Photograph Credit: Flickr (Lesley Lizard)
If it weren’t for deadlines, I would not get as much accomplished. Knowing that someone is depending on me ignites my energy and gets me motivated. With a sense of urgency to complete the task accurately and completely, I press on until the project is finished.
Life gets really busy and well-meaning intentions fall by the wayside on the excuses of “if I only had more time.” My problem is not that I need more time, but rather I just need to plan better.
How do I do this?
- S.T.O.P.
- Take a breath.
- Sit down with the calendar.
- Preview the activities and plan those intentions.
- Break down the tasks.
- Schedule time to complete each part.
- Execute the plan.
Yesterday, I shared how I enjoy kicking off my cookie baking by attending a cookie exchange. When I know that my friends are depending on me, then I will be sure to have all those cookies baked. That deadline will be met because I will make the time to get it done. Due to scheduling conflicts, I had to decline two invitations to cookie exchanges this year. I had two chances, and neither fit into our family schedule. 🙁 Does this mean without a deadline that cookies will not be baked this year? No way! It just means, I need to set my own deadline.
Creating a Deadline
After stopping, taking a breath, and looking at the calendar, I begin to put together a plan. With hubby home and school out of session, next week will be baking time. In preparing, I checked our pantry for basic ingredients and added needed items to my grocery list pad.
When I go to the grocery stores this week and gather my savings, I will purchase the remaining items needed for next week’s baking. Then over the weekend, we will plan our family events for next week.
By planning ahead, breaking down the parts, and scheduling, I can get those well-meaning intentions executed. Without a plan, they remain only intentions. Taking time to plan is the best way to using time wisely. Yes, it means stopping to gather the information. But when one task is finished, you just move on to the next. You don’t need to keep stopping to consider what to do next.
During this busy season, plan to stop, take a breath, plan, schedule, and execute while using time wisely. Your season will be less complicated when you work on the priorities first. Happy planning!
Question: How self-motivated are you to get things done without a deadline? Curious to hear to your answers.