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As the new year approaches, so do new goals and new aspirations. Every year is another chance to be a better refined you, to learn from your mistakes, and get a fresh start. We celebrate that fresh start in a variety of ways, but the most common is with a list of new year’s resolution’s that we almost always forget about by mid January. But because your life doesn’t stop in January, neither should your motivation; which is why I bring to you, 4 critical tips on how to stay motivated and productive. Here’s how to be great 365 day’s:
To-Do Lists- You should have two types of to-do lists with you at all times. One you come up with in the beginning of the week, and a daily one. The weekly one covers all of your normal chores like grocery shopping, laundry, and work. Your daily list, covers all of the last minute, or non-standard tasks such as, calling Sprint customer service, or shopping for a gift. Its crucial that you write down every single thing you need to do, so nothing is missed, and you have an understanding of all that you need to complete before starting your day. To make the actual lists, I’ve found iPhones Notes with the checklist feature, works great, but you can use any phone’s note taking system, download to-do list apps, or simply write it on a sheet of paper. Which ever you choose, make sure to take it everywhere you go, and keep it close to you for when you need to double check it.
Short and Long Term Goals Check Lists- There is a huge difference between the two. A short term goal would be wanting a promotion, while long term would be to own your own company. The difference lies not only in how long they take to achieve, but also the kind of work that goes into them. Therefore, it is important to have both, but keep them separate. Write down everything you plan to achieve this year, and everything you plan to achieve in the following years. Check back periodically and make sure you are on the right track to completing each goal. It’s okay if one of your goal changes, that’s the way life works, so long as you write it down and work towards it, you’ll be fine.
Write all of your ideas down- Every bright idea, business plan, or reminder that crosses your mind, write it down immediately. With so much going on in our lives, its very easy to forget about the small but important things. Maybe you thought up the solution to a long term problem, or had a new invention in mind, write it down in a journal or log so you don’t lose it. Go back to it in your free time, and see what you can expand on, which business plan you can possibly profit from.
Take thirty minutes a day to yourself – It is so easy to get wrapped up in everything around us, sometimes the only way to separate from the mayhem, is a little solitude. To do this, take thirty minutes a day, in the beginning or end, with no noise, no phones, no people, no contact with the outside world; this time is about nothing but you. Think about whatever you want; maybe you create a mental to do list, meditate, or think about nothing at all. The choice is yours, so long as you use the time to wind down, and process whatever it is you have burdening you. Doing this will help free your mind, and relieve you of stress, so make it a routine.
Track Your Progress- For every task you complete on your To-Do List, every short/long term goal you meet, or every idea you bring to fruition, write it down, or track it somehow. When you go back and look at your data, you’ll either be surprised at what you accomplished, or what you haven’t. Either way, tracking your progress, is a way to build accountability, and motivate you to accomplish whatever it is you want.
I can already feel that 2016 will be a good year, but with this list, it has the potential to be an even better one! Utilize all, or even some, of the above tips, and I can ensure no more motivation burn-out, and higher productivity instead. So, get a notebook, a timer, and quiet space, and start your year right!
