We all know that doing the same old things will likely get you the same old result, right? Ok –
So with that in mind, what if I asked you what your top three priorities are for today – just for today? I asked that one time to a client, and she said (without humor), to clean up after the dog, referee the teenagers, and try not to fight with my husband. Well, yippee.
Your answer might be to drag yourself through the day at a boring unfulfilling job, do a lot of chores that are frustrating and repetitive, or be at everyone else’s beck and call and have no time for yourself. Well, yippee again.
It’s easy to lose sight of what you really want in your life when there’s so much going on in the world — not just the world at large, but your own world.
Or maybe you feel just the opposite – that you have “nothing” going on of any importance to you anymore.
That’s why it’s so important to stop and write down your priorities, frame them, tattoo them on your forehead (ok, too far, huh), but do put them where you can see them often to remind yourself of what you want in the long run, not just right now.
Ask yourself frequently: What is important to me? What is important for me to do now (today) if I want to (fill in the blank).
For example, for my financial goals, I keep a list with my checkbook so that every time I pay bills, or write in a debit, I’m reminded of what I’m saving for, and how I want to spend my money.
MB is a client of mine (thank you MB for letting me include your story) who was having trouble leaving her credit cards alone. She wrote her 3 financial goals on a small sticky note, and stuck it to her credit card in her wallet. She said that a few days later she was in line at the checkout to buy some new pants when she pulled out her credit card and noticed her 3 goals. She decided she didn’t need the pants after all, and left the line immediately.
With clear goals, you become the boss of your time, your money, your energy. You determine where it goes and – sometimes more importantly — where it *doesn’t* go. The goals help keep you on track. The goals help you decide “What’s Important Now”.
I keep my career goals posted in big letters on a bulletin board above my computer. For my leisure/health goals – home projects, exercise, vacations, etc., — I keep a list taped to my back door (seriously!)
These are my Road Map. These tell me where I’m going, and what my next step is. Like MB’s story above, these help me know what I say Yes to, and what I need to say No to. These help me make my choices every day.
We all have what I call “high goals”, even if they are unspoken. These are usually our common ground, but how we reach them is where the individuality comes in. Most people have a goal of “I want to have a happy healthy home life”. Another one is “I want to feel safe with my relationships, with my career, with my money.”
In order to achieve these higher goals, you must first break them down into manageable parts. You must first work towards a “happy healthy home life” by what you do right now, today. Ask yourself: What is important for me to do now (today) if I want to (fill in the blank).
Break your goals up into Long Term (like saving for retirement, learning to eat healthier, or starting a business), Mid-Term (within a few years, like down payment or writing a novel) and Short Term (perhaps establishing an emergency fund, losing some weight, or making some new friends).
I also keep a “This Week’s Goals” list which I usually make up on Friday or Saturday the week before. What works for me is usually one priority for home, one for work, and one leisure/pleasure. These are the big goals for the week, the one thing that if I did nothing else at all, I could still feel like I’d accomplished something if I got that done.
It might read: paint bedroom wall (home), write newsletter (work), finish tile on flowerpot (pleasure).
A “Today’s Goals” is important as well: Ask Yourself –if nothing else at all gets done today, what one thing would help me feel like the day was successful and productive, AND (important) lead me in the direction of my goals?
Put your What’s Important Now items first, and see the difference.
Professional Life Coach Kathy Gates is the author of several e-books and e-courses designed to help people live happier, healthier, easier lives. Sign up for her ezine, “Make It Happen” at http://www.reallifecoach.com.
