To most people, goal setting plans are sets of glorified to-do lists. To them, setting personal goals means simply taking a piece of paper and write down what is it that they want to become and leave it as that. They write down things like I want to be healthier or I want to become richer. This concept is a false representation of the process of goal setting.
Why is goal setting not a set of glorified tasks from a to-do list ? Well, goal setting is a planning process. Although in its planning process, it may involve tasks or mini goals, these mini goals are by no means independent of each other unlike a straight to-do list. In fact, these mini goals are interdependent on each other.
This is one of the reason why a proper goal setting process is needed because it provides a framework to brainstorm all these tasks and their related time lines. Goal setting guide forms can be used to aid you in listing down the task needed to be done for each step. By taking the effort and the time to plan, your chances of succeeding in your goals will be increased by leaps and bounds.
The output of this process will be highly detailed plan and road map to get you from where you are at to where you want to go. At this point, most people will argue that having a road map like this increases stress for the individual and may be counter productive. It is also these same people who have the concept that goals are not needed, only motivation is needed. Although for some highly motivated people, it is true that motivation alone can get them to their goals. However, these individuals are few and far between. For the rest of us, planning a road map does not necessary increase our stress level. In fact, forming a proper road map can act to reduce the stress level that we face when we are trying to reach our goals. This is because we are constantly reminded on what are the next steps to take and because all these steps will lead us finally to our goals, we do not have to second guess our actions every step of the way.
This plan, however, is by no means casted in stone. This road map is done purely to provide us with a focal point to the task we need to follow. Although there is a time factor involved in each of the task, you should also build flexibility into the schedule to account for unexpected surprises along the way. In this modern day, we experience plenty of distractions along the way. Answering phone calls, unexpected overtime working at the office and other issues can affect the schedule we have planned for ourselves. If we do not have a plan in the first place, we may not know how much delay we have incurred and how we can reschedule our plan. However, if we have a schedule to fall back on, we can immediately review where we are right now and make any necessary changes to the overall time line.
Alvin runs a Personal Goal Setting website that deals with issues on goal setting, time management and other essential life skills at LifeGoals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Loh
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Creativity Should Be Encouraged
As a young child, I found it very difficult to sleep late in the morning. I would be up by dawn and this worried my parents a bit. They tried many things to try and make me sleep longer, but nothing worked. Finally they gave in and agreed that I could stay awake as I liked provided I do not disturb them. I was allowed to watch television then. But the problem is that there is not much to watch early morning.
Once while surfing channels, I stumbled upon this program showing a French person doing oil paintings. I was interested and started watching this regularly. This was far better than watching church and other uninteresting things. Over a period of time, I started liking this show very much. This person would work wonders with his brush and paint on canvas. This was indeed interesting for my age and I wanted to do canvas painting too. But at that age, I would only be given crayons and nothing else. So all my paintings had to be in crayons.
And crayons it was! Every Sunday I would try out what he showed on television. I did manage to draw some good pictures but this was a far drag when compared to the Frenchman. I badly needed oil paints and canvas.
But at that age, there was little I could do to make this possible. Did I mention I was seven then? Now you see the point, don't you? Well I was not somebody who would give up easily then. My creativity took a big leap when I decided to use some of my mother's make-up material. Very easy to get, I opened her bag and used all that I could find to mae my painting come to life. The lip stick was proud that it could paint my drawing red and that it found another use for itself. The powder and the beige kit were all handy that day.
But my creativity had to take a back seat once my mother discovered what I had done. That was the last day of my painting voyage. It ended on that note. I was not allowed to paint again - not because I could not paint but because it would be a costly affair for my parents. With that disastrous exit, I decided not to watch the Frenchman anymore. How good is it to watch someone create beautiful paintings if you are not allowed to do it yourself? That, I think, killed the artist in me. Who knows, if I had grown to be an artist, I could have taken the Frenchman's position on television, if nothing else.
article source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
Once while surfing channels, I stumbled upon this program showing a French person doing oil paintings. I was interested and started watching this regularly. This was far better than watching church and other uninteresting things. Over a period of time, I started liking this show very much. This person would work wonders with his brush and paint on canvas. This was indeed interesting for my age and I wanted to do canvas painting too. But at that age, I would only be given crayons and nothing else. So all my paintings had to be in crayons.
And crayons it was! Every Sunday I would try out what he showed on television. I did manage to draw some good pictures but this was a far drag when compared to the Frenchman. I badly needed oil paints and canvas.
But at that age, there was little I could do to make this possible. Did I mention I was seven then? Now you see the point, don't you? Well I was not somebody who would give up easily then. My creativity took a big leap when I decided to use some of my mother's make-up material. Very easy to get, I opened her bag and used all that I could find to mae my painting come to life. The lip stick was proud that it could paint my drawing red and that it found another use for itself. The powder and the beige kit were all handy that day.
