Whenever we make a decision to set out to achieve something, it is important that once the decision is made, we are slow to change it. I once heard that Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, said that the most successful people are quick to decide and slow to change plans. I think this holds true. It is also important to remember that decisions are like open doors. Some doors one can go through, look around, and then retreat back to the original state if left unsatisfied with the decision. Other doors are a little more tricky, and we know in advance that the decision cannot be revoked. This is all important to consider when making the initial decision. However, once it is made, sticking to the plan holds the key towards ultimate success or failure.
Some tips on sticking to an initial plan may entail 1) remembering why you decided on something to begin with. It is vital to know your underlying reasons and motivations for deciding on something. Whether we like to admit or not, this is primary reason we’re doing something, and having the self awareness to admit our reasons is important. For instance, someone may take a new job in order to live closer to family, in order to make more money, or a combination of both. Sometimes the circumstances can be different, someone may want to move away from family and make more money and have to weigh the benefits and drawbacks. Others may just want a change of scene, or always have imagined themselves in a certain role.
While you are reading this, ask yourself, why do I want to achieve? What is it I have been thinking about for some time, something that may be gnawing at me? Do I want to read more? Learn an instrument? Exercise? Do I want to do these things because they can ultimately lead to a better quality of life and promote health? Do I want to do them because they can make me more popular with others? What are your underlying reasons? Take a minute to reflect.
Now that we’ve established why you want to do something, now imagine the resistance you may face along the way. This can entail resistance from yourself and also from others, but usually, more times than not, the ultimate resistance you will face is self-doubt and laziness, which is internal. Now imagine yourself achieving the goal you have set for yourself. Other times it can be external. People may not agree with what you are trying to achieve, they may laugh at you, and worse, even cut you off from their lives. This is obviously the worst case scenario, but ask yourself, are these people really worth being associated with anyway? Is anything you face along the way going to be worse than what has already been stated? Use this as motivation when facing difficulty along the way, and continue to remind yourself of the end goal.
After deciding on your goal, considering the underlying motivations, and drawbacks one may face along the way, it is important to devise a plan, almost dissecting your actions in a way, that are small and manageable. Noone wants to overwhelm themselves with too much and fail before they even get started. We all know the phrase, “Rome wasn’t built in one day” It took a great deal of planning and perseverance to become one of the most greatest and enduring empires.
Another great way to achieve something is to set milestones and reminders along the way, in order to ensure yourself that progress is being made. Maybe something as simple as setting a reminder on your phone, having an alert that reminds you when a milestone is reached, etc, can be the difference maker, especially when things are looking bleak. It can be very encouraging. Another idea may be to have an accountability partner, someone to encourage you when things look bad.
There are also certain apps that can be effective in managing and tracking progress. Do a simple google search and find something that works for you. You can also get a calendar, either digital or physical depending on your preferred method. Be sure to mark your small tasks based on importance, and be sure to highlight or capitalize on things that require the most attention. It may seem silly, but oftentimes we spend the most time on things that are the most trivial. Why spend 3 hours on something that could be used on something far more important? Also, why spend so much time on something that requires a prior step to be taken first? Don’t count your eggs before they hatch, and don’t put the cart before the horse.
Along the way, you will tempted to put off the things that are most important. After utilitizing a calendar, setting reminders, or having an accountability partner, you will still fall into the temptation to simply disregard taking action when it is required. The reasons don’t have to be rational, it could be laziness, or that you simply forgot, that is why the above tools are in place. The only thing that will beat laziness is remembering why you started, and the only thing that will combat forgetting is setting reminders and having the right tools in place.
If you find you are still facing procrastination, maybe take a more bold step, like simply a small change to your environment. It doesn’t have to be extreme. Maybe if you want to write more, or study for the big test, go to the library, or maybe a coffee shop. Being around other people instead of locked in your room may be what is needed. It can also be encouraging and refreshing to have a change of scene.
Just like training, something like dividing your work into intervals may be a more effective methods in achieving your end result. There is something in exercise called High Intensity Interval Training. It is where athletes engage in an exercise for a set time, usually a minute or so, give or take, and then take a small break, and this continues until the workout is complete. It is intended to stretch and work the muscles in a intentionally designed fashion while giving them the necessary rest, just enough to pull through until the end. The same is so for any task, especially one that requires mental exertion. Consider the Pomodoro Technique. Essentially it is the same principle. Divide your work into intervals, something challenging, but also one you can ease into and be easy on yourself, giving yourself the necessary breaks and rest.
Another idea, something which is not always encouraged, but most of the time it is, depending on the activity, is share your progress with family or friends. This can be beneficial in knowing others are following what you are doing, and they should give you positive feedback, negative too, depending on how you are handling your responsibilities. Just know you do not want to fall into the trap of relying too much on outside feedback, because then you might become dependent on it, and what others think. Also be aware you do not want to fall into the habit of talking more than taking action. However it can still be an effective method.
Whenever you fail to follow through on a small task or meet your short term goals, ask yourself where you went wrong. There should be an obvious reason, other times not so obvious, as to why it didn’t come to fruition. Don’t over-analyze, simply look for patterns and find your achielles heel so to speak. Usually, patterns will repeat themselves, and this should make it easier to address these issues as they arise. Once the issue is identified, maybe consider replacing it with something more productive, or something that will encourage the end goal you originally intended on. Know it’s a process, and be easy on yourself in the long run, but not too easy as to where you won’t take accountability for your actions.
In conclusion, remember that deciding on something is the first step, and you don’t have to rush the decision making process. However, once that decision is reached, try and stick to the plan to ensure the end result is met and that you don’t get into the habit of giving up early on your goals. Remembering why you started in the first place is an effective method to ensuring motivation throughout the process. Maybe post something on your wall, something that will inspire hope or courage, like a quote or the outcome meeting your goals may bring. Know the underlying reasons why you want to do something, and stay aware of these inclinations, and weigh them accordingly with the negative voice you will meet along the way. Remember to have a concrete plan, and use tools that will make dividing your long term plan into short term goals along the way. Change things up if things don’t go your way, and remember to be easy on yourself, and push yourself when it gets too easy. Doing these things will encourage a positive outcome, and not everything is a one size fits all approach. Analyze your progress along the way and adjust accordingly. This will ultimately lead you to achieving what you have in mind.
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