Can't Boil the Ocean

As we have been talking about goals and planning for the future, it can feel a little overwhelming sometimes -- you may not know where to start. As the saying goes, "You can't boil the ocean." If everything is important, then is everything important? When you have a lot to accomplish, I find that it helps to get focused and prioritize to make a plan.

Here are a few ways that I tackle a hefty to-do list of tasks or goals.

1. Identify each item or goal, creating a master list.

2. Take time to really evaluate each item and rank them in order of importance. Think about each goal as it relates to your core values, who your future best self will be and will this help you get there, the amount of time you spend thinking about the goal, and consider the time and effort to accomplish the goal.

3. Next, make a plan! Now that you have your list identified clearly and ranked in order, you can work on a plan to execute strategically with clear direction and focus.

Time management and organization can be critical when it comes to prioritization and executing any plan.

As the saying goes, "Eat the frog in the morning." I mostly agree with this statement with a slight edit. Allow me to explain. When you look at your list of goals you are attempting to accomplish, I wholeheartedly encourage you to tackle the urgent and important ones that may be a little more challenging and time consuming. Getting these out of the way can feel daunting, but in truth it gives you momentum and a sense of accomplishment to have such a milestone benchmark under your belt!

The part where my advice differs is the "in the morning," and here's why: I am a morning person to my core. I eat my metaphorical frogs as often as humanly possible in the morning, because that's my peak productivity time. What is important to understand here is that we each have a different peak productivity time, and yours may be mid afternoon or later in the evening. Try eating your frogs when you are feeling your most inspired, productive, and energized in your day, as that is when you will likely have your best focus and determination.

Calendar blocking and bulk or batch tasking is also incredibly beneficial when you are tackling a list of goals.

If you are working on accomplishing something that will require recurring time, practice, and training, put that recurring time on your calendar and hold yourself accountable to that commitment.

If you have a few skills or goals that are similar, consider grouping these together in a calendar block to batch task. This can prove to be beneficial, as your mindset, focus, and attention does not need to be interrupted from one task to another to regroup. In this article, you can learn more about "How Multitasking Affects Productivity and Brain Health," and it is explained that productivity can be reduced up to 40% when you continuously switching your focus.

In sports, we often hear that the "best offense is a good defense." The same can be said for honing your skills, working to become the best version of yourself, and reaching your personal goals. A plan is the roadmap to help you stay focused and reach your end destinations.

It is completely within reason that you may face adversity or unexpected challenges along the way, and 2020 is a great example that sometimes your plans may need to change. However, you are better able to pivot and navigate along the journey if you start out with knowing where you are going and having a map in your hand.