Here is a quote – Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadows.
—Helen Keller
Human beings have the ability to control their actions. What prohibits us are the restrictions and limitations that our minds impose on us. You cannot expect to conquer the world with a defeated mindset. This further means that we must maintain a stable mindset if we are serious about achieving something, irrespective of demanding circumstances.
Don’t let negativity pull you down
If you nurture thoughts like ‘I don’t think I am ready for the change just yet’ or ‘others are better than me’, then you are the only thing that stands between you and your goal. All successful individuals have gone through a similar mental state at one point of time. Nevertheless, they were quick to rise above negative thoughts like intimidation, low self-esteem and anticipation and proved their worth to all – they were positive in their approach. The worst that can happen is a failure, and even then, it is part of the learning curve.
Plan your task the night before
Generally, mornings, particularly Monday mornings at the workplace, are cumbersome and hard to deal with for most of us. The situation deteriorates further if you have multiple tasks ahead of you that require your undivided attention and focus. Additionally, if you are not a morning person, it just may become even more tedious. Therefore, the best way to plan your mornings is to schedule your tasks the previous night.
This is especially true for short-term goals as we needn’t draw up lists for weeks or months in advance. In fact, such planning is best done the night before, when you can visualize the schedule of the upcoming day with clarity and precision.
The most striking feature of ‘planning the night before’ is that you don’t have to invest much time to accomplish the same. Before you go to bed, simply devote 10–15 minutes to chalk out a schedule and spend another 10–15 minutes the next morning to review it. Spending about half an hour can keep you free of all the stress that you would generally face when there is a rush of unorganized tasks in the morning. Reviewing your plans in the morning is vital, as it reinforces your commitment to goals and enables you to reconsider and plan your priorities.
How to do the planning
Review your day while considering all the things you are supposed to do on a typical day. Then, analyze steps that you have taken to complete your task within specified deadlines. Concentrating on the positive tasks that you have done is a good ploy, as it can help you in seeking your goals in the end. Do not ignore the discrepancies that your assessment revealed during the day and consider ways of plugging them.
After your analysis, decide on the tasks that you need to complete the next day while being clear about all minute and detailed things. Your priorities may change; therefore, it is important to be flexible while planning your schedule. Moreover, you should have an outline of all your requirements, as it makes it convenient for you to review your plans the next morning. For best results, mark at least three things you will complete the following day; you will be surprised to see that you have achieved more than you thought you would.
