As you list out your goals for 2010, do you notice that this list looks a lot like your 2009 list?
Don’t just transfer the undone items to your new list, because this will play on your subconscious in a negative way. A better approach is to take the most important goals from your old list and break them down into the most basic steps. This will give you something manageable and measurable to work with.
For example, if your goal is to get your paperwork organized, break that into these specific steps:
1. Get files, file boxes, labels, etc…
2. Organize paperwork into categories (paid invoices, customer receipts, etc…) and then by month/year.
3. Scan what you can, and then file and store anything you need to keep and shred the rest.
4. Create an accessible space (a drawer or something like that) for current papers.
You can break the steps down even further, if you like. When goals are too general they can feel overwhelming, and feeling overwhelmed frequently leads to procrastination. Breaking the goal down into basic action steps will give you a starting point and a sense of direction. So take a look at your unaccomplished goals of 2009 and start reducing them to the most basic steps possible.
