“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Let’s face it, if you’re the person who can create lofty goals without breaking them down into smaller tasks to accomplish, you are in the minority.
Each day is a bite-sized piece of my larger plan.
Recently, you may have made some New Year’s resolutions. Or like me, you may have chosen not to. I make goals. Annual goals. Then I break them down into plate sized chunks and then again into bite-sized pieces. Depending on the type of goal, I may also start with bite-sized pieces until I build the plate and eventually meet the larger goal. Either way, it’s the daily achievement of the small pieces that creates the end result.
Daily goals, when realistically set, also stop those feelings of overwhelm that easily discredit your efforts.
The behaviorist in me knows those daily goals should be easily achievable in order for you to WANT to reproduce your efforts. You know what that means? Ensure successful completion!
My coaching partner at the Golden Apple Center for Inner Excellence suggested, “Pad your schedule for shit happens time.” It was some of the best advice I’ve received to date.
If creating a plan and failing to achieve those daily goals is frustrating, remember to pad your time for rush hour traffic, last minute deadlines or surprises. At the beginning of each day, prioritize your tasks and decide which ones can be shuffled to tomorrow’s list, if necessary.
Hold yourself accountable but give yourself a break when needed.
You will be far more productive if you include downtime, personal time and family time in your daily plan. They are important to your success and well being – make time for them!
Plan to succeed!
If you work your time management plan to ensure the achievement your daily goals, the success quickly builds to effectuate your long term goals.
