Lists are so important!!
There are large goals and small goals. A large goal may need to be broken down into smaller, bite-sized goals. Large goals tend to be the most important goals.
and for me, the goals I tend to procrastinate about most!
An example of a large goal might be getting a degree, learning a language, mastering Adobe Photoshop, traveling around the world, or saving a nest egg for retirement.
These are the goals you don’t want to lose sight of. You don’t want the day to day ordinary demands to get in the way of them. So in order to keep them on your radar you need to have them on a list. You need to try to do one thing, at least one thing almost every day to get you closer to one of these goals.
Then there are the every day, more urgent goals. The things you need to do or else! These are A goals. You know what they are! You need to try to focus your energies on these things first. Often these goals are A goals because of urgency, meaning they have a deadline. It may not always be possible to complete all of them in one day but you need to complete them as quickly as possible. If you don’t finish them they go at the top of your next day’s list! Some of these things may be simple and practical such as putting air in your bike tires or registering for a class. When these goals are done you feel in control of your life! It’s such a good feeling.
B goals are the things that may not be urgent but are important to you and make life interesting and fun: finding time for friends, entertainment, reading and learning, trying new things. They are just as important as the A goals, sometimes more important it’s just that they are not as urgent. When you are able to meet these goals it makes you feel like you are really living to the fullest! It makes you content.
Some people add a third category of C goals. I don’t really think that’s necessary. If it’s not urgent and it’s not important then why are you doing it? I guess C goals would be things you don’t really want to do but feel obligated to do. I try to avoid these things as much a possible.
As SpatzieLover said, give yourself little rewards along the way. Taking a walk or calling a friend or having a snack. Meditation might help you maintain your focus but I can’t say that I personally practice it. Lists on the other hand….