The reason many people fail to realize an idea or dream is they do too much.
Take it from me:
I slip into that ‘do-more-than-you-can-actually-do’ bubble more often than I’d like to admit.
The sequence goes like this:
- Have a splendid, earth-shaking idea.
- Write it down.
- Throw in some action plan (most people skip this step).
- Add said idea to calendar for execution because you have free time.
One month later?
Two steps taken, life got busy, and you’ll get back to it later.
Multitasking is great
What if—instead of hauling items on your calendar, expecting it to make time for everything—you understand what activity you can afford or can’t afford?
What if you know when to say yes, no, or maybe to engagements that pop up throughout your week, including those ideas you can’t pend?
Think about it for a minute…
Not because you are always busy, but because you have a proven system that shows your current schedules, duties, and disposable time.
A system that lets you achieve deep work and measurable progress on one undertaking, before hopping onto another.
It’s simple.
All you have to do is manage your time better and get rid of multitasking.
OK, I know what you’re thinking:
Multitasking is great.
But when you pick up three projects and make little progress in three months? You’re not multitasking.
You’re mismanaging your attention and time.
And mismanagement needs to be fixed.
But how?
Understand your life outlook
A life outlook is an overview of your life.
It is the sum of your present endeavours, commitments, and circumstances.
Here’s how to find yours:
Where are you now
This includes your current obligations, roles, and field of work.
For example:
“I am a student trying to improve my GPA.“
“I am preparing for an international competition.“
“I am a busy mom tending to two kids.“
Look at the overwhelming duty in your life. It will give you clues on your ongoing functions.
What are you working towards
This is the primary goal you’re pursuing. Not a wish, but a necessity you need to work on.
It could be as simple as saving up for your first car, or as huge as building a business that runs without you.
Moving on…
What actions will move you forward in your main pursuit?
Do you know the steps required to achieve your primary goal?
If yes, squiggle it down. If not, figure it out.
How much progress have you made?
What actions have you taken? Perhaps you set up a recurring charge to your account for a ‘car-buy’ savings, or you invest in leadership courses that improve how you run a business.
Answering all four questions will give you a perfect picture of where you are.
How?
Because at any given point in time, you are occupied with a present endeavour and a future goal.
These pursuits are fundamental to how we act as humans. We are always doing something or looking forward to a new ambition, no matter how little.
These ambitions occupy your time by default.
For instance:
- An employee has a primary obligation to their work.
- A student has an intrinsic responsibility to his academics.
- A stay-at-home mom has a duty to her kids.
We all have different life outlooks. Some people have major commitments that require a 100% of their daily output. Others have minor commitments that can accommodate new pursuits.
Wherever you are, understanding your life outlook aids in a proper perspective.
Get real
If you are a busy student with exams coming up, you need to spend more time reading—except you plan to fail.
Add up the time needed to read and prepare for the exams, with the time you dedicate to your commitments as a student, a.k.a classes, assignments, and group work.
Do the maths:
- 6 hours daily in classes
- Sleep for another 6 hours
- need 4 hours per day to read
- and an extra 3 hours to move around, cook, or catch up with friends…
That leaves you with 5 disposable hours to spend on other commitments.
You can say yes to a small side project, but a week-long hangout at Missisipi beach is impossible.
If you’re bent on the fun, your primary responsibilities will suffer.
Imagine you have the opposite case:
A working dad trying to get a job.
- Sleep for 8 hours
- Job hunt for 5
- Volunteer at an NGO for 4 hours
- Catch up with friends for 2
- and attend to the family for 4 hours
Stack the hours, and you end up with a 24-hour day that leaves no room for new endeavours.
A shiny new idea will most likely go unaccomplished.
Except you make time for it.
And no, making time does not simply mean “blocking out 2 hours”. You don’t have those two hours.
120 minutes won’t magically appear if you have a packed calendar or time-intensive ongoing projects.
To make time for a new commitment, you need to move your schedule around, review your obligations, and–if needed–build new habits.
Understand your outlook.
What can you afford right now?
If you are convinced a new adventure is worth the stress, cut back on occupied hours and reallocate the free time to what you want to do.
But be realistic.
Don’t overestimate what you can do
We often underestimate the effort required to move from zero to one.
That is, the strength needed to start and see through a new project, build a new habit, or do anything from scratch.
It takes work.
It is not as easy as making audacious claims or writing a cute goal. You will need discipline, face disappointment, and struggle internally to develop a new mindset.
The hard work needed does not lessen simply because you’re determined. Determination only gets you far. It does not reduce the work.
If you have a responsibility already occupying your time, don’t be quick to shoulder another big project. Count the cost first. What changes will you need to make? How will your focus shift?
You can’t slap on another big goal without calculating what needs to be done and expect both to work out finely.
Planning matters. God gets the glory eventually and gives us wisdom and ease along the way.
But we must be proper stewards to make the best use with what we have.
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Cover image by Oktay KOPCAK on Unsplash
