Time Management & Goal Setting help

[moneymatters]

Could someone please give me some advice on how I can use my time more effectively and how I can properly set goals for myself?

I did some searching on Google, however, the information I'm receiving is too general, which will not work for me. There are many things I'd like to accomplish in my life, but I need a more specific action plan to achieve my goals.

The beginning of last year, I sat down and wrote out some short-term goals for the year but that was about as far as I got. Nothing I wanted to do got done, and now, I'm back to square one with no idea where to start. I feel it is because I'm trying to do to much at once and not using my time wisely (yes, I'm a procrastinator).

When I'm not working, in school, at church, studying, or spending time with family & friends, all I find myself doing is sleeping or spending a lot of time on the Internet (mostly looking for info I can learn from). However, I'm trying to limit the amount of time I sleep and spend on the Net by doing something more productive with the time I have to myself.

Here is my typical weekly schedule:

Monday through Friday
Work: 7am - 4pm (I've been working overtime this week until 7pm since I had a one week break from school.)
School: 6pm - 10pm

Saturdays & Sundays
Study for school
Hangout with friends and family
Church (Sunday morning & afternoon)

I'd really like to get my web design business started soon as well as other things, but I find it difficult to come up with a solid plan of action.

I'm only 20, have no kids, and have a lot more time than I think I do. My life just seems so unorganized right now.

Are there any sites or books you would recommend?

Sorry, for blabbering on and on...This is really important to me.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't see anytime except on weekends that you might use for anything like developing a business. How many hours do you play on the internet and when? I'm thinking though that if you find you'd reather just brows the net than work on your potential business, then maybe web design isn't the business for you. There is a ton of competition there from all skill levels. If someone else can bring to their web design business not only the skill, but the dedication and enthusiasm that you are channeling elsewhere, then they are likely going to skunk your business from the get-go.

I would never recommend skipping sleep, though sometimes people are backed into it, or choose it because they are so driven. You seem to be saying you are not so driven,

But what about that procrastination? Is it because you are actually a perfectionist? Is it because you dread doing the things you need to do? Is it because you feel overworked already?

What kind of steps toward the goal are you looking for? Info on how to set up a business? How to motivate yourself? How to assign value to putting in the time to get a B in a class versus spending the time making a business plan?

I'm finding your question vague. That's why I ask so many questions back at you.

[Fern]

During the week it seems like you have very long days, so i wouldn't fault you if you wanted to sleep in on the weekends!

As far as goal setting, i have found it effective to take a single piece of paper and create 3 column. Mark the 1st Short Term (up to 2 years), the 2nd one Mid-Term (2-5 years) and the 3rd one Long-Term (5+ years).

Then begin to fill in each of the goals you want to accomplish, putting them in the appropriate short, mid or long-term category.

Next, Write down a Strategy for each, meaning, how do you intend to achieve that goal? For instance, if you want to save $5,000 for a big trip or something like that, figure out how much you'd need to save monthly, weekly, per paycheck or whatever makes sense to you, in order to reach that goal by a given date.

I usually try to achieve one short term, one mid-term goal each year, and make sure i'm making progress on the long term goals too.

For me, the old saying, if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person, is definitely the case. When i have too much discretionary time on my hands with nothing pressing to do, i end up wasting it and not doing much at all.

[more freedom]

I think you might want to get Time Management book

[lgslgs]

Check out the book "Getting Things Done" Amazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: Books: David Allen

Lynda

[moneymatters]

Thanks much for your posts guys and gals. Much appreciated.

I think I'm trying to juggle to many things at once but need to do one task at a time.

lgslgs, I did a search for David Allen's time management book on my local library's website and found a couple copies that are available for checkout. When I get off work tomorrow, I'll be right there to pick up my copy and read it.

Thanks again!

[Broken Arrow]

While I do not have much in the way of advice, I do think that time management is argueably the most important type of asset we will ever manage.

I do believe that there is no one-size-fits-all, and ultimately, you will have to experiment to find what works best for you.

For example, when I need something done, I will put it out in a conspicuous place that I know it will at least irritate me. Like in a hallway. Knowing my... ahem... anal-retentioniveness, I will do it shortly, just so I wouldn't step or trip on it.

Also, I know I can't have too many things thrown at me at once. If things start to pile up, they will discourage me. Not only that, but they start to "blend together" like a large, imposing pile of to-dos rather than small, bite-size items that fools me into thinking I can get it done in like 5 minutes so I can go back to being a lazy bum. So, when I have a bunch of stuff that needs to be done, I prioritize them, but I present myself with the top 3 while temporarily concealing the rest. And of those 3, I only pick one to do at a time. Something like that.

I love my PDA, so that's the system in which I use to write and organize all my to-dos on. Of course, not everybody has to do it that way. Some may be better off with *shudder* Post-Its for example. Whatever it is, find a system to keep track of it all that you will actually use.

Oh, I think it's worth trying to make things you don't like as... well, enjoyable as possible somehow?

Finally, I recommend to celebrate every little achievement. What that entails is entirely up to you.

But like I said, it really is up to you to experiment and figure out a system that will work for you. Good luck.

[Harrison]

I think you need more motivation!

Before this I also like you. Have a lot of plans, set a lot of goals but end up achieve nothing. I spend most of my time doing some thing that I thought is good for me and in reality it is not really help me.

Until 1 day, I found that I cannot keep myself like this anymore. Failing to achieve my goal is lowering my confidence and make me sad and down. So I decided to make a change, I MUST CHANGE!

From there I gain back my motivation and guess what I can accomplish many plan that bring me to my goal. So the most important thing here is motivation. Once you are motivated, you will take action and no more procrastination.

[n_vizion]

Because your time is so limited, you have to write down at least one thing you can do everyday, even if it's a small step, that will lead you a little closer to your goal. If your days are super tight, you may want to write down 1 thing a week to get you to your goals.

The key is to break down your goals into smaller bite-size pieces. If you don't do this, you will continue to keep procrastinating because the goal may seem too big.