Even for those of us who were born to be entrepreneurs, staying engaged and motivated every single day can be a challenge. My career takes me to many different places where I do many different things from day to day, so keeping a firm grip on my goals and my time takes work. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep me focused and on target no matter where I am or what I’m doing.
Don’t wait until Monday morning to figure out what you need to do next week! Make it a priority to accomplish a few simple tasks every day that will set you up for success in both the short term and the long term. Here are five that work for me.
- Set an intention.
A short, simple intention can help keep you focused on what you want to accomplish on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be complicated—in fact, it’s better if your intention is very simple. It’s just a goal for yourself, like “listen” or “appreciate” or “dominate” that you must hold yourself accountable to that day. Write it down. Live it. It will guide you to good things.
- Add tasks to your calendar.
I used to make to-do lists until I realized that to-do lists never get completed. Instead, make appointments with yourself on your calendar and stick to them. Need to work on a high-priority project this afternoon? Block off the time you think it will take and spend exactly that amount of time on it. If you don’t finish on time, make another appointment to put the task to bed. Then move on to the next appointment.
- Go hard early.
I don’t particularly like getting up early, but I do because it’s a great time to get things done. The phone isn’t ringing, no one is emailing me, and in general I can get my day started without much interference from others. It’s a great time to work on the hardest or lest appetizing task in front of me. Once that’s knocked out, I have my whole day left!
- Build a routine.
Routines may sound a bit boring, but they help keep me grounded when life gets hectic. Falling into a productive routine helps me accomplish what I need to without wasting mental energy thinking too hard about it. Set your easy or repetitive tasks on autopilot and take care of them every single day.
- Practice self-care.
In order to perform at your best, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Usain Bolt never won a race after partying all night and eating McGriddles for breakfast. He ate right, stayed in shape, and got plenty of rest. You’ve got to do the same. Stop ordering Chinese food and start bringing a salad to work. Go to bed before midnight. Be good to your body and your mind every day.
These are the daily duties that keep me operating at a high level. You can start here, but find what works for you. If you find one of these tasks to be a drag, drop it and replace it with something that makes you feel like you’re working at a high level and do it every day. Once it all becomes routine, you’ll be surprised at how fast you reach another level of success. Remember: Consistency is key!
