Diversifying Your Goals

I am of the opinion that diversifying your goals to include multiple parts of your life is an important step to achieving your top goals. I would say that my top goal right now is to write 2,500 words per day for 365 days straight and I'm currently on day 133. To achieve this goal, you'd think it would make more sense to put other parts of my life on hold and to focus primarily on this one. In actuality, by filling up my schedule with the steps necessary for multiple goals, I am able to use my time more efficiently and to more effectively tackle my goal every single day.

The trick to diversifying your goals is to take on complementary goals that will help you to strengthen your ability to work on your major goal more effectively. In my case, I added to my writing goal with a major fitness goal, attempting to run 100 miles over the course of December and January. This goal was complementary to my writing goal because exercise increases your endorphins and over time, your energy levels. With a happier balance of hormones and improved energy, I have been able to tackle my writing goals with more vigor.

Other complementary goals that would improve my chances of achieving the writing goal include adding meditation to my routine, keeping my office organized and tidy, eating more fruits and vegetables and various other healthy habits. On the other than, goals such as trying to go out and party five times a week or to catch up on the entire series of "Mad Men" or "The Wire" would not be particularly helpful. Try to pick goals that are won't give you a hangover from drinking too much or a headache from staring at a screen too long.

Another goal that could be potentially helpful is trying to pull in more revenue. When you gain more income without increasing your standard of living, you end up with extra money that can help you out when the going gets tough. Having some additional cash lying around allows you to skip cooking and get delivery during a late night of working, to grab up a Groupon for a maid service if your apartment or house gets out of control or to buy yourself something that might help your goal like a new office chair or software program. I've attempted to increase my revenue with additional blog posts and by publishing new work and it has helped me to focus more intently on my writing goal.

Diversifying your goals to include as many complementary practices as possible can make your goal seem like a cinch. Soon enough you'll be taking on tougher and bigger goals that can get you higher in your field than you ever could have with the singular goal alone. 

Done with Diversifying Your Goals? Go back to Motivation Techniques.