#10 – Have SMART written goals. (SMART: Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Realistic, Time-sensitive).
#9 – Plan your day (week, quarter) on paper first, then work your plan. Avoid merely jumping in and doing random tasks without a plan.
#8 – Paper or electronic, maintain one and only one calendar. (And note, your calendar, like everyone else’s, has precisely 24 hours to account for, no more, no less.)
#7 – Paper or electronic, maintain one and only one To-Do List.
#6 – Overwhelmed with a big project? Ask yourself, “What is the first or next step I should take?” And then, schedule that next step!
#5 – Schedule blocks of time on your calendar, reserved for similar tasks, or those tasks where you need concentrated time to make progress.
#4 – Become a Time Master. Get in the habit of tracking how long it takes you to complete specific tasks. You may be surprised. We typically over-estimate or under-estimate the time it takes to accomplish particular tasks.
#3 – Learn to say “NO.”
#2 – At the end of the day (week, quarter) review your accomplishments and set your plan for the next day (week, quarter). Done consistently, you will see significant momentum and benefit from the compound effect of taking small, measurable steps towards your goals.
#1 – Regularly check-in and see if your calendar and To-Do lists reflect your written goals? If not, it may be time to make some changes.