Daily Progress
Module Four
Now that you have clarity of vision around your goals, this is how you are going to make them come to fruition. In this module we help define each days purpose and MITs (Most Important Things), build your willpower, and provide a tool to help you schedule for success.
Daily Purpose & MITs
An MIT (Most Important Thing) is a crucial task that will create the most meaningful outcomes. Every day, identify your three MITs and focus on getting them done. Keep this list separate from your general to-do list. Make sure the daily MITs align with your 90-day goals and not everyday tasks. Not all tasks are created equal. Focus on what are the things that, if they get accomplished today will have the most significant impact on reaching your big goals.
Building Your Willpower
Good habits are foundational for happiness — you need willpower. It’s easy to give credit to willpower when you successfully build a new habit, but it’s also equally obvious to chalk up a failure due to a lack of willpower. Regardless of your thoughts on willpower; it is a real thing. It should be continuously strengthened, and it does have a direct impact on your ability to build a new habit.
Eating the Frog
If you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning. The most important of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is that you start with the essential task and don’t move on until it's complete. Stop starting and start finishing. It is not possible to multi-task, so don’t waste your time. Studies on multitasking have found that each additional task you add reduces your productivity by 20%, or roughly the same effect as smoking a joint while trying to work. To exasperate that you can deduct an additional 20% for each other activity you add.
Scheduling for Success
Your calendar is like a closet. If it’s empty, it will get filled with unnecessary items. By scheduling your day the night before or first thing in the morning, you are increasing the probability of accomplishing what you set out to do. How many people complain about not having enough time in a day? Why do some people achieve so much while others appear to struggle to get even the essentials accomplished? It's a matter of prioritizing what's most important and working on that. Being busy does not mean you are productive. We all have the same 24 hours, what will you do with yours?
Finding Your Flow State
The Flow state is a term in positive psychology that refers to a complete immersion in an activity. When you are on the flow, it is easier to be creative, solve complex problems easier, and perform at a higher level in sports. How do we get into flow? By being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego fades away and we are we find ourselves in an optimal state of consciousness where we feel and perform our best.