Too often, we lose sight of our long-term goals and resolutions because our daily lives are so full of mindless tasks, appointments, and work.   When it comes to personal projects, it just seems like there’s never enough time, and yet at the end of the day we’re still busy and seem no closer to getting that one goal accomplished.

Over the past couple of months I’ve developed a system to stay on top of this, and it seems to have helped me pursue my ambitions while staying organized with everything else I have to get done.   All it takes is updating 4 daily lists every morning.

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Before I get started with describing these lists, you should think about what really is your long-term goal.   Are you trying to change something in your daily life, or are you working on a huge project that will involve many people?  Whatever it is, think about it seriously for a minute—how can this idea be broken down into tasks?  How long will it take to accomplish?  With that in mind, we can move on to the first list.

1)  Daily Goals

Daily goals are three tasks (maximum) that contribute to your long-term project.  Whether it’s sending an email or going out of town to meet someone, identify 1-3 steps you can take that day that will bring you at least one step closer.   Like I said, it doesn’t have to be huge—the idea is to keep going and keep that end goal in mind. 

2)  Habits

You know those articles about the most elaborate routines all successful people seem to have?  The habits list is a less fancy way of trying that for yourself.  Think of up to three recurring habits you would like to make a part of your daily life—whether it’s reading 10 pages a day, cutting down on coffee, or simply flossing.  No matter how small, getting into one of these can really give you a sense of control that can help in all aspects of life.

3)  To-Do

Ah yes, we all need a good old to-do list.  This is the list of tasks you can’t avoid during the day, from meetings to laundry to emails.  This is what sucks up most of your time usually, what you procrastinate on and then end up spending all your time on.  By having this list side by side with your daily goals and habits, you’ll be able to visualize the big picture a little better rather than just rushing from one task to the next.

4)  Schedule

Schedules are a blessing that everyone needs during busy times.  Write out your plan for the day, and put the other three lists all together!  Sort your to-dos, habits, and daily goals out and fit them into spaces throughout the day.  Ideally, habits should occur at a similar time every day.  By refreshing your routine every day you’ll get into it even more quickly, and should have a much clearer idea of how you can use your time to work towards your long-term goals.

We’re all a little different, and this method of organization might seem a little commitment-heavy for some.  In the long run however, taking just fifteen minutes every morning to plan out your day can really impact how you think about reaching goals and deadlines.  If you find yourself struggling to stay on top of things, writing out four short lists every morning can be a simple way to feel like your life is coming back together.  Start now and see what happens!

 

Meerabelle Jesuthasan is an eyeliner and stage lighting enthusiast with constant daydreams about the time she got to see Beyoncé live. She loves being busy and being critical.  Her blog, Pop Manifest, is a product of this examining the cross sections between social issues and media.

 

Comments (2)

  1. Angelina Eimannsberger

Very practical advice! It is hard to stop the hustling for planning but so true that the planning, even if it feels like a delay or extra work, can have awesome payoffs. Thanks for sharing Meerabelle!

 
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