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[00:00:00] Welcome to the Extraordinary Life Podcast from the creator of the Extraordinary Life Tribe, Crystal Obregon, the self-development podcast propelling you forward toward your goals. Using science backed high performance habits.
[00:00:13] Reach the next level in your physical and mental health. See new heights in your relationships. Gain clarity on your purpose and live your extraordinary life. Welcome your host writer, speaker and coach Crystal Obregon.
[00:00:30] Hi there. This is Crystal of Crystal Obregon Coaching with episode number 28 of the Extraordinary Life Podcast. As we ended last year and have begun this year, I've been talking a lot about goals and dreams.
[00:00:46] In reality, I'm always talking about goals and dreams, especially your dreams for 10 years from now. Because while I believe in living in the moment, I also believe we can best [00:01:00] live in the moment. If we know who we want to be, what we want to do and what we want to have in the future. I also know that if you're not mindful of what you want to be doing, Life will happen anyway, and 10 years will go by regardless.
[00:01:19] Right? So how can you manage your big dreams for the future while still getting your kids off to school or dinner on the table or the dog SWAT, you would be surprised that all of my clients struggle with this at one point or another, whether they have kids or not, whether they're in the house or not.
[00:01:42] And when they share it in our group, they're also surprised that they're not alone in this. What goes along with it often is guilt. Whether it's mom, guilt, partner, guilt, extended family guilt, somehow is women. We've been [00:02:00] sold. This idea that we really can do at all. And I'm here to tell you that you don't have to, and you shouldn't.
[00:02:10] A few weeks ago, I talked about the Pareto principle that 20% of your effort gets you 80% of your results. And this is true. No matter what part of your life you're talking about this podcast is going to be less about time management, because time is time and more about the shifting of your attitude or your mindset around how to be less overwhelmed.
[00:02:39] And feel like you're still moving forward in what really matters to you. So I'm going to share 10 tips to move towards your goals and dreams faster. First off is clarifying your goals and strategy. This is the first thing we [00:03:00] do in the extraordinary life tribe group coaching program and the core session.
[00:03:06] It's really important. And we spend a lot of time on it. It's not something that's one and done. We do it once at the beginning, and then we revisit them periodically throughout the year and subsequent years, because with action comes more clarity. It's important to be clear about your aims and ambitions, both short and longterm.
[00:03:32] Write them down in as much detail as possible. Because once, you know what you really want to achieve and why it's easier to make decisions about what action steps you need to take, what you need to learn and who you need to be in the process and then plan accordingly. And remember the example I gave last week about the curriculum plan that you have in college.
[00:03:58] Well, designing a [00:04:00] curriculum plan is important as an adult also. Something I write down every day is what do I need to learn today or in the near future to accomplish my goals. And not only is that helpful in accomplishing my goals, but it's also stimulating for my brain. Have you ever thought about how fun it would be to go back to college and be in that stimulating environment now that you're old enough to really appreciate it.
[00:04:31] And maybe you are doing that. Maybe you have gone back to college and is so good for you. I hope that you are appreciating it. Second tip is to focus on your top priorities. I would recommend focusing on no more than three. Big goals at a time. Sometimes only one, if it's a really big one and then take that goal or project and write down five steps you need to take [00:05:00] to accomplish that goal and then break down those into other tasks, break it down as much as you want, or as much as you can until you get to.
[00:05:11] The most simplified tasks that you can do, because it does feel good to cross things off of a list. You just don't want to get addicted, to crossing things off of lists that aren't really important to begin with. So take that step of breaking it down and writing it all down, and that will really reduce your overwhelmed.
[00:05:34] Third tip is to schedule blocks of time each week to work on taking specific action based on the steps or tasks you've identified. And when I say schedule, I mean, actually make an appointment with yourself and put it in your calendar, whether it's on your phone in a paper planner or both, and be sure to give yourself a significant [00:06:00] block of time to finish what you set out to do.
[00:06:03] And for most things, it's a block of two to four hours so that you're not switching in and switching out. And also don't forget big productivity tip, not included in the 10, but don't forget to get up and move your body at least once an hour, because it will increase your productivity and your creativity.
