Starting a project is tough enough, but staying motivated on long-term goals is even more challenging. I tend to break big projects down into small, bite-sized chunks and tasks. That way, I get the instant gratification of completing daily milestones and simultaneously support my long-term goal.
Another trick that helps is to schedule regular review intervals in which you look at the progress you've made over a period, celebrate your successes and brainstorm ways to supercharge your effectiveness over the next period. I do this on a monthly basis. During a review session, I measure my progress on short-term, mid-term and long-term goals. A few of my considerations:
- How well did I ship (crank out work)?
- How well did I manage stress levels, downtime, sleep and healthy habits?
- Am I happier and healthier this month than I was last month?
Then I'll take a long hike and brainstorm solutions to any issues surfaced in my review session, pondering questions like the following:
- What tools or resources do I need to ship more effectively?
- Is anything holding me back from achieving exercise/fitness goals? How can I mitigate or eliminate those obstacles?
- What changes would help me live a happier, healthier life?
The important thing to remember about long-term goals is that the most hassle-free (and thereby efficient) way to achieve them is to stick to a marathon pace with constant steps forward rather than spurts of sprints and stagnation.
Stop Adding. Start Subtracting.
The world keeps accelerating. The Simplicity Protocol helps ambitious professionals do less to achieve more through weekly elimination strategies you can implement in 20 minutes or less.
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