| Have you noticed that it is much easier to keep other | | | | firmly in mind. There is no question that these tasks |
| people focused and motivated than to motivate | | | | must be done. Some days I get up early because I |
| yourself? Do you find yourself wondering where the | | | | know I have a busy day ahead. Some days I have |
| week went and why you didn't get to do the things | | | | gone out after supper, in the cold of winter, to work |
| you really wanted to, the things that are most | | | | one last horse because I haven't yet achieved my goal |
| important to you? | | | | for the day. It just isn't an option not to do it. |
| No matter how busy you are there are ways to | | | | Tip 1: Try to get as much done on the first day of the |
| achieve the focus you need. You must make rules for | | | | week as you can so that if a day comes along that |
| yourself, rules that take priority, and accept no | | | | gets super busy you can skip a chore and still achieve |
| excuses. | | | | your weekly goal. |
| First, set your immediate goals. Decide what you want | | | | Tip 2: When scheduling appointments, etc., try to leave |
| to accomplish in a week, and be realistic. If your goals | | | | one free day towards the end of the week that you |
| are set too high you may fail and not try again. If your | | | | can use for catching up. |
| goals are set too low you will not feel that sense of | | | | Tip 3: Don't be too hard on yourself. When you are |
| accomplishment. My goal for three of my horses is to | | | | working on the last of your "reserves", recognize the |
| ride one horse 5 days per week, one horse 4 days | | | | tremendous accomplishment of having found the time |
| per week and one horse 3 days per week. Although I | | | | to perform your task, and let yourself off a bit easy. |
| would like to ride each horse every day I know that is | | | | Sometimes when I'm tired and spent I may only ride |
| impossible. Setting a goal of no more than 5 days per | | | | for half an hour. I may only work on one task with my |
| week is attainable in the 7 days I have. | | | | horse instead of several. When I'm done I feel good |
| Don't be afraid to set a minimum and a target goal, | | | | about keeping my rule, and I make up for the work |
| ones that you would feel good about accomplishing | | | | another time. |
| either way. I have set a minimum for the horse I ride 3 | | | | Tip 4: Re-assess your rules regularly. You create rules |
| days a week, but my goal is up to 5 days. The "rule" is | | | | to help you accomplish what's important to you. If you |
| that 3 is the minimum, but when the opportunity arises | | | | find you have created unrealistic ones, or if you find |
| and I achieve more I feel really good about it. | | | | yourself in a time where you need to adjust your |
| Next, set some long term goals so that you have | | | | priorities for a while, do it. It is much better to adjust |
| extra motivation to keep up with the weekly rules. I | | | | your rules than to let them go. Every time you achieve |
| have set a different goal for each of my horses. For | | | | the goals you set for yourself, and follow your own |
| instance, I want to take one horse to the dressage | | | | rules without breaking them, you boost your self |
| classic horse show. When I'm hot and tired and busy I | | | | esteem. Feeling good about yourself is the big goal in |
| think about that show and I know that I somehow | | | | life. You can achieve all that you desire if you take the |
| need to just do the work! | | | | time to effectively organize your thoughts, goals, |
| When I start my day I do so with my rules (goals) | | | | lifestyle and commitments. |