[00:06:27] This works for any kind of goal, even relationship goals. And going back to the Preddo principle, you're better off spending two hours of intentional time with someone, whether it's your kids, your partner, or a friend than a full day when you're somewhat distracted. My husband and I both work from home.
[00:06:50] And of course the kids were home also for a while. And I can tell you that. Yes, technically we're around each other most of the day, but it's not the [00:07:00] same as spending focused time with each other. Trust me, it's worth it to take that time and devote it outside of just the time that you are just surround each other, think quality over quantity and also that idea.
[00:07:19] And I'll talk about it in one of the later tips. Balance doesn't mean sharing equal amounts of time amongst all of your priorities. So when you're creating balance, yes. Maybe you're working a lot right now, or you're spending your time on some other thing, but that doesn't mean you have to spend equal time on your relationships.
[00:07:43] Remember that quality? The fourth tip is to say no. To others, to yourself, I'm in a program right now, focusing on using our mind to create a successful life. Like I said, it's important to always be learning and [00:08:00] growing. And I take advantage of mentorship and coaching programs as well. And one of the principles that we're working on is building trust in ourselves that we'll do what we say we're going to do.
[00:08:14] After all, if you think about it, most of the time when you don't achieve your goals, it's because you didn't do what you said. You were going to do an interesting idea that we discussed the other day. Is to consider whether we really want to do something before we commit to it. Because when you commit to something you don't really want to do, there's a good chance that you won't do it.
[00:08:41] And when you don't do it, you break trust with yourself. And learning to trust yourself is important to accomplishing your goals and dreams. So start by committing to what you really want to do and what you're more likely to follow through on to build that trust with yourself. [00:09:00] And even when something new comes up that you do want to deal, whether it's someone else asking you or something, you've come up with, be sure to check with your schedule, to see if you really do have time for.
[00:09:14] And if you don't have time, be honest with others or with yourself and put it on a Sunday list. If that's appropriate, don't allow others to divert you from your objectives. Don't be afraid to say no number five is to create supportive systems. And this can look a lot of different ways depending on how you work best.
[00:09:41] What works best for me is to have my list of three projects that I'm working on along with the steps I need to take for each project. Like I mentioned before, and then on Sunday, sometime during the day or first thing Monday morning, [00:10:00] I sit down with my paper planner. And I write in all of my appointments, along with writing a list of about five things that I absolutely want to get done that week by Friday, end of the day, this includes exercise, walking, the dogs and any social commitments I might have.
[00:10:22] And then based on what I want to get done by the end of the week. And also the projects, the longer term projects that I have, I block in those times and plan out my day. So first idea for the week, and then usually each morning. I sit down and write down exactly time slots, what I'm going to do when, and this is really helped me because when I first started doing it, I thought I could do a lot more than I really could, as I've gotten better at it.
[00:10:58] I'm more realistic about [00:11:00] how long things take, especially with. Creative things like writing the outline for my podcast. It always takes longer than I think it will. And if I block that time in the appropriate amount of time, then I feel more successful because I actually completed another supportive system that I've started taking advantage of.
[00:11:23] Is online coworking times before the pandemic. I used to go to a local co-working space once or twice a week so that I could be around people and have more focus time away from my own home office. But of course, yes, they're still doing it, but I don't really feel like sitting there with a mask. So I have several different groups where.
[00:11:49] There are specific times during the week that are for coworking. We log into zoom sometimes depending on how big the group is, we check in, we [00:12:00] either write down in the chat or verbally say what we're going to do with that time. And then we check in at the end and it's really great to feel a sense of comradery.
[00:12:12] And I usually am more productive during that time, even though. I am just in front of my own computer, on zoom with my audio muted. So figure out the systems that work best for you and then use them. And I want to mention that this works for exercise to schedule that time with friends, if you're wanting to exercise so that it really happens because you're less likely to flake on a friend than you are with yourself.
[00:12:44] All right. Number six is taking a reality check after you've been working with some of the prior ideas and with planning out your weeks and scheduling blocks of time, evaluate how it's going. Are [00:13:00] there tasks that don't really need to be done? Or do some things take longer? Like I said, be more realistic about how long things take or are some of the things that you're doing, not part of the 20% that leads to the 80% of your results.
