Focus on Progress, Not Deadlines
Photo by AI in Canva.
Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
If you are finding value in our PROJECT OF THE WEEK Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word. Your friends and family can click HERE to sign-up.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Focus on Progress, Not Deadlines
Hard deadlines are great! They provide outside accountability to "get it done!".
In my work with students, I love when professors break down large project into smaller projects with individual deadlines. This supports the student in creating higher quality work and not waiting until the last moment.
One challenge with adulthood is that we have less hard deadlines. This is especially true if you work for yourself.
Many of your most important projects, projects that will support you in reaching your full potential, have no deadlines at all.
No one, but YOU, will be upset if you don't follow through. If you don't make it happen.
Making it happen and reaching your full potential is important.
How can we achieve what's important?
Getting Started
Focus on progress, not on setting and reaching deadlines.
Progress builds momentum. Momentum builds motivation and confidence.
As long as you are moving your important projects forward, you will get to the finish line.
I love the quote, "People overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years." Bill Gates.
I have found this to be profoundly true.
There are so many projects that I have completed, that took much longer than I anticipated AND were completed in time to enjoy the benefits for, hopefully, decades to come.
I wish I had opened a Roth IRA when I was 18 and had just started working, but I am grateful I did it at 26.
I decided I wanted to have my Estate in a Living Revocable Trust about a decade before I finalized it in January, 2020. Just in time for the world to shut down in March, 2020.
I love learning better ways to do everything. I love giving advice. When I started Happy Spaces in 2016, everyone said, start a blog. It took me until 2022 to make that happen.
Life is a journey. Focus on progress. One foot in front of the other.
You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish.
Happy Planning!
Ready to Get Started?
If you feel excited about implementing this strategy and want some additional accountability and support to get started, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak was designed for you!
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.