Here is where the rubber meets the road. None of my resolutions are going to be accomplished without some goals in motivation. Sure, I have outside motivators like if I don’t feel like paying the power bill I’ll be in the dark… and cold. Being cold is a powerful motivator. But, what motivates me to morning Bible study or to tackle that rather difficult read on my list of “Books to Read in 2012″ or to stay on that elliptical for an extra two minutes? It takes a special set of cattle prods.
What is my virtual cattle prod? The whiteboard.
If you are like me and you love lists and little boxes to check off, the written schedule with unchecked boxes is almost as powerful a motivator as the threat of being cold. I make a daily schedule with the things I want to accomplish from my resolutions as well as the regular daily activities. The satisfaction of seeing all (most?) of the boxes checked off is a good feeling, one I like, and one that makes doing the hard, boring and sweaty things more palatable.
To get from a year long goal to a daily box to check off, I take my 2012 goals and divide them into monthly goals. From there I divide them into weekly goals and then into daily goals. I can accomplish major things when I divide, organize and conquer my goals this way.
Want to give your list an added punch? I not only write my list in a notebook, I write the daily list on our whiteboard. There’s nothing like the taunting motivation of a list in bright red dry erase marker mocking you every time you walk through the kitchen. And, I walk through the kitchen a LOT.
To summarize, my new goals for 2012 in this area are to keep detailed lists, write them in a notebook and daily on the whiteboard. Also, I’ll spend one afternoon a month reevaluating what I accomplished in the previous month and set daily goals for the following month. Consistency and follow-up are the key to the virtual cattle prod’s ability to pack a powerful motivating punch! It works for me!
Other posts in this series…
Jubilant January!
Resolutions: Spiritual Growth
Resolutions: Home Management
Resolutions: Health and Fitness
Resolutions: Finances
