Getting Rid of Distractions

Goal-Setting 101

Do you lack a clear approach or desire to start moving in the direction of your dreams.  Let’s go there next in the form of some “standard” steps to follow:

1. Decide what you want.  Brainstorm ten goals you’d like to achieve in the coming year.  From your list, ask yourself: What one goal, if I were to accomplish it, would have the greatest impact on my life?
2. Write it down – clearly and in detail.  A goal that isn’t in writing isn’t a goal at all.  It’s merely a wish and has no energy behind it.
3. Set a deadline.  A deadline acts as a “forcing system” in your subconscious mind. It motivates you to do the things necessary to make your goal come true.
4. Make a list.  Itemize everything you can think to do to achieve your goal. As you come up with new tasks/activities, add them to your list.
5. Organize your list.  Writing out your plan is like developing a blueprint to build your dream house.
6. Prioritize.  Highly productive people work steadily and smoothly – rather than waste time and risk to siphon their efforts through low value activities.
7. Take action.  Do something related to your goal each and every day – even if it feels minor.  Maintain the momentum!

Develop a Sense of Urgency

When you work on high value tasks at a continuous level of focus, you can enter into an astonishing mental state called “flow.”  At this highest performance state, you function on a higher plane of clarity, creativity and competence – often coming up with brilliant ideas that enable you to move ahead rapidly.

Developing a sense of urgency is one way to trigger flow.  Urgency is about an inner drive to get on with things.  It’s an impatience that motivates you to get and keep going.  And, it’s a commitment to make your heart-felt desires come true, no matter what.

The Top Ten List

There!  Easy as pie, right?  You’ve got the goal-setting steps and know how important urgency is.  So, you’re all set.  Good luck with gathering the harvest of your dreams!

What’s that you’re saying?  “Not so fast, Carol-Ann.  If it were that simple, I’d have already done it by now.”  OK, I admit to playing with you a bit.  It’s to make the point that overcoming procrastination or other ways you stop yourself cold is not quite so basic.  That’s why this issue’s Top Ten list is aimed at setting you up for success to manifest and reap what is rightfully yours:

1. Gather all the information and materials you need to do your goal-setting.
2. Clear your work space so it’s free of competing “demands” for your attention.
3. Make your work area as comfortable and attractive as possible.
4. Assume the body language of high performance.  Sit up straight.
5. Adopt the attitude of “let’s get going!” and resolve to plunge in.
6. Consider what support you need from others to be successful.
7. Honour your personal limits.  Do not over-extend yourself – even on meaningful “work” like moving forward with your life.  When you’re done any one sitting (for, this will take more than one), stop for the day.
8. Try to keep scratching off your list those activities that drain your energy or take away concentration from manifesting your dreams.
9. Have some fun with this process!
10. Celebrate and reward yourself for keeping your promise to self to stay dedicated.

Here’s an interesting related factoid:

It has been estimated that the tendency to start and stop a task, to pick it up, put it down and come back to it can increase the time necessary to complete the task by as much as 500%.  On the other hand, the ability to work single-handedly and with focus on a task can reduce the time to complete it by as much as 50%.

Parting Reflections

So, do you now see how any “clutter” really resides between your ears?  You’re the only one standing in the way of having whatever you want.

Until we reconnect, I hope you’ll treat your further “dates” with yourself to pursue your harvest with as much respect as you would an important business appointment.  Toward that end, I encourage you to keep a Time Log for the next month – not the type you’re expected to keep at work to record every 15 minutes but directed at carving out ample blocks or slots to accomplish your goals.  If at month’s end, you haven’t given yourself enough attention physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, what can you do to re-apportion your time to be in greater harmony with your deepest needs and values?

The best question of all is: “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?”  It will do more to keep you on track, hour by hour, than any other single question.