Happy Tuesday, ladies. 🙂 I’ve been thinking a lot today about goal setting and some of the things that people do to motivate/trick/inspire themselves to get stuff done, whether it be for small tasks (tidying up the house), or big projects (figuring out what to do as a career).
Few things are as empowering as a sense of accomplishment, but a lot has to happen between setting and achieving a goal. Sometimes it can be overwhelming.
Like plants, goals thrive when they’re tended to and cared for, so let’s pay some attention to our goals today. Here are seven things that may help.
1. Mind map it!
Does your brain ever feels like it’s bursting at the seams? Like you have just too many things to think about? To organize my thoughts, I use a brainstorming technique called mind mapping.
A mind map from last Saturday!
They’re a fun way to quickly dump ideas on paper, getting them out of your head.
I feel like once I get ideas down on paper (or up on the screen), they seem easier to process and sort.
Are you ready? 🙂
- Grab a sheet of paper
- Near the center of the page, jot down a few of your goals and/or ideas
- Add branches of related information to each idea
- Allow your mind to wander, and continue to add more related branches until it feels like you’re done
When I’m finished with a map, I usually feel better about things, like I’m one big step closer to achieving my goals.
2. Build momentum
With your mind map in hand, it’s time to prioritize.
I’ll ask myself…
- What are my goals/tasks?
- Which ones are urgent?
- Which ones can I do right now?
To get the ball rolling (aka to build momentum), I’ll start with the easiest tasks. Crossing some of them off my list makes the more complicated ones feel a lot easier.
3. Set three goals a day
Big goals are essentially just batches of little tasks all strung together, right? First thing in the morning, I like to write down three things (just three) that I want to achieve that day. I put them on a Post-It stuck someplace visible, like at the bottom of my computer screen.
Limiting the list to three items keeps me from losing my sh*t, and the Post-It serves as a constant reminder throughout the day.
4. Write things down
Writing or typing things down throughout the day (or at the end of the day before bed) gets them out of my head and lets me see what I’ve accomplished. I like to keep a running tally of completed tasks, and I just add to it every day.
Seeing the list grow, even if it’s very slowly over time, helps me stay motivated.
5. Don’t beat yourself up
Okay, steel yourself for some zen master hippie cheese (a little never hurts!), but I think a big part of reaching any goal — I’d guess about 50% — is believing deep down in the marrow of your bones that you can get there.
Doubt is a path to failure (pardon the Yoda moment). You MUST be both your own cheerleader and your biggest advocate.
I have to come clean here because this is something I struggle with every day… It was a lot easier when I was in my 20s, back when I felt invincible and had confidence oozing from my pores!
Being knocked around by life has eroded some of my confidence, so I have to work on this one every day.
6. Get a theme song!
On rough days, I play it loud and sing at the top of my lungs until I feel more like myself again. Yes, I’m 100% serious. It totally helps (here’s mine!).
7. Reward yourself
Of course, achievement is a reward unto itself, but a little bribery never hurts.
I like to reward myself for passing milestones, and it doesn’t have to be with something extravagant. It might be makeup, a few uninterrupted hours of television or maybe a trip to my favorite restaurant. Even a small treat can be a big help.
That’s all for now! I hope you found this useful.
If you have any surefire goal setting tips or tricks, I’d love to hear about them, so let me know in the comments.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen! I know that this article has nothing to do with makeup and beauty products but it is very useful for me. I will definitely try the no 2 advice, I dunno why after I wake up I have a laziness that could keep me for hours in bed with my laptop next to me, simply browsing on internet without accomplishing my goals. You have some really advices here, worth to be followed. Btw I love the photo and I would like to climb those stares and smell the flowers 🙂
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… La Prairie Life Threads Perfume Collection – Silver, Gold & Platinum – Fall 2009 =-.
Hi Tavia,
🙂 Always happy to help. No. 2 always works! Do just a little to get you going…
“Being knocked around by life has eroded some of my confidence, so I have to work on this one every day.”
Hey Karen, loved the post and your words ring so true. Life knocks you down over and over again but you have to just keep pushing forward. This post came on time for me, I’m working on this daily! Wish us all luck 🙂
Hi Fashionista_911,
I am glad that you found this helpful. If you keep pushing forward, I will too.
Take care!
Oh my Tavia I am so like you, I can stay in bed with my laptop until its like noon and just surf or do whatever. I feel like I need more self-discipline esp now with no parents to tell you what to do.
Also, I like the actual feeling of crossing out goals I have achieved in to-do list.
I love this post Karen, I’m in a really stressful period and it isn’t going to end till Christmas. So your post is a timely reminder on things to try and stay on task. I like the reward system, this week when my thesis goes in I’m buying a bunch of nail stuff (new Konad plates!) to celebrate.
Another good tip I like is to work backwards… so X is due on this date… in order to finish it I have to do these tasks every week. Helps you avoid that last minute crunch that most of us go through. I think the goal also seems more manageable if you remind yourself why you’re doing it. Sometimes we forget how much we love something when we get caught up in the mundane aspects of it.
Keep up the good work K!
Hi Shiny,
Good idea to minimize the crunch! I hate feeling like time is running out.
