How to Get Your Life in Order

How to Get Your Life in Order

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Achieve your goals by breaking them down into bite-sized pieces, and use digital shortcuts to track your steps towards success.

You Will Need

-A PDA
-A cell phone
-An email account
-A desire to organize your life

Step 1: Pick a goal

You talk about competing in a triathlon, writing a novel, and getting a better job, but what are you actually doing about it? Pick your goal and stick to it.

Tip: Writing down your goal and your proposed completion date in your PDA — instead of on paper — makes it easier to access, revise, and share with friends.

Step 2: Identify the smaller tasks

Identify the smaller tasks you'll need to complete. A single large goal becomes much more manageable when you turn it into a lot of smaller goals.

Step 3: Be realistic

Whatever your goal is, be realistic about your plan, as well as the amount of time you've given yourself to complete it. We know you want to see results right now, but overloading your plate will just make you anxious.

Step 4: Prioritize

Prioritize your tasks. Rank each one based on its urgency and the order in which it should be accomplished. As you complete tasks, re-assign the rankings.

Step 5: Schedule your tasks

Schedule tasks in your PDA. Assign times, dates, and priority to as many tasks as you can. Set reminders in advance, so you have plenty of warning.

Step 6: Streamline

Streamline the other stuff on your to-do list so you have more time to focus on your goal. For recurring items like monthly bills, sign up online for automatic payment. Use mobile banking to save trips to your local teller. And for other repeating appointments or errands, set chiming reminders on your PDA.

Step 7: Continue your education

Don't be afraid to seek help. Continue your education with an online class, and do readings and homework at your convenience.

Tip: Some classes have videos you can download to your PDA or MP3 player and watch whenever you're free.

Step 8: Let people know

Send an email telling your friends and family about your goal. Getting the word out not only locks you into seeing things through; it can open up your options.

Tip: When sending out a mass email, Bcc all email addresses.

Step 9: Reward yourself

Each time you accomplish a task, give yourself a break and a reward. Showering yourself with little presents — and some free time to enjoy them — is a great way to toast your success!

Do you know? For years, astronauts on the International Space Station have used PDAs to send email and keep track of tasks.