The Overachiever’s Guide to Finally Getting Things DoneThe Overachiever’s Guide to Finally Getting Things Done

It is not just the exercise, it’s the lifestyle.

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Intro

Hi and welcome back!

In case you were wondering what the easy way to break free from procrastination is and how to get sh*t done, all you have to do is stick around, and I’ll let you in on the overachiever’s mindset through a step-by-step guide that’s not only informative but also super applicable! Because, again, why learn something if you can’t use it later?

So, let’s dive in!

Start by Setting Clear Goals

Get a journal, a vision board, or basically just something to write on and write with. Now, start by writing down your goals. If you don’t know where to begin, just start with the first thing that comes to mind and brainstorm it out. All the chaos that was in your head should now be on paper (or screen, if you are using a digital medium).

Once you’ve gone through everything that took up unnecessary space in your head, sort through your goals, maybe connecting them or using them as steps to achieve the big-picture goal or lifestyle you envision for yourself. (More on manifesting here.)

Now that you’ve sorted all the goals and brought order to the chaos, make them sound clear and determined, like:

Continue with Breaking It Down and Priorictizing Tasks

So now that you know what your goals are (you can also adjust them as you go), break the big-picture goal into smaller, more immediately achievable goals.

And if you’re wondering why, well, there’s a good chance that focusing only on the big-picture goal makes it seem way too far out of reach or very hard to obtain. You might not know where to begin, motivation fades, discipline never had the chance to kick in, and it becomes just a fleeting dream of how your life could have looked like.

Long story short, write down the big-picture goal again and break it down into smaller goals. Give yourself a time limit and remember to prioritize tasks right away. Highlight what is most important to do immediately.

Think about the habits you need to adopt to achieve the big-picture goal and what specific steps you need to take to make it happen.

Identify the most important tasks that need to be done and prioritize them according to their urgency and importance (scroll down to the Eisenhower Principle).

Now You’re Ready To Create an Easy to Follow Schedule

You should not lose sight of the bigger picture. Therefore, keep a monthly/yearly schedule.

Develop a daily and weekly schedule that outlines your tasks and activities. Set a time window to complete each task to ensure you get it done.

Wherever you go, your schedule will always be by your side.

Now, how do you come up with the schedule? What should it look like? Well, as always, let’s break it down (this will also be attached at the bottom of this post as a downloadable PDF. If you have more big-picture goals, print or fill in more “Let’s Go Goal Hunting Guides”):

Get clear about the goal you want to achieve.
Big Picture Goal: __________
Break It Down Into Smaller Goals and Set Deadlines
Focus on one small goal at a time to reduce overwhelm and set clear milestones.
Goal 1: __________ (Deadline: _______)
Goal 2: __________ (Deadline: _______)
Prioritize Your Tasks
Identify the tasks that will have the biggest impact and prioritize them.
Task 1: __________ (Most important)
Task 2: __________
Task 3: __________ (Least important)
Develop Your Habits
Identify daily or weekly habits that will help you reach your goal.
Track them:
Daily Habit 1: _________
Weekly Habit 1: _________
Take Action and Keep Track
Are you managing your time well? Have you swapped your old habits for new, goal-focused ones? Track your progress!
Final Motivation
Write a short or long note to yourself with an affirmation that will keep you going.

🔴 Extra: Essentials to Get Ahead

These are a few items and tools you might need during your overachieving era.

Not sponsored. You can find links to all the items on my Amazon Storefront, which may be helpful if you were already considering getting them. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me continue creating content and keep the site running.

What Follows Next Is All About Minimizing Distractions

To make it easier to follow your new and shiny Goal Schedule, tackle one of the most obvious issues that keeps you from reaching your goals. Identify and minimize distractions that can derail your productivity, such as social media, email, or noisy environments. Write down all the distractions that keep you from being productive.

I took the liberty of identifying a few of my own and thought I’d share them here maybe one of them is what’s holding you back from achieving your goals:

Social Media: The Instagram icon was always way too tempting not to click on (I guess it was the colors), so I turned my apps to black and white. My Instagram usage decreased drastically as a result.
Binging TV Shows: One of my biggest struggles, which had been humbling me for years, was binge-watching TV shows (even ones I’d seen a million times). So, I decided to start fresh this year. I now schedule the TV shows I watch and set specific times for them (e.g., nothing from 18:00 to 19:00, or only from 14:00 to 15:00).
Doomscrolling on TikTok or YouTube: Sometimes I found myself scrolling through short-form videos, hoping to find something interesting, but I rarely did. So, I set a timer (like 5 minutes of scrolling), and once the timer went off, I stopped.

Practice Self-Discipline Is Another Must to Power Through

Well, you know what they say about motivation vs. discipline. Actually, I’m not sure if everyone says it, or if they say it the same way, but the general idea is that motivation helps you start (the sprint), while discipline is what keeps you going (the marathon).

So, motivation alone isn’t enough to help you achieve your big-picture goals, as it shouldn’t be compared to the Olympic flame. It can fade, especially after a few setbacks. So, get ready for the marathon.

Develop self-discipline by setting limits, sticking to your schedule, and holding yourself accountable for your actions. The most important question you must ask yourself is: Do I really want this? There’s no holy grail: you either want it, or you don’t.

Staying Organized is Non-Negotiable

Keep your workspace neat and organized to promote mental clarity and productivity. Use tools such as to-do lists, calendars, and task management apps.

Taking Regular Breaks Is A No Brainer But Needed To Be Said

Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. The Pomodoro Technique might just be what you need (more on one of the most popular study techniques here).

Take naps: Yes, you heard that right. If you’re feeling drained and low on energy, consider taking a 20-30 minute nap to recharge. This can help you avoid overconsuming caffeine, which can have side effects, such as making it harder to fall asleep when you actually need to.

Prioritize sleep: Aim for at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Always go to bed and wake up at the same time to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

Extra: The Eisenhower-Principle:Time Management Tips

The Eisenhower Principle is a time management method. It is designed to help you prioritize your tasks and activities, and it’s essentially a way to stay organized.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States and a five-star general during World War II, introduced the concept that later became known as the Eisenhower Matrix. In a 1954 speech, he quoted a university professor who said, “I have two types of problems: urgent ones and important ones. The urgent ones are not important, and the important ones are never urgent.”