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Achieving Reachable Goals

Goals & Priorities

23 Mar

Most procrastinators have heard the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite at a time.”

Setting a reachable goal is the first step. (Goals and Desires, March 2, 2015, Setting Reachable Goals, March 16, 2015) Next we plan the approach for achieving that goal – one step at a time. We can eat the elephant bite by bite. Some people call that “chunking.” It works for long and short term jobs.

Entering your apartment after work, you regret volunteering to host your small group. Shoes, crusty cereal bowls, candy wrappers, dirty clothes basket spilling over, limp thirsty plant, half-filled coffee mugs, magazines, books, and CD’s all around. Ugh!

Oh, wait! You can break down this short term do-it-now task into doable chunks. First, water the plant so it has time to perk up. Next, remove the biggest inappropriate thing – the laundry basket to the bedroom closet. Then all shoes to their cubbies followed by putting away all clothes. Next chunk: all dirty dishes to a sink of hot water. Then: all books and magazines stacked, and CD’s into their cubes. Next: Pick up all trash and empty the trash can. Final chunk: fluff the pillows. Room Ready!

IF you have time you can vacuum and dust. But the room is orderly, functional, and attractive – ready for tonight. Relax.

I chunk when I clean the kitchen. Toss all trash, Put away food, Load dishwasher, Hand wash items, Wipe counters.

For a longer term job, we can: * Jot down everything needed to achieve the goal. (One thing often prompts another.) * Put like things together in one chunk. *Put the chunks in timeline order without dates. *Using your calendar, assign chunks or mini-chunks to your weeks/days. (Remember to allow for elements that take longer to complete. Select appropriately for weeks already heavy with demands. Allow breathing room.)

Say you need a new family doctor. Your timeline order might look like this: * Decide what’s important to us (congenial manner, availability, helpful office personnel, etc.) *Get recommendations with reasons from five friends. * Do online search for 3 doctors – location, hospital used, after hours help. * Investigate insurance practices for each. * Make appointment to interview doctor(s) and checkout office.

It is essential to make and work a plan – and focus on the next step in that plan. This saves us from being overwhelmed and brings us to achieving our goal. It fits hand-in-glove with the measure portion of OPTMIS.

Years ago my husband actually gave me a recipe for elephant stew! Guess he knew I’d need it.

Now that you’ve set a reachable goal, what plan will you set up for achieving it?

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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Julia F.

"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

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2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

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2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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