Anyone Can Set Goals and Complete Tasks, When They Learn How To
Success is steady progress towards one’s personal goals…Jim Rohn.
Everyone has dreams and goals. Achieving personal and professional goals, however, requires planning and action. Learning how to manage time and set realistic goals will increase your or your child’s chance of success in every area of life. Following the advice in this brief article set you moving forward towards increasing your productivity and help you achieve your dreams.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly.
Overcoming Procrastination
We all procrastinate from time to time. Procrastination occurs when we avoid tasks that we find unpleasant. Even if we perform other work-related tasks instead of the ones we dislike, we are guilty of procrastination. Unfortunately, procrastination will hinder our long-term success. With the proper skills, you can easily overcome procrastination.
Eat That Frog!
Mark Twain has a saying that applies to procrastination:
If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long!
Most goal oriented and successful people keep Mark Twain’s quote at the front of their mind. The frog is anything that you do not want to do. Basically, you should complete your dreaded tasks first. Getting these tasks out of the way will provide you with a sense of accomplishment and keep you from procrastinating. Always begin with the task that is the hardest and most significant, and you will be less tempted to procrastinate on other activities.
Just Do It
When you dislike a particular task, it is easy to procrastinate. Whether you spend time playing video games, checking email, sleeping excessively, or keeping up to date with everyone on your social media accounts, you are procrastinating. You need to do more than identify when you procrastinate. You need to discover why.
- Discover your obstacles: What is it that you choose to do instead of your more important tasks?
- Discover ways to remove obstacles: Ask for support, and take action. For example, you could turn off the Internet and your phone when the times comes to complete an important task.
- Reward yourself: Make the task fun and use small rewards as incentive. (i.e. finish all your homework for the night, give yourself 15 minutes to enjoy checking in on your social media accounts or whatever you find enjoyable to do for those 15 minutes.
Once you have identified your “frogs” and obstacles, the only answer left is to take action. Make the tasks that you want to avoid part of your daily routine. Schedule the tasks into your calendar. Once they become habit, you will find them easier to accomplish. Once you have scheduled the time to accomplish your tasks, you must follow through. Resist the temptation to procrastinate with your favorite time waster. Just do it.
Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday…Don Marquis
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist. Since 2012 has been the Founder and President of the Support for Students Growth Center in Boca Raton, FL, where they provide social, academic, behavioral and emotional support services Online, Nationwide and Worldwide.
