past January 31st:
BREAK YOUR GOALS DOWN
Do you know why 90% of us don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions?
Because our goals are too big and too vague. Instead of telling
yourself that you want to “get organized,” try breaking that goal
down into something smaller and more concrete. “Clean out all clothes
that haven’t been worn in a year” or “move all of the sports equipment
to the garage” gives you a solid place to start -- then you can
move on to another small goal that will take you one step closer
to “getting organized.”
PUT IN 15 MINUTES A DAY
Some people think that you have to commit hours of uninterrupted
effort if you want to accomplish a goal. But the greatest advances
are often the sum total of a series of SMALL EFFORTS -- a drawer
here, a cabinet there, maybe a closet. Once you have set your goals
for the year, commit to spending 15 minutes each day doing something
that will move you closer to accomplishing that goal. You will be
amazed at how quickly you progress!
PAINT YOURSELF IN A CORNER The worst deadline you can set for accomplishing a goal
is “over the next year” -- too vague, to broad, and too much room
for slacking. Sometimes it’s best to paint yourself into a corner
if you want to get a project done. If your goal is to clean out
the guest bedroom closet, invite company over! Make a COMMITMENT
to someone else -- just knowing that other people are counting on
you is often just the little “push” you need to get moving.
WORK WITH A “BUDDY”
This rule doesn’t just apply at the gym! Do you have a friend who
can help out with some of your organizing projects? Two people will
get more done in shorter period of time -- and you will be less
inclined to keep a bunch of junk you don’t need! Just remember that
you will be expected to reciprocate when your friend gets ready
to clean out! And if you can’t recruit any free help, consider bringing
in a Professional Organizer -- someone who can be objective about
your clutter.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT YOUR
PLANS
The best way to make yourself accountable for accomplishing your
goals is to tell other people about your plans. The minute you spread
the word that you are working on a project, people become interested
in your progress. “Hey, how are you doing getting that garage in
order?” Every time you hear those words, one of two things will
happen. Either you will feel inspired to dig back in and get to
work -- or you will feel lousy because you haven’t made any progress.
Option A gets you moving, while Option B tells you that something
is out of alignment and you need to RE-EVALUATE your goals. Either
one is a step in the right direction.
PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER
You’ve heard it a million times -- if you write a goal down, it
is more likely to come to fruition. There is something about the
act of putting your thoughts (any thoughts) on paper that makes
you more committed to the outcome. You have invested time and energy
writing your goals down -- what a waste if you didn’t actually go
through with them! And it is wonderfully therapeutic to cross an
item off of your list once you complete it!
REVIEW YOUR GOALS REGULARLY
The best thing about writing your goals down is that you have something
physical to hold in your hand and refer back to when you need a
boost. But reviewing your goals doesn’t just mean skimming the page
and counting up how many things you haven’t done yet. You must also
ask yourself some questions about each goal -- why haven’t I made
more progress on this goal? What’s getting in my way? Is this goal
still important to me? If your priorities have changed, drop it
from your list. You have enough important things to do -- you don’t
need to sweat over not accomplishing an unimportant task.
DEVELOP A “MANTRA”
Repetition is the mother of success, so you need to remind yourself
of your goals everyday. Pick your most important goal this year,
and turn it into a one-sentence “mantra.” Your mantra should be
in the form of an affirmation -- a statement phrased as though you
have already accomplished your goal (“I am the master of my time”
or “I live in a clutter-free environment.”) Repeat this mantra first
thing when you get up, last thing before you go to bed, when you
are driving in the car, as you take a shower. Post sticky notes
with your mantra on it around your home and office. Pretty soon,
this will become your natural way of thinking -- keeping you going
when you run into a roadblock.
ENJOY YOUR SUCCESSES
When was the last time you really acknowledged the fact that you
accomplished an important goal? Too often, we simply charge into
the next task on our list without really appreciating our achievements.
Next time, spend a few minutes reflecting on what you have accomplished
-- remembering the time and effort you invested and savoring the
feeling of completion. This will refresh and renew your enthusiasm
to continue on with your next goal. Without that moment of pause,
you will eventually burn yourself out and lose all sense of motivation.
PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK
Do you reward yourself for a job well done? Lets go one step further
-- do you plan ahead of time what reward you will give yourself
when you complete a task on your list? There is a lot of wisdom
in the old idea of a “carrot and stick.” As you plan out your goals
for the next year, attach a REWARD to each. It could be as simple
as a walk around the block, or as grand as a two-week vacation --
just make sure that your reward is commensurate with the amount
of work you will have to do to reach that goal. And be consistent
about rewarding yourself for every accomplishment, no matter how
small. You deserve it!
Ramona
Creel is the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com
--
offering "a world of organizing solutions!"
Visit OnlineOrganizing.com
for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even
get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you
are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all
the tools you need to succeed. (Copyright 2000, Ramona Creel)
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