Structure – The stepping stones to success
Consider life to be a winding journey. How do you know where to go next, without tools, a map, or directions? Without some form of structure, you can’t get where you want to go. Structure helps to build a map from which one can navigate, providing a powerful sense of direction.
The word “structure” has many meanings. For our purposes, the word will be used to refer to the extent or amount of detail with which your day is planned and organized. Routines, tools, lists and ways to organize or plan your schedule all add structure… To your day, your week, and ultimately, your year.
Top performers are well aware of the benefits of adding structure to their lives. Having a set of routines, or scheduled actions to take each day, brings greater peace of mind. It also can make a remarkable difference in your productivity, by helping you speed through routine tasks. It helps you avoid procrastinating or agonizing over options.
Without structure, you may find yourself frittering away a morning (or a day, or a week) trying to choose what, of the available million options, should you do. You’ll have no good way of saying “no” to requests when they come in, and you’ll be at the beck and call of every person who wants your time. The stress, guilt and frustration of this kind of indecision isn’t pleasant. Structure gets rid of all that by pre-deciding how you’re going to spend a given time period.
Keep in mind that only you can determine what structure works for you. Whether you prefer electronic or written organizational tools, old-fashioned list-making, or any of the leading task management systems, structure will help you focus your time on the right activities.
We have all, at some point, fallen prey to the “New Year’s Resolution” trap, where the ambitious goals (and their corresponding structures) we set in January are already a distant memory by February. The problem lies with the fact that we try to add too much structure – all at once! When it looks like we aren’t making progress, we become disheartened and give up.
With a new year upon us, why not plan to add more structure to your life? Life won’t be overly chaotic or complicated, and you can actually spend time doing the things you want to be doing. Simplify your work day and personal life, and you’ll have the confidence to know what actions to take, and when. Positive progression is one of the greatest gifts that come from having structure. Give yourself the gift of structure in 2014. Create the time, space and opportunity to best leverage your talents, and gain control over the direction your life takes.