But my creativity had to take a back seat once my mother discovered what I had done. That was the last day of my painting voyage. It ended on that note. I was not allowed to paint again - not because I could not paint but because it would be a costly affair for my parents. With that disastrous exit, I decided not to watch the Frenchman anymore. How good is it to watch someone create beautiful paintings if you are not allowed to do it yourself? That, I think, killed the artist in me. Who knows, if I had grown to be an artist, I could have taken the Frenchman's position on television, if nothing else.
article source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
Stop Procrastination and Take Action
Procrastination is a bad habit that can turn into a rapidly downward spiralling journey. It starts of innocently as an avoidance of tasks and responsibilities that need to be fulfilled, but if allowed to develop can turn into a nasty habit. There are many negative and harmful effects of procrastination, and it is vital that you learn to recognize the signs and take action to stop procrastinating. If you have acknowledged that you have a problem, its time you sat up and did something about it. Don’t let procrastination ruin your life, relationships and job. Here are some suggestions that we have to encourage you to stop procrastinating.
Tip #1: Positive thinking
There is no such vocabulary as “cannot be done”. Your responsibilities can be done, no matter how daunting and challenging they may seem initially. Tell yourself that you can do it, and that you choose to do so. Recognize the fact that procrastinating is bad for you, and that you choose to overcome it, either by speaking to someone you trust to guide you, or by other self help means. The key here is that you want to overcome your habit of procrastinating, and that you choose to take positive action to do so.
Tip #2: Be Well Equipped
Part of getting any task done is having the right tools to do it. Make sure that you are well equipped mentally as well as physically. If it is an assignment that is due, make sure that you have done your research, or spoken to the tutors or superiors that you should have spoken to. Draw up a schedule to help you plan out what needs to be done, and what you have to do to accomplish your task.
Tip #3: Be Realistic
It is impossible to suddenly quite being procrastinating. Understand that it is as much a bad habit similar to smoking or drugs, and you need time to overcome this problem. Set yourself realistic goals, and draw up a chart to show yourself improving. Give yourself rewards for finishing tasks on time and before deadlines. With regards to your responsibilities, make realistic plans on how to go about doing them. Do not expect yourself to finish a 10,000 word assignment in a day, but space out your preparation and actual work over a reasonable amount of time.
Tip #4: Prioritise
You have a dozen tasks to complete, but you need to pick one. And that’s where you first started procrastinating, by choosing the easiest and least consequential task. Draw up a to-do list, and mark each item as urgent, important and unimportant. Do the tasks that are urgent and important first. Plan your time wisely and allow for breaks, which are just as important for you to unwind and relax your mind so that you don’t get too stressed.
Tip #5: Take Small Steps
It is no point to set yourself the task of scaling Mount Everest, when you have trouble climbing up two flights of stairs. You are overcoming the bad habit of procrastinating, do not expect miracles to happen just because you have decided to act and stop procrastinating. For each task that may seem Herculean, break it down into small components and parts that can be accomplished separately. Set about completing these small parts, instead of attempting to conquer the entire project in one go. You will find it more manageable and less daunting, and succeeding at each step will motivate you to give yourself a pat on the back. It is possible to overcome procrastination, you just need to put your back into it and persevere. Use these 5 tips to stop procrastination and take action today.
article source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6351.shtml
Tip #1: Positive thinking
There is no such vocabulary as “cannot be done”. Your responsibilities can be done, no matter how daunting and challenging they may seem initially. Tell yourself that you can do it, and that you choose to do so. Recognize the fact that procrastinating is bad for you, and that you choose to overcome it, either by speaking to someone you trust to guide you, or by other self help means. The key here is that you want to overcome your habit of procrastinating, and that you choose to take positive action to do so.
Tip #2: Be Well Equipped
Part of getting any task done is having the right tools to do it. Make sure that you are well equipped mentally as well as physically. If it is an assignment that is due, make sure that you have done your research, or spoken to the tutors or superiors that you should have spoken to. Draw up a schedule to help you plan out what needs to be done, and what you have to do to accomplish your task.
Tip #3: Be Realistic
It is impossible to suddenly quite being procrastinating. Understand that it is as much a bad habit similar to smoking or drugs, and you need time to overcome this problem. Set yourself realistic goals, and draw up a chart to show yourself improving. Give yourself rewards for finishing tasks on time and before deadlines. With regards to your responsibilities, make realistic plans on how to go about doing them. Do not expect yourself to finish a 10,000 word assignment in a day, but space out your preparation and actual work over a reasonable amount of time.
Tip #4: Prioritise
You have a dozen tasks to complete, but you need to pick one. And that’s where you first started procrastinating, by choosing the easiest and least consequential task. Draw up a to-do list, and mark each item as urgent, important and unimportant. Do the tasks that are urgent and important first. Plan your time wisely and allow for breaks, which are just as important for you to unwind and relax your mind so that you don’t get too stressed.
Tip #5: Take Small Steps
It is no point to set yourself the task of scaling Mount Everest, when you have trouble climbing up two flights of stairs. You are overcoming the bad habit of procrastinating, do not expect miracles to happen just because you have decided to act and stop procrastinating. For each task that may seem Herculean, break it down into small components and parts that can be accomplished separately. Set about completing these small parts, instead of attempting to conquer the entire project in one go. You will find it more manageable and less daunting, and succeeding at each step will motivate you to give yourself a pat on the back. It is possible to overcome procrastination, you just need to put your back into it and persevere. Use these 5 tips to stop procrastination and take action today.
article source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_6351.shtml
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