At some point in life, you might feel lost or stalled. Psychologists point out that this tends to happen when you haven’t been crystal clear on what you want or when life demands more than you feel you can give. When you feel behind, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next, here are some ways on how to get yourself on track.
Reminding yourself that you can get yourself on track is the first step. Personal development coaches will tell you that feeling focused, structured, and motivated are skills you can lose and learn again. Here’s how to get them back.
The truth is, being organized can really help you how to get yourself on track. Researchers who study productivity find that people put off starting tasks because they feel overwhelmed. When your environment is cluttered, your mind feels cluttered too, and it can be tough to start (or finish) anything.
When you create some structure in your life, you free up mental energy and can focus on what needs to happen now. Below are some tips to help you create some structure.
How to Get Yourself on Track
1. Set Clear Goals
Goal-setting experts will be the first to tell you that knowing where you want to go will help you figure out how to get yourself on track. When your goals are clear, there’s less mental clutter. Procrastination and ambiguity are two of the biggest barriers that prevent you from starting.
Here’s a goal-setting framework you can use called SMART. It will help you set goals that are clear and actionable.
Specific: Vague goals lead to vague results. Be sure to clearly define what you want to accomplish.
Measurable: Once your goal is set, figure out how you’ll measure when it’s completed. When you know what success looks like, you’ll know what to work towards.
Achievable: You should stretch yourself with your goals, but you shouldn’t set yourself up for failure. Set goals that are realistic with the time you have.
Relevant: This one ties back to the idea of your goals being specific. When you set goals that are meaningful to you, you’re more likely to take action.
Time-bound: Deadlines truly do push you to take action. Leave some wiggle room if needed, but figure out when you want to accomplish your goal by.
Try breaking your goals down into small steps too. Achievement is highly motivating, so the smaller your task, the better.
2. Create a Routine
Oftentimes when your life feels off-kilter, creating a routine can provide balance. When you know what to expect each day, you’ll feel more grounded and clear. Here’s how to create a rock-solid routine that you’ll actually enjoy.
Start by listing the tasks you need to complete on a daily basis. Once you have your list, you can begin to assign time blocks to each task. Be sure not to overpack your schedule. When you don’t build in enough time, your schedule will feel more overwhelming than helpful.
As you begin to build your routine, you may feel restricted by it. The thing with habits is that the more you repeat them, the more ingrained they become. As you adopt this new routine, check in with it every few months. If something isn’t serving you, change it!
Related: Mindset Shift: 8 Ways To Unlock Your Potential
3. Prioritize Your Tasks
Similar to setting a schedule, not all of your tasks are created equal. When your to-do list isn’t prioritized, you’ll waste valuable time and energy on tasks that don’t matter. Here’s how you can easily prioritize your tasks.
One method of prioritization is what’s known as the Eisenhower Matrix. To use this method, you will make a four quadrants. One quadrant will be for things you will do today and the other is for tasks that you can delegate to someone else.
The other two quadrants are for tasks that you will schedule for later and tasks that you will drop from your to-do list. You may be surprised by how many tasks you’ve been holding onto that aren’t serving you.
If the Eisenhower Matrix is too complicated for you, try the ABC method. All you need to do is number your tasks based on their importance. Research shows that when your tasks are ranked, you’ll feel less stressed and will follow-through with your long-term goals more.
4. Eliminate Distractions
Nothing kills momentum like distractions. Research has shown that when we’re distracted by things like our phone, we work slowly and with less focus. Here are a few tips to help you eliminate those distractions.
Find a space where you know you can work without being distracted. Even if it’s a small nook in your home, let your family know you’re not to be disturbed when you’re working. If you work from home, this is especially important!
Of course, one of the biggest distractions is our phones. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and use website blockers if you find yourself scrolling too much. You can also try working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. This is known as the Pomodoro Technique.
Related: 8 Practical Steps To Reignite Your Passion
5. Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care
When was the last time you checked in with yourself? Chances are if you’re feeling unfocused, you’ve been overwhelmed with stress. And when you’re stressed, your ability to make good decisions goes downhill fast.
Take a few moments to practice mindfulness or meditation. By becoming aware of your negative thought patterns, you can train your mind to bring yourself back to the present moment. And if you don’t have time to sit, you can practice mindfulness on the go.
Self-care doesn’t have to be cutting a bubble bath every night. If you can’t consistently fit that into your schedule, take care of yourself in other ways. Move your body and eat nutrient-rich foods. When you workout and eat healthy foods, you’ll feel more energized and ready to tackle the day.
6. Seek Inspiration
Reading quotes about getting back on track or listening to a podcast can inspire you when you’re feeling stuck. Author Jennifer Alvey says “don’t worry if you fall off track. We all do. What matters is that you keep moving forward.”
Sometimes reading a book or listening to someone tell their story can help you gain the motivation you need to accept your mistakes and learn from them. Not only will you learn from their advice, but you’ll realize you’re not alone in your journey.
7. Track Your Progress
When you want to stay motivated and on track, you have to hold yourself accountable. Research shows that when we can see our progress we are more likely to continue moving forward. Here are some ideas for tracking your progress.
If you love writing, try keeping a journal. When you write down your accomplishments you’re allowing yourself to recognize the wins you’ve made. Not only that, but you can look back on your old entries and see how far you’ve come.
If writing isn’t your thing, try using a productivity app. Not only will these apps remind you of your tasks, but you can proudly check them off as you accomplish them. Giving yourself credit is important!
8. Be Flexible
Lastly, remember that failure and curveballs are a part of life. Resilience researcher Cristina Gusmerotti found that people who were able to adapt to change got back on their feet quicker.
You don’t need to have your life completely mapped out either. It’s okay to adjust your goals as you learn more about what you want. In fact, you should! As long as your actions and goals align with your core values, you’ll be successful.
9. Reflect
You know the saying about how you can know your teeth are white enough? It applies to your goals too. Check in with yourself and how you’re moving toward your goals.
Use a journal, your monthly calendar, or set reminders on your phone to help you reflect. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
* What am I doing that’s working?
* What can I stop doing?
Adjusting your goals and daily habits shows that you’re a growth mindset. So get out there there and start moving forward!
Conclusion
Life will never be perfect, and you will not always feel 100% motivated. Psychologists say that real change comes from making small shifts on a daily basis. Try incorporating one of these tips into your daily routine and stick to it for at least a month. Once it becomes habit, add another!
With reflection and patience, you can get yourself back on track and greet each day with passion and enthusiasm.
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