Cynthia with Red Leaf has improved my life 100%. I had let my financial situation get out of control secondary to my health issues. Cynthia helped me put my life finances in order and the end result is like having the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders
M.F. Redding, CA
Let's Make A Goal!
Greetings!
January is Get Organized (GO) Month. Start thinking about what needs to be organized in your home or office. January 12th is "Clean Off Your Desk Day." Take a look at your desk and begin your reorganization process. NAPO Sacramento will be hosting an IKEA event in Sacramento, January 17th 10:00-4:00. Meet organizers who can answer your questions. I will see you there!
Start the New Year right! Make a goal and succeed in achieving it. Those Nagging Unfinished Tasks (N.U.T.S.) - learn how to finish them. Have fun this month everyone.
Winter Blessings,
Cynthia
Let's Make A Goal!
Follow these tips to goal-making success!
Decide on a Goal
The first-and sometimes hardest-step to goal making is selecting a goal. So many people make the same resolutions each year: quit smoking, lose weight, get organized. And then they quickly abandon them. This year, ask yourself, "What do I really want? How can I make myself happier?" Brainstorm a bit and come up with five to ten ideas. Then select one or two to work on. The goal doesn't have to be daunting; in fact, it should be realistically attainable.
Write it Down
The next step to achieving your goal is to write it down. By doing this, you are making a commitment with yourself and are more likely to follow through. Only about 5% of the population writes down its life goals, which may be one of the reasons that at least 50% of people who set New Year's resolutions have abandoned them by the end of January and up to 90% call it quits by April.
As you write your goal, concentrate on the positive, and make it specific and attainable. Instead of one big daunting New Year's resolution, try to list a series of smaller steps that will get you there in manageable increments. For example, if your resolution is to "try new things," your list might break down into these tasks:
- introduce myself to one new person a week
- eat at one new restaurant per month
- take a continuing education class this spring
- join local book club
- listen to foreign language tapes in car
Also write down WHY you want to reach your goal. Once you reach it, how will your life improve?
Measure and Evaluate
Another key to goal-keeping success is to define ways to measure your success. By using a time table, you'll force yourself to be accountable. Look at your goal in the short-term, mid-term and long-term. For example, don't say, "I will get organized this year." Say instead, "I will organize my closet this week," "I will evaluate my overloaded schedule next month," and "I will ask someone to help me organize my paperwork by the end of March."
Keep your written goals posted where you can always see them: your computer monitor, a bathroom mirror, the refrigerator door, or your daily planner. On your calendar, write down your task completion dates so you can evaluate your successes at least once a week. (If the goal you're working on involves changing a habit, remember that it usually takes 21 days to change a habit.)
At the end of a goal achievement, reward yourself-treat yourself to a small gift or relaxing activity. Celebrate what you have accomplished and move on to the next goal activity. And every few months, look at the goals you have set for the year. Do you still want to focus on these goals? Give yourself permission to change your goals and resolutions based on your life changes.
Get Help
If keeping yourself motivated and moving forward can be tough, or if the thought of goal-making terrifies you, consider enlisting the help of a trusted friend, family member or co-worker. Consider hiring an expert in your area of change, such as a professional organizer, personal trainer, or financial planner. Or if you need help defining your goals, get help from a life coach (find one at www.coachfederation.org or www.napo.net.)
© 2006 Articles on Demand™
How to keep from going N.U.T.S.
Earlier this year I was turned on to an acronym that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was one that I heard from a medical professional who was speaking on the topic of emotional health. Specifically, he was discussing how our busy lifestyles have created little room for enjoyment, and how in the midst of this busy culture we have increasingly shifted our focus to accomplishing the 'big items' in life, and little attention has been payed to the smaller items because they do not 'need' to be done (or at least with the same urgency).
The interesting part of the discussion was that the smaller incomplete tasks in life are actually the ones that consume the largest amount of our energy. The bigger items do not erode our well being to the same extent because we know they are going to get done in the near term since they are relatively more important. So, that leaky faucet, the office that needs to be cleaned, getting the oil changed in the car, scheduling that physical - all of the smaller items that occupy our life are actually the items that are making us nuts!
If you like acronyms, this is one of my favorite. N.U.T.S. stands for Nagging Unfinished Task's. What a great way to describe those little energy leaks that ultimately consume us. I remember listening to a psychologist speak on the topic of problem solving. He mentioned that the problems that consume us the most are the ones that linger on and on - not the big life events that will soon have a resolution (sound familiar?). He was clearly sharing his version of what going N.U.T.S. looked like to his patients.
The good news
There is good news coming out of this discussion. The small items that nag at us, that linger on for days, weeks, months and sometimes even years are usually the easiest to resolve! Taking action on these items clears the road so that we have some breathing room to play the game of life. Many can be completed in a number of minutes or hours, while some take some more time and effort. But compare the energy of time required to resolve the task to the energy drain you experience each day that project is not complete. You'll likely notice that the your energy requirement is exponentially greater if you do not take action.
Whats a practical way to approach N.U.T.S.
Its easy to identify the nags that are our biggest energy drains. Try this - get a small notepad and pen, and carry it with you for just one day. Any time you catch yourself noticing one of those 'little nags', write it down rather than spending your energy on it. The ones that consume us are those little things we notice every day. This reminds me - its time for me to change my window wipers!
At the end of the day you might notice something when you look at your list. The tasks that annoy us just enough to get our attention add up quickly! Take that annoyance and multiply it by each day that it remains an unfinished task - it starts to add up. Now some tasks will not be visible to you each and every day. By starting with just one day, you'll notice that you are immediately prioritizing your list to those that you encounter most often. Take your written list, and make a plan to resolve each item - list them in order of what you'd like to complete first. Start with the easiest one and begin clearing the energy, as you get to harder and harder items, you'll notice they are easier to complete as the road is becoming clear of obstacles that fend for your attention.
I know this sounds like the old Nike adage of 'Just do it', and there is some element of that here. The one big difference I see is that you should 'just do it' in a methodical and well thought out way such that you build on your small sweet successes. You may even notice that after completing one small task (that could be as simple as a phone call), that you'll feel lighter, like a weights been lifted - ready to take on one that may be a bit more effort. When the road is clear, you leave plenty of room to reach for your dreams, and to journey towards them with a sense of ease.
Ok - its time for me to get those wiper blades replaced...
Action
- Develop your NUTS list
- Take action to resolve the easiest item & email me your experience!
Doug Nau, MBA, Certified Life Coach
Certified Wellness & Nutrition Consultant
The Wellness Coach
http://coachforwellness.com
http://i-grow.net
Unleash Your Creative Spark with Katie Doran Watters
Katie will be offering The Artist Way Teleclass. This teleclass meets one hour a week for 13 weeks and is based on the book, The Artist Way, by Julia Cameron. Re-discover your creative nature while having the support of a small intimate group via the phone. Classes start in January and February. Contact katiewrites@yahoo.com for more information.
Schedule your Free Consultation now!
