Learn how to make an effective to-do list and get
the most out of each day:
1. Sit down each evening and plan for tomorrow. What needs to be accomplished? Are there bills that need to be paid? What’s going on at work? What errands need to be run?
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Pay particular attention to your goals. What needs to be done to bring you closer to your goals?
2. Prioritize those items. There’s a good chance you have a
longer list than you can manage. Eliminate what you can and keep the tasks that
are most important to you.
3. Keep your to-do list manageable. You can be incredibly successful
without killing yourself. Consistency is the key. If you’re putting in
the necessary time each day and focus your energy on the most critical tasks,
you will be successful.
4. Enjoy checking those items off your
list each day. Know
that you’re getting closer to mastering yourself and your life.
This seems like a simple idea that might not matter, but you’d be wrong to believe that. It’s easy to get off-track and waste time if you don’t have a plan for your day. It only takes a few minutes and can make a huge difference in the results you create in your life. Give it a try.
"Consciousness
is a phase of mental life which arises in connection with the formation of new
habits. When a habit is formed, consciousness only interferes to spoil our
performance.”
- William Ralph Inge
Most of us are good at planning out the path to achieving our big goals. Some people are also good at getting started and making some real progress. Far fewer are experts at crossing the finish line.
Developing the habit of finishing what you start can be a watershed moment for many. It’s common to quit before reaching a goal. We’re good at doing a lot of things 90% of the way, but not completing them.
Learn to finish what you start:
1. Finish everyday tasks consistently. For example, if you’re washing the dishes, wash all of the dishes. Don’t leave the greasy fry pan soaking with the intention of dealing with it tomorrow. Do the entire job.
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You’ll
feel resistance creeping in when you get toward the end. Use this as a cue to
get determined. Really dig into the task and power your way to the end.
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Whether
you’re cleaning the garage, writing an email, or going shopping for groceries,
complete the task and avoid allowing yourself to finish it “tomorrow” or
“later.”
2.
Enjoy the feeling of completing that task. This habit will largely take care of
itself after a while. Most people learn to enjoy the relief and sense of
accomplishment that comes from completing a job 100%. Feel free to set up a
reward system if necessary.
It’s not nearly enough to be a good planner and starter. You
must learn to be a good finisher, too. Master the art of finishing what you
start. You’ll be shocked by how much this habit influences your life.
Finishing is a necessary part of success and self-mastery.
"The best restriction I learned was getting into the habit of doing something, even if I didn't feel like it, instead of running away from it. Sometimes good work needs to be earned, and when you can overcome yourself, the muse notices and celebrates.”
- Damien Rice
Get Up Early
Getting up early doesn’t mean that you shortchange your sleep. While many successful people are known to sleep relatively little, there are just as many highly successful people that sleep nine or more hours each night.
Get up early and get started on your day. Few things feel better than getting something meaningful accomplished while everyone else in the neighborhood is still sleeping.
Studies repeatedly show that everyone performs better in every imaginable way if they receive at least seven hours of sleep each night. You’re not the exception. Allow yourself enough time to get a full night of sleep. This will mean going to bed earlier if you’re going to get up early.
Most people don’t do anything productive in the couple of hours leading to bed. You don’t need to watch TV or play around online. Get to bed and get up early. The most common wake up time for the highly successful seems to be 5:00 AM.
This might seem early, but it’s only early if you go to bed late!
Up and at ‘em!