Hope things ease up for you a little bit. Hang in there!
Thanks for your suggestions to help keep us girl on task. I need all the motivation in the world (or so it seems). Btw, I do love your picture. It’s so lush and tropical. I wish I were there now. 🙂 Is it a place you’ve visited?
Hi Denny,
Oh, I wish I took that pic! I didn’t though — it’s a stock photo. For some reason I have no decent pictures of stairs, LOL!
This is so helpful! I bookmarked it 🙂 Thanks for the great tips.
PS- Your handwriting is amazing
Hi Janet,
Yay! I’m glad you found this useful!
LOL, one of these days I gotta turn the writing into a font…
Hey Karen,
This is very helpful! In fact because of a post you did a couple weeks ago, I went and bought myself a weekly calendar so I can keep my “blog” work on track.
Before I was just winging it, feeling frazzled, and forgetting my ideas. Now I’m jotting down dates for posts and ideas, and feeling more put together, so thanks!
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… Jessica Cosmetics Baby It’s Cold Outside Collection for Winter 2009 Swatches and Review =-.
Hi Kelly,
You’re welcome. 🙂 I heart my calendars!
Hi Karen,
This is a fantastic and (very) timely post! I really need a little motivation. I keep my lists, and lately I’ve been picking 5 tasks every day for the next day, leaving one blank for that super-important thing that comes up. It really makes a difference, leaving space for those surprises.
Thanks for the tips; I’m sure we’ll all make some headway!
Hi Ellie,
That’s a great idea. I will have to try that tomorrow.
This has been truly, truly inspiring and helpful! I’ve been on a serious thinking mode on what I want to do in my life now and then comes this post.
Time to bookmark it — oh, wait, I’ll print it! 😀 Thank you!
.-= gn.’s last blog post… True Blood Give-Away Winner! =-.
Hi Gn.,
You’re welcome. I hope these tips helps you sort things out.
These are great tips Karen! The mind-mapping and keeping track of accomplishments (instead of just crossing them off a list) seem like such great ideas to me! Thanks so much – reading this made me feel better already. =)
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… NOTW – OPI Merry Midnight w/ hearts =-.
Hi Catherine,
I’m happy to hear this post helped you feel better. 🙂
I really like the mind mapping idea! It’s much nicer to look at than the usual lists I compose. It also helps that you have neat handwriting. When I have a lot to write, or feel tired, frazzled or just plain busy, it shows in my handwriting. My elementary school teachers would be aghast, just looking at my checks!
Hi CC,
Mine gets messy when I’m exhausted and/or mentally out of it! I wish it always looked that neat. 🙂
LOVE this Karen! So inspiring!!
.-= Erika’s last blog post… Stila Holiday Smudge Pot Collection =-.
Hi Erika,
Nice to see you! Glad you liked this post. 🙂
I’ll print this out and put it somewhere visible. Writing my thesis is very taxing and it’s hard to see result after a week, let alone a day. There’s no tangible measurements of the progress but setting goals and bribing myself with makeup do help big time.
.-= Dao’s last blog post… Nail Polish Rendez-Vous: Revlon Silver Screen or $$$$$Yes Twin =-.
Hi Dao,
Makeup bribery always works for me.
How far along are you on your thesis?
Thanks for the tips dear. I’ll certainly use these while writing on NaNoWriMo. ^^
How was your day dear?
Hi Karen B.,
My Tuesday (and now Wednesday) have both been good. Just chugging along as usual. How ’bout you?
Great photo and wonderful post! I also like making notes on the paper! I have a lot of notebooks just for different things. I was surprised that I do a lot of things the same way 🙂
But these days I am just so dull and not motivated. I really need a vacation 🙁
.-= Marina’s last blog post… Tyen: 30 Years of Creation. Love Dior Palette and the Look =-.
Hi Marina,
I think we all do! I’d love to go someplace warm, with a beach.
Oh god, I needed these. And I will start applying these genius ideas tomorrow. 🙂
-meream
.-= All Women Stalker’s last blog post… 37 Celebrities Caught Smoking … =-.
Hi Meream,
Yay! I hope these tips help.
Fantastic advice – thank you so much, Karen 🙂 Got the advice before from a therapist, but it’s good to get a reminder.
I try to finish my result today and discussion/conclusion by the end of this week. It’s quite a stretch but the sooner I finish this, the better it is for me 🙂
.-= Dao’s last blog post… Gifts from Italy and My New Fringe =-.
heykaren!
its totally random, but what is this place?
(im talking abt the stairs in the pic)
Oh my goodness. This was extremely helpful! Being a college student(with exams coming up this week), my procrastination/non-motivation is at an all time high. After reading this, I was totally inspired & will definitely continue to use your advice for probably the rest of my life! By the way, my theme song is … don’t laugh … Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb.” It always gets me in the mood to start working on Organic Chemistry HAHA. But yeah, thank you for this! I love your site & it’s a daily read for me. 🙂
.-= kristine’s last blog post… wowza =-.
Hi Kristine,
I’m so happy to hear that this has helped you. Good luck on your tests next week. 🙂 Stay focused; you can do it!