Want to get some of the BIG goals crossed off your to-do list? I’ve been using a new system this year that I am calling “goal-based to-do lists” and I’m excited to share it with you. This system applies to both work-at-home moms and to homemakers–basically anyone who has a to-do list!
For the past few years I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants. I realized I have been chasing the urgent over what’s truly important.
When I sit down to do my work, many times I’m just doing the next thing that has to get done. (And there are many!)
I don’t want to do that anymore.
It’s not very productive. I felt like even though I was constantly working, I wasn’t really getting anything done!
One day I was thinking in the shower, scrawling ideas on my waterproof AquaNotes pad, and realized I really need to be focusing on three big goals this year for my business.
I decided to base my to-do list around these three big goals, rather than fill it with all the random tasks that pop into my head!
Here’s my new system:
(While I am applying this to my business, you could totally apply this goal-based to-do list to any aspect of your life.)
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My goal-based to-do list
I decided instead of just doing the urgent, I was going to focus on my three big goals when I start work every day. I have a white board in my office that has my to-do list for the day. The first three items I write on the list are always tasks related to my three big goals I have this year for my business.
Goal #1 Write my book.
I recently got a book deal to write a book that will be called More Than Just Making It that’s slated to publish in spring 2017. So I write down one small task for today that will work toward that goal.
Goal #2 Build a strong email list.
Next, I add three very small tasks under that goal, that I can accomplish in one day.
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Goal #3 Grow my Pinterest traffic.
To work toward that goal I might schedule a meeting with a graphics designer to help me with my pins.
Urgent tasks
After tasks related to my three big goals, I have my more urgent tasks. I may have to write my blog post for tomorrow or contact my team members or work on sponsored content.
Before, I was just doing all of these urgent things. With my goal-based to-do list, I’m focusing on my three big goals and doing baby steps toward those goals each day.
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Goal-based to-do lists for homemakers
I believe in just having a few main goals for the entire year. Write those goals down and focus on those things before you give attention to the “urgent” tasks that crop up on a daily basis.
For example, I have a goal to lose weight this year. I would love to lose 20 lbs. It sounds really huge! That’s my first goal. And then I would like to exceed that and maybe lose 30!
Maybe there’s a random day when I think, “I really need to iron my sheets!” I have never ironed my sheets in my entire life, but let’s just pretend one day I get the urge to iron my sheets. 😉 Since I’m prioritizing my main, big goals, I won’t iron my sheets that day until I’ve first worked on something related to my big goals.
Meal planning is very important for losing weight. If I get the urge to iron my sheets but I haven’t meal-planned yet, I don’t need to chase that rabbit of ironing my sheets. I need to focus on meal planning because that helps me toward my big goal, and ironing my sheets doesn’t!
Think about what big goals you want to achieve this year, and then prioritize your to-do lists with baby steps that will help you get there!
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Schedule a personal planning retreat.
If you are interested in mapping out your goals, one thing I recommend is taking a personal planning day. I highly recommend taking a whole weekend retreat if you have the time and resources.
If you cannot afford to do that, simply take a few hours to go to a coffee shop. Or lock yourself in your bedroom while your husband watches the kids. This will give you some time to map out goals and figure out how you can create a goal-based to-do list.
My eBook Your Retreat is a complete guidebook to giving yourself a personal planning day. It includes 35 free printables to help you set goals. You can pick up a copy here!
Becca
Great post! This was the first year I’ve actually set resolutions. What I’ve discovered is that they are much easier to do if they’re measurable. For instance, “Finish renovating the kids’ bedrooms” – very measurable; I know what success will look like there. But another one of my goals is “Become successful at my business” – I’m working out that’s a really dumb goal, because I didn’t take the time to think about how I’d measure success. Is it number of clients? Amount of money earned? Without defining what it looks like, I can’t know if I’m getting there or not.
Liz Schweizer
Thank you for this post! I am a list maker and a planner by nature, but I have recently allowed “the urgent” to rule, losing sight of “the important.” I am going to start approaching my calendar in this way–I’ve just got to figure out what, exactly, takes priority. Already, I know it’s going to make a difference in how I face my days.
Jackie Masek
I like the idea of not being able to work on one to-dol if the more important one has not been worked on first. That is really eye opening.