Office Productivity

Goal Setting

Setting effective goals that are inspiring yet not overwhelming is a difficult and subtle art. Here are a few general tips I have learned along the way:

• Break a goal down into pieces - Everyone reaches a point where they just don't want to continue along a path, even while knowing that path takes them where they want to go. At this point, set a really minor goal to accomplish along the path and DO IT. Then, set the next small goal and do it. Using this method you can usually build momentum again.
• Don't be discouraged when you fail - Everyone fails at some time or another. It seems that the most important thing to do is when you start sliding downhill is stop your slide. For example, diets and exercise programs are very often started, but then the person begins to fail. They gained an extra pound or stopped working out for a week and believe that they failed again. DON'T BELIEVE ALL IS LOST. The worst thing you can do is say, "I've already gained some extra weight, so why don't I just have this dessert because at this point it doesn't matter anyway."
  When you've fallen from your objective, don't think you have to immediately start your climb again. However, make sure that you stop your slide. It's much easier to begin again from a stopped position than to overcome momentum pushing in the opposite direction.
• Give yourself a reward not connected with the accomplishment - If you're on a diet, don't reward success with a desert. If you're working hard, don't reward yourself with a break. Doing this sets up the idea in your head that what you are doing is painful and doing the opposite is a reward.
• Make a list of the things you've accomplished - When times are hard, it is often hard to remember when you succeeded in the past. One of the best ways to work against this is to create a list of things you already accomplished. Every time you succeed again, add it to the list. During the bad times, look at the list. You'll be amazed at what you've already overcome!
• Only take on 5 projects at a time - Although this is often impossible to do, keep it in mind. When you feel overwhelmed, examine the number of balls you're trying to juggle. It's probably more than five! Try to cut down the number to help yourself.
• Realize the struggle is constant - You can never reach a certain point and say "Oh good, I'm there now." The saying "The journey is the reward" is misleading because rarely does the journey itself does not make up for the struggle to a compelling objective. It is accomplishing things and pointing to them saying "I did that," that often makes the effort worthwhile. However, if you hate the journey along the way and the path is long, make sure the objective is worth it.
• When you reach your goal, set another - This seems counter-intuitive at first because it indicates that you never reach a place of contentment. The image most people have is climbing a mountain. How fun is climbing a mountain when every time you reach a new level, you realize that there is yet another one to go?
  Instead, imagine you're constructing a building. Every time you reach another goal, you have added another floor to your building. Setting another goal means you'll be making a taller building with a better view!