No matter how well you formulate your goals, you will only achieve them by taking consistent action.
As a planning nerd, with my head mainly in the future and looking for the next fun project, I know this to be true.
In my experience, the best way to build focus, patience and perseverance is to build ‘goal getting’ into each week.
Expecting daily action on something new is often too demanding. Not every day is the same, in terms of your motivation, energy and external demands on your time.
And the weekend should have a different rhythm to your Monday to Friday grind. It's a time for rest and recreation, for focusing on enjoying the present rather than achieving future outcomes.
On the other hand, a monthly timeframe is too long because it only gives you twelve chances each year to review and refocus when needed.
So, here are three ways to ensure you’re making time for your goals each week.
1. Set a theme to each day.
This will ensure that you’re not focusing on everything, every day of the week, which can create overwhelm, cause you to feel like you're failing and maybe even give up on some of your goals altogether.
Setting a theme to your days will also help you juggle the existing with the new, to make sure you're not jeopardising established practices by over-focusing on the new stuff.
For example, one of my long-term goals is to become a part-time non-fiction author. Achieving this goal will require investing thousands of hours into producing and promoting books and related products and services.
But I currently also run a successful consulting business and work in the business full time. And as an extrovert that loves to work with others, I've built a collaborative business model that allows me to meet and interact with my clients, even though this takes me away from my computer and out of production mode.
So, to manage all of this as a solopreneur and a general human with a personal life, I’ve structured my week to increase my chances for success.
From Monday to Thursday I prioritise client delivery, Friday is my business development day and the weekend is for fun and family. I even try to get most of my housework done before the weekend so that Saturdays and Sundays can remain flexible, without a lot of structure and major obligations.
This approach doesn't mean that, for example, I don't do any client work on Fridays. If something is urgent or if a group meeting (like a client workshop) can only happen on a Friday, I will do the work and take the meeting, because I have my priorities straight. It just means that I can relax and focus on existing work for most of my work week because there will be time on Friday to think about the future.
2. Block out time in your week for growth.
To successfully build something new or develop new habits, you will need to carve out time to chip away at these things. But this is easier said than done.
Most of your week will already be taken up by existing work and established routines. So, making time for your goals may involve adding to your already full plate, letting go of some of your existing commitments or changing current routines.
It's not easy work because you will be dealing with your own resistance to change, disappointing others or both. This can be very demotivating, so to stay on track try blocking out time for your goals in the context of your existing circumstances. Focus on gradual transitions instead of making sweeping changes to your schedule that may not be sustainable.
With everything that I have on, I know that my path towards becoming a part-time author will have to be a gradual one. Plus, this is a new and untested venture, which means that there is the possibility I will either fail or eventually find that this path is not for me. But I will never know until I try it and to do this I need to write some books.
I’m already regularly reading books, listening to podcasts and watching videos to learn about being an "authorpreneur". This isn't something I need to work on, especially since I've embedded it into my existing routines (such as while I’m working out, doing housework or having my morning coffee).
What I really need to do this year is establish a sustainable writing schedule and increase my output.
To increase my chances of success, I've blocked out time for writing on weekdays, early in the morning before I need to interact with others or get distracted with other work. I write before it's time for my work out and to get ready for the day, so that there is a clear break in the day between the new work and my existing work.
I can only get about an hour or two of focused writing done this way, and don't have an equal amount of energy and motivation each morning, so I use Fridays (my business development days) to invest a few more hours when needed.
And I’m not being hard on myself while I’m establishing this new routine. My current focus is on sticking to the schedule on most days and slowly chipping away at my first book. This is because I am doing two things at once: changing my established morning routine and developing my ability to produce a book. I enjoy it but it's definitely not easy.
3. Schedule a weekly review.
While it's good to have monthly and quarterly reviews, when you’re working on something brand new, a good way to maintain momentum is to set weekly review points.
This is especially the case when you’re developing new habits, like my new writing schedule. Fifty-two chances to quickly check-in and tweak things are better than four to twelve massive overhauls, by which time you may have already lost steam or gone off track.
In terms of my writing goal, for example, my plan for January is to note each Friday afternoon how many days I managed to write, how much I produced and what I can do differently next week if needed. In February or March, I may set specific output targets, once my writing schedule is more established.
I would love to have the first draft done by the end of March but since I've never done this before, I will go easy on myself. After all, I also have a business and home to run (plus sleep is a thing I enjoy each night).
The weekly review is also a reminder that a goal exists and may show you that you've set too many. It may get overwhelming to track thirty goals each week. The weekly review process may help you to prioritise two to three goals each quarter and to defer the rest to the next year.
After all, there is only so much change a person can handle at any given time.
Thanks for reading the post. Good luck with your goals!