- Have more Self Awareness – Learn what you do the best. Stay within your strengths and genius zone, find someone to do the stuff which is off your strengths zone. Outsource/Delegate those tasks that aren’t within your strengths zone. What’s your genius zone? Take the following tests to learn more about yourself and to figure out your genius zone and stuff you need to stop doing:
- Take the Genius Test at geniusu.com(FREE)
- Take the Gallup Top 5 Strengths Test ($) If you can afford to spend a little more, then take the 34 Strengths Test.
- Take the Gallup EP10 ($) – Special test for Entrepreneurs.
- Take the DISC assessment (FREE)
- Take the Myers-Briggs Assessment (FREE)
- Set Clear Goals – Get down to the minute details as possible. Clarity gives you better brain connections to give you better ideas to achieve them. Write down goals, break them down to smaller goals and objectives to be achieved over the next year, month, and week. Or if they are tasks, write down tasks, sub-tasks, and sub-sub-tasks.
- Visualize The Results of Your Goals – Run through the results of your goals as a movie in your mind’s visual stage. Feel as if you are achieving those goals in reality and feel every emotion that would ideally be experienced when you actually achieve those.
This is like a dress rehearsal for your goals. Makes you feel ready for the achievements to come. And builds connections in your brain. And tames your subconscious. You need to do this for 30-mins every day for at least 21 days to see results. (Reference: The New Psychocybernetics by Dan Kennedy & Dr. Maxwell Maltz) - Start your day with intentions, and a small win instead of with a todo list. Your day should be planned with a lot of small wins. Such as starting an easy task like making your bed when you wake up or doing 3 situps when you wake up. It’s a mundane task for many of them, But when you start your day with a simple and easy win. A win releases a chemical called Endorphins in our body. Endorphins give us a positive feeling and keep us in peak performance. Overall your day should be a win if you succeed in managing your intentions. Nevertheless of whether you complete your todo list or not. Your to-do list shouldn’t be the factor that decides whether your day was a success or not.
E.g. I want to be cheerful, and show my best self in everything for today. If you were successful thoroughout the day in being cheerful and showing your best self, you’ve had a successful day. If you focus on finishing your to-do list, it’s hard to have a successful day and it could become a stressful day. - Set goals for a 12 week period instead of a 12 month period. Effectiveness is a process. You should do things you could do within your control zone (circle of influence) that can move you towards your goals. And not do one off stuff. Time block the process activities in your calendar. (Reference: The 12 week year by Michael Masterson)
Eg. Going to the gym once in a blue moon is not going to help you lose weight. Consistency and regularity is key. You need to go at-least thrice a week. Time block those days and hours. - Move / Walk / Cycle / Run More or do something that pumps your heart beat to the max for at-least 15 mins a day.
- Take breaks and recharge yourself. Learn to relax your body and mind. Time block your holidays. Time block your “me” time during the weekend. Do something for yourself, a disconnected time from your phone, emails, WhatsApp, SMS, etc. and recharge yourself. (Reference: The power of full engagement by Tony Schwartz)
- Bust your Fears. Primarily the Fear of Failure. Make decisions quickly. To Move forward, the only way is to make quick decisions. If it fails, then you Course correct. (Reference: Feel the fear and Do it anyway by Susan Jeffers)
- Sleep as much as you need. Everybody has a sweet spot. There is no standard because each of our bodies is different. Effective sleep time varies from 4 hours to 8 hours. Find your sweet spot and ensure that you get that much sleep. Sleep is a very important aspect to become successful in achieving our goals. (Reference: Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod)
- Eat good food & Drink lots of water. Avoid sugar and carbs filled junk food. Drink 4 to 6 litres of water every day. Start your day with warm lemon water.