[00:13:19] Some things might not lead to any results and they're just busy work. So it's important to be real about it because if it's not taking you towards your goals and dreams, don't do it. Busy work done efficiently. Isn't worth it, which leads me to tip number seven, which is to delegate. And this works in all areas of your life.
[00:13:45] Sometimes you might resist delegating because you think you can do it better and faster. For example, kids doing the dishes, trust me. It's better to let your kids do the dishes [00:14:00] imperfect. Then to do them yourself perfectly. And then sometimes it's the opposite. Sometimes there are things that somebody else can do better.
[00:14:10] And if it's not something that you're really excited about getting better at, or if you're already overwhelmed in general and not doing the things that are super important. Then delegate it pass off the tasks so that you can focus on getting done what only you can do. So whether it's in your household or your work or in your business or some other place in life, if it's not part of the 20% that really moves your life forward, consider getting someone else to do it or not doing it at all.
[00:14:49] Number eight is to repeat your success. I ask my coaching clients, some version of this question or prompt when [00:15:00] we do our session on productivity. And that's think of a time in your life when you felt especially productive, what were you doing then? What strategies and techniques did you employ that made you so effective and focused?
[00:15:19] And can you repeat them? When I ask myself that question, my answer was that I felt most productive in college. I was working, going to school and racing triathlons, and somehow I got it all done and truly didn't feel like I wasted much time at all. I socialize while I was working or when I was training plus a little bit at school.
[00:15:47] And while I didn't know about the Pareto principle back then, you'd better believe that if I didn't think it was important, I didn't do it. So what's that time [00:16:00] in your life that you felt most productive? Think about it, journal on it and see if you can apply it to your life. Right now, number nine is to create balance in your life.
[00:16:14] So like I said before, Balance doesn't have to mean equal time for each priority sometimes in your life. You'll work more. Sometimes you'll play more. Sometimes you'll spend more time on relationships sometimes less, but think about scheduling that time for personal activities in your life and be sure that you do make time for family, for friends, your health, and.
[00:16:44] Because those parts of your life do reduce stress. They increase your energy levels. They just make life more enjoyable. And if you can combine them all the better. So for example, this afternoon, [00:17:00] I'll stop work early to ride with my son and his mountain bike team because I committed to being one of the coaches and this moves several of my life goals forward.
[00:17:10] It improves my fitness. I spend time with my son and I also contribute as a coach to kids being more active, especially the girls on the team. And my stress level goes down and my energy level goes up. So it's a win on at least five levels. The last tip is one that I can definitely get better. I used to do it when I had a job that I actually went to work at.
[00:17:41] I'm not quite as good about it in my own business, but I'm working on it and I do it in my home life, but basically I need to get better at it in my work life. So at the end of your Workday, Tidy your desk, make notes about what [00:18:00] needs doing tomorrow and prioritize those tasks. That way you'll worry less that evening and be prepared and focused the next morning.
[00:18:10] And this is similar to your home life. Like I said, I'm better at it in my home life. The end of the day, before I go up to bed, I make sure the kitchen is cleaned up after dinner. My husband does most of the. Since I'm usually the one that cooked dinner, but I like to tidy up any last details because I get up much earlier than everyone else in the household.
[00:18:35] And I really liked the space to be clean and tidy. And if I do plan on working out, I try to make sure that whatever I need is ready for me to grab and go. But mostly since I read journal and meditate in the mornings, these days, I like to have everything ready and set out for that. So figure out what works best for you.[00:19:00]
[00:19:00] Give these 10 tips, a try. I love to hear about what resonated most free. You don't try and do them all at once. One tip per week will probably be plenty. Try whatever is easiest first. And again, let me know how it went for you. If you'd like to dive into these deep. My Extraordinary Life Tribe group coaching program is opening soon.
[00:19:29] It's a great container for focusing on your goals and dreams in a community that will support you in getting there. The link for information to join the new cohort for 2022 is in the show notes. Have a terrific rest of your day, and I'll see you in here next week. Bye for now. Thank you for listening to the extraordinary life podcast with writer and coach, Crystal Obregon.
[00:19:58] We'd love to connect with [00:20:00] you outside of the podcast, too, to find more helpful insights, show notes and more about crystal. dot com that's O B R E G O N, where you will also find info for the Design Your Decade workshop. This workshop will help you to stop drifting and start creating until next time. Be extraordinary.
