Jennifer Taylor
Finding enough time in the day to reach your financial goals can be tough. However, it might not be as hard as you think, thanks to former journalist and time management researcher Oliver Burkeman.
His most recent book “Meditations for Mortals” offers tips to help make time for things that matter most in life. If you’re looking to become more successful and build greater wealth, he has some advice for you. You might be thinking you don’t have enough time to read a book right now and that’s OK, because CNBC did it for you.
Consider the