The Romans had it right. Well, mostly. Horace, a Roman poet, first penned the phrase “Carpe Diem” or “Seize the day”—reminding us not to put off until tomorrow what we can tackle right now. It’s a useful phrase if you need motivation to get moving on your goals, but it’s only a portion of the story. To fully seize the day, we need a little more information.
So what’s the problem?
If we further expand, we might come up with “Make your dreams happen,” or even “Just do it,” but these are pretty vague statements. Make your dreams happen how, exactly? Just do what? Seizing the day can actually seem pretty intimidating when it comes right down to it, making you not want to seize anything at all. Where do you even begin?
Start small!
Many people write a to-do list at the beginning of each day because it helps them stay on track. Plus, it feels good to check things off the list—you feel like you’ve accomplished something.
What if you took a goal that you want to begin working on and broke it down into little goals—things you can work on one at a time, that don’t seem intimidating at all? By tackling your big goal little by little, you can begin to seize moments. And you can prioritize these moments on your to-do list. Sound easy?
It is—and it can have big payoffs
By breaking goals down into small steps, you make them much easier to complete. Then each day, add only what you can accomplish to your daily list—and check items off one at a time, as you finish them. This can be a big motivator to keep going, knowing that little by little, you’re chiseling away at something you’ve always dreamed of achieving.
Set a timeline
How long do you think it will take to finish the steps in your goal? As you group these smaller steps, set deadlines for yourself, but keep them reasonable. Trying to finish a book on being a good manager? Give yourself two weeks to really absorb it. Want to complete a college course? That will take a semester or two. Simply need to research good communication skills? You can do that in an evening on the internet. Based on the steps you need to take to reach your goal, setting a timeline for yourself will help you stay on track—and that much closer to reaching it.
Is your goal a new job?
Maybe you’re ready for a change and you have a career move in your sights. If you’re looking for new employment in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Snelling Georgia Group can help. We work with our candidates to find work that’s exciting and rewarding—and we’re ready to meet you! To learn more, visit our job search page or contact our experienced recruiters today.
