How long is your “to do” list each day? Do you usually have many more things on it than you know you can accomplish? Or do you even have a list?
Do you find yourself lost in the rabbit hole of emails, texts and internet surfing (aka “research”)? Are you doing things like clicking off emails, giving you the perception that you’re actually accomplishing something when you’re really just procrastinating on the really important stuff?
If you want to feel great every day about actually moving closer to your goals, read on. If you’re happy floating in cyberland with a false sense of accomplishment, go no further.
Pick your Top 3
Look at all the things you want to accomplish. Prioritize them and break them into as many baby steps as possible.
Pick the first item under the first goal and ask yourself what steps, big or small, you can take today toward accomplishing that item.
Every day, at the end of each day, make a list of no more than three things you’ll do the next day. These things may be doing research, writing one page of your book or making an important phone call. Make sure they’re small enough that you know you can accomplish them.
Before you go to bed, mentally review this list and ask for guidance from your Higher Power on the best way to accomplish these things. This will get your mind working on solutions that you’ll miraculously wake up with.
Our days are always filled with distractions and things usually take longer than we think they will. Three things may not seem like much but many days you’ll be lucky to do that much. If you’re having a wonderful, productive day, feel free to do more from your important list but don’t push it. Or take the extra time to reward yourself for what you’ve accomplished so you’ll be motivated to repeat the process the next day.
Don’t be tempted to add more to your list. If your list gets any longer and you can’t get to everything on it, you’ll get discouraged and succumb to the distractions and get nothing on your important list done.
Make the three things your priority
Regardless of how hard or easy your three things are, make sure you do them first thing. Using Brian Tracy’s advice: Eat that frog! Meaning: Do the ugliest/hardest thing first so it gets done and you can get on with your day without it haunting you and draining your energy. Check out this very short video on eating the frog.
Doing these things first means doing them before you check emails and other messages. Emails and messages are all the things that other people want you to do for them. Unless you plan to live your life pleasing others, helping them to accomplish their goals first and always putting yourself last (and probably never achieving your goals), you need to focus on your list first.
Constantly putting the priorities of others first will make you a tired, resentful and bitter person. Putting your own priorities first will make you a positive, energized person who is happy to help others. And when you accomplish your three most important things first, you’ll have time to help others.
While this seems too simple to work (list 3 things and do them first), it’s probably the most powerful thing you can do to create an amazing life and achieve amazing things.
As I’ve implemented it in my life, I’ve experienced its power to launch me forward and I feel a great sense of satisfaction and happiness along the way.
Let me know how this has helped you! Also, post a comment with other ideas you have that have helped you to get things done and move you closer to your goals and dreams. I’m always looking for great ideas to share.
Create the life you want: Combine the law of attraction with mindfulness
The law of attraction suggests that our positive or negative thoughts bring about positive or negative experiences. My latest book, The Mindful Guide to Law of Attraction, pairs that belief with the powerful practices of mindfulness. Through intentional breathing, writing, and engaging, you’ll hone a method for manifesting health, wealth, and love―the elements of happiness.
Let the law of attraction work for you by adopting its basic steps of identifying and visualizing the things you desire. Then use 45 practical meditation techniques included in the book to achieve awareness. By concentrating your positive energy on obtaining your wants, you’ll give yourself permission to receive them.
To your happiness! ~Paige
You can find this book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Indigo.
The Mindful Living Guide
