You accomplish much more when you write down what you want to do.

Everyday, writing down six tasks to accomplish in order of priority brings coherence to your activity. Constantly revising and adding to your list of six as tasks are completed keeps you on a roll.

Six seems to be the magic number. If you include too many tasks, you may lose motivation.

Before going on, list six items to be done next and then number them one to six in order of importance, making finishing this page task number one.

Do this now, or it becomes just another good idea put off until never.

On your list, don't include routine tasks that you always do like brushing your teeth or commuting to school.

Many people like to write out a list of six in the evening in order to be able to jump into activity the next morning. Others prefer to make their lists the first thing each morning, when their minds are clearest.

Prioritize by "A," "B," and "C"

When deciding what to put on your list of six, divide possible tasks into groups by "A," "B," or "C," with the "A" ones being most important.

The "A" tasks become your first list of six.

Add lower priority ones as you complete the "A" ones.

You may find that you never get around to doing "C" tasks, and that is very okay. Or, a "C" or "B" task may become more urgent as a deadline nears and thus bumped up to "A" priority.

You may wish to keep a box labelled "C" for items you plan to read or work on "whenever I have time." Periodically, go through this box and throw items away. You'll throw away a lot.

Constantly revise and add to your list of six as tasks are completed.

Focusing on completing your list, only adding as tasks become finished or truly more important priorities come up, aids accomplishment.

Otherwise, you lose the coherence and motivation of a prioritized list.

Setting goals helps you achieve

As part of your constantly changing daily lists, you need grander goals to work toward.

You want to move beyond always doing tasks like paying the rent and shopping for new clothing to tasks that more fully help you to achieve your full potential.

Every day, your ever evolving list of six should include some tasks that eventually lead to great accomplishments.

You may not be able to stop doing everything else while writing your best selling novel, but you can at least spend some time on your book each day, researching, outlining, writing, proofreading, promoting, etc.

When thinking about what you want to achieve in life for yourself and for others, you should think in periods of

• lifetime goals,
• five year goals,
• one year goals, and
• monthly goals.
  

Like your lists of six, these evolve over time, as you become more knowledgeable and sophisticated.

Interestingly, former President Clinton set up the goal of becoming president while he was still in secondary school.

When formulating goals, make sure that you include activities that bring you pleasure like travel, as well as family, social, spiritual, health, financial, and similar short-term and long-term goals.

Include goals for all areas of life, including ways to be of service to others.

And be specific.

You are not just working toward a ski trip next March. You are planning and saving for a fun, ten-day holiday in Arosa, Switzerland, with great powder and perfect weather, at a two-star or better hotel or inn, all at an affordable price.

And, you always add, "This or better" in order to not limit yourself when writing goals.

Break complex tasks into smaller ones

Some of your goals may seem quite difficult to achieve, but there's a solution.

Each day, work on achieving your goals by breaking them up into prioritized small tasks.

As Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

Every day, be sure to include some of the small tasks needed to achieve major goals among the "A" priority ones on your lists of six.

As mentioned, you may not be able to work full-time on your great novel due to school and other responsibilities, but you can certainly work on it during a portion of nearly every day.

Summary

With your blocks of time, prioritized lists of six, and written goals broken down into smaller tasks, you are prepared to achieve your long-range aspirations.

These techniques really work!

For more productivity tips
Go to >> Becoming more productive

You are better able, also, to stabilize and improve your financial situation, which will aid in the achievement of many of your goals in life. Please go now to

Achieving Your Financial Goals: Managing Money and Increasing Wealth

All best wishes for achieving all of your aspirations!