It’s easy to believe that short-term goals are easy to accomplish. Some people go as far as to overlook even setting goals for themselves in the short-term. There are a number of reasons why that is a big mistake. In business, it’s important not to lose sight of the long-term goal of your company. Setting short-term goals is one of the tricks to keeping yourself on track and monitoring progress.
However, there are times when it can seem particularly difficult to accomplish a short-term goal that you’ve set for yourself. In general, short-term goals shouldn’t take too long to complete. So why do so many people struggle with reaching these small marks they’ve set for themselves?
There are a few simple tricks that we can use to improve our productivity and shift our mindsets so that progress can become more steady.
Find your daily energy peak
It’s natural that our energy rises and falls over the course of a day. If you’ve created a list of short-term goals for yourself or your business then you may want to evaluate what time of day you’re actually putting in work towards those goals.
If you’re continually finding yourself feeling stuck on something, it may benefit you to consider what time of day it is when you start to feel unmotivated. Often times people don’t realize that they’re putting off their most important tasks for later, and when the time comes to get to work it seems they’re in a slump.
Instead, take the time to note how your energy level fluctuates during the day. Pay attention to when you feel the most awake and productive and when you become tired or distracted.
After you’re aware of your daily energy levels allocate your time and tasks to suit your levels. Set time aside during your most alert and functional hours to work on tasks that directly relate to your short-term goal.
Create consistent rituals and routines
Establishing a morning ritual has worked wonders for many business people trying to accomplish big goals. Creating a healthy habit that sets you up for the day ahead will benefit you in the long run. A morning routine is not setting up a “to-do” list for the day, but rather, setting you mind and body up to approach your work with clarity and focus.
Some entrepreneurs swear by meditation, or running. People that are successful usually have a habit in the morning, whether it’s having a certain breakfast while they express their gratitude or practising breathing exercises. Find a ritual or routine that helps you to clear your mind and begin doing it every day until it becomes habit. Remember that systems and discipline create progress!
Find your motivation and eliminate distractions
It’s important to know what your motivation is for short-term goals. If you can’t think of why you’re doing something it’s not going to be easy to complete the work. This is especially true when it comes to aspects of your business that you might not enjoy or feel very skilled in. So before the next time you have to sit down and develop a budget consider why it’s important to do so. Will it help you reach a long-term financial goal? Improve your relationships? Whatever your motivation, it’s surprising to find that a simple reminder of what drives us can help to stay motivated and on track.
Furthermore, limit distractions. It can be tricky, especially to those that work from home or have children. Try to schedule the most important things for times when your distractions aren’t as prevalent. This can mean waiting for the kids to be asleep, or keeping your phone on do not disturb during a specific time of day. Being able to focus in peace makes a big difference.
Overall, those that are successful are also consistent. Define your top three priorities the night before so when you wake up there isn’t time wasted on deciding what to do. Plan everything out, always leaving room for things that just can’t be scheduled. Create your ritual or routine and stick to it until it becomes a habit that you don’t even think about.
It takes a well-thought out, structured plan, and nourishment of your body and mind to grow your business. Make sure that you have established someone in your life that you trust and respect to get meaningful input from.