SETTING GOALS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME

As mentioned, one reason that many fail to maximize their time is that they just don't know how. Time should be used to accomplish things, but what? And how? Without clear goals in mind it's easy to simply fritter away time and then wonder why you're not where you want to be in life.

Chances are you know what you want and know where you want to be, but have never really solidified or cemented these desires into real dreams and goals. That wishful thinking and daydreaming will do nothing to get you there! Making those goals concrete and figuring how to work toward them will mean making the best use of your time in order to achieve everything you want.

SETTING GOALS

So what are your goals? You probably want to break them down into personal and professional goals, if you work or have a career. These goals can also be large or small, immediate and long-term.

Here are some suggestions for considering your goals, both personal and professional:

§ Losing weight, even if it's just ten pounds; exercising more, or stopping smoking.

§ Adopting a child.

§ Getting an advanced degree.

§ Getting a promotion or a better job.

• Running your own business.

• Starting an online business or website.

• Buying a vacation home.

• Saving "X" amount of money for retirement.

• Organizing your finances, your dresser drawers, your basement, and so on.

• Investigating a consolidation loan to handle your credit card and other debt.

• Selling your home and buying a new one.

Think about your own goals; give them a real voice. Write them down one by one; leave none of them out, even the small goals. If necessary, walk through your home as this may remind you of different goals you have.

Your office may remind of you the career goals you have, or remind you that you would like to try to sell things online.

GOALS WITHIN GOALS

As with most projects and jobs, it's easy to get overwhelmed with reaching goals because they require so much work and effort. Often you cannot just make one change or do one thing and suddenly you've reached your goal. Typically there are other steps to the process that need to be considered.

You may call these goals within goals, and you need to note them as well. Every step that should be taken needs to be considered; this is how you can make a plan for how to reach your goals.

As an example, suppose you want to exercise more. This will mean reviewing your schedule and removing unnecessary distractions from your time. Rather than being on the company bowling league every Tuesday, you'll use that night to hit the gym. Your weekly poker game will become a monthly game so you can exercise more during those other nights.

Manageable steps.

Goals within goals are also those manageable steps we've discussed which help a person to not be overwhelmed. This is necessary with goals because of course they often mean a lot of work, whether they're small goals or large ones. Losing weight means learning to cook healthier meals, making a grocery list every week, setting aside time to pack a healthy lunch, and actually getting off the couch and on the treadmill. Each of these can and should be broken down into manageable steps so that you don't get overwhelmed and just give up on your goals.

SCHEDULE AND PLANNING

To maximize your time to reach your goals, you'll need to use some scheduling and planning. This is where many people fail to reach their goals; they know what they want and may know what is needed to achieve it, but actually going out and doing those things is something completely different.

Putting the steps to your goals in logical order will help with your scheduling and planning. To get that advanced degree, of course you need to investigate what classes you'll need to take and when they're scheduled, and if you can afford them before you rearrange your schedule to get to class. To run an online business, you need to investigate the products you wish to sell and learn how online selling really works before you just put up a website and assume you'll get orders.

When your goals are in logical steps, then it's time to schedule and plan for them. This may mean some sacrifice on your part as you give up other plans in your schedule in order to work in those things you want to work at.

As you schedule and plan, think about what you can do this week, this month, in the next few months, and so on. What can you accomplish this week to work toward your goal? What will you do next week? What will you accomplish before this month is over?

You'll also need to make concrete plans when you schedule in the steps of your goal. Rather than saying "this week" you'll meet with a college counselor about classes needed for your degree, choose a specific day or night. Write these things in your calendar as you would any other obligation you have.

TRACK PROGRESS

To keep yourself reaching toward your goals, it's good to track your progress as you go. You can mark off items from lists, see the end results from things you have already done, and reward yourself along the way.

As you set manageable goals within goals, make up a rewards system or a way to track your progress. As you reach one milestone, give yourself a small treat or reward. Remind yourself of how far you've come.

If you look behind you and see your own progress, you won't be so discouraged about what is in front of you when it comes to what you still need to accomplish. Continue to remind yourself that everything is accomplished in small steps and that you'll continue to achieve as you go along. In this way you won't be tempted to give in to discouragement as you see those goals still somewhat far off.

Celebrate each milestone of your goal along the way. If you do this you'll stay on track and make the most use of your time.