Author: Carl Pullein / Source: Lifehack
We all know setting goals is the best way to give your life focus and direction. But did you know that by setting goals, it can also help you to get a lot more of your important work done?
Having a clear set of goals that are built around your values focuses your mind on what is important.
It helps you filter out the unnecessary and gives you an ‘outcome mindset’ rather than a ‘task mindset’.An outcome mindset is one where you are focused on the objective—the outcome— of what you are intending to achieve. A task mindset focuses on the tasks you have to do each day and this leads to completing unnecessary tasks (or spending too much time on the unimportant) and procrastination.
To help you with transforming yourself from being focused on the tasks and to be focused on the outcome, here are 17 ways having clear goals will not only increase your productivity but also supercharge your ability to get the important things done:
1. Make it a goal to have no more than 10 tasks on your to-do list each day.
One of the surprising benefits of having a small number of goals for the day is how frequently you find yourself accomplishing more.
When you have a random number of tasks to complete each day, the likelihood is you will not get them all done.
When you set yourself a small number of tasks to complete—your “must completes” for the day—and you restrict these to a set number, you are much more likely to get them done.
2. Decide what your monthly and weekly goals are.
What do you want to accomplish this month?
What do you want to accomplish this week? These questions focus you in on the things that are important to you.Most people are waiting for life to happen to them, after all, it is far easier to react to events around you than to create events around you.
When you create the events in your life by having weekly and monthly goals that reflect your objectives for the year, you are going to get far more of your important work done.
3. Having goals allows you to work on what’s important to you and it keeps you focused on your priorities.
Building your daily life around your goals is going to keep you on the path you want to follow.
Without any goals directing you towards where you want to go, you will find yourself drifting off your desired path and aimlessly wandering through life wondering how you got to where you are. More often than not where you end up will not be where you want to be.
4. By having a set of goals, you find it much easier to eliminate the unimportant tasks that come up each day.
Every day throws up a lot of unexpected issues. These issues often come from our bosses, clients/customers and friends and family. It does not matter how well planned your day is, these things are going to happen.
When you have a set number of goals to achieve each day, these issues will not hijack your day and destroy it. You will find you can handle the unexpected while continuing to get on with your important work for the day.
5. Having goals gives you focus.
When you set goals, it means you have made a decision about what it is you want to achieve and what is important to you. This allows you to become a much more focused person because you are mindful of what you want.
Focus, in today’s world, is a skill in short supply and by developing your focus you are going to put yourself way ahead of everyone else.
6. Begin the day with a goal.
One of the best ways to accomplish more of your important tasks each day is to begin the day with a clear goal.
It could be to complete a specific project or to simply get outside and walk for thirty minutes in nature.
When you start the day with a specific goal to do something, you are much more likely to get it done.
7. Start small.
If you have never had an…
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