September always invokes feelings of back to school for me. I love bright colored spiral notebooks, day planners, funky pens, new desk gadgets and most of all – the chance to start again.
Even though the year is well past the half-way point, September still gives us one last quarter to make some real strides in completing our goals before the year ends. Some plans and deadlines may have shifted during the year, but there’s still one sure fire way time to get some wins and you already know what it is.
Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize!
It’s easy to say just set your priorities, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do! I’ve decided to break my big goal list into three buckets so I can focus on my year end wins!
Things close to completion – Do IT!
Focus on these things with all your heart. These wins are just around the corner.
Don’t risk an incomplete here by letting your attention wander to things that can and will dilute your focus.
Things half done – Why?
I have a quite a few things in the half-baked basket, and I know I’m not able to finish all of them by year-end. As a starting point it’s good to make a list of these goals and ask yourself why they’re half done.
Have you lost interest?
Is your energy or funding low?
Do you simply not have time to get to these things this year?
It’s OK to admit we can’t do it all. Sometimes we get hit with a multitude of unplanned things throughout the year that slows us down. During the spring I experienced my first bout of with sciatic. Within a month I was walking with a cane. It took about eight weeks of physical therapy before I could get around safely without a cane. I lost momentum with quite a few projects due to my physical limitations. So in September I had to face the fact that some goals need to be scaled back or transitioned to next year.
Depending on how much work it takes I suggest only commit to one goal from this category. If you can get others done without compromising anything in the “Close To Completion” category – well that’s great.
Things not started – Evaluate
Did you pile too much on your plate to start with?
Have other “must dos” forced these goals down the list?
Are these items that were slated for fourth quarter?
Depending on your answers some of these items may have to be scheduled in.
However, unless these are quick hits, let’s face it, you probably won’t get them done this year. This doesn’t mean forget about these projects, but rather manage your expectations around completing them. If taking time to start one of these tasks jeopardizes your high priority goals, then don’t do it.
You can make constructive notes, lists etc. so you can hit the ground running with these goals next year, but do not spend too much time in this category. I plan to redo my kitchen next year. I know I’ll need to get estimates this year to ensure my budget is in order.
I’m only going to focus on some small base plans for my kitchen redo and these tasks will be done on weekends. The “work” days of my week will be focused on things close to completion because they have a year-end deadline and are half done.
Your mindset must stay FOCUSED on the things you can actually get done this year. Here’s to a fall season of completion starting right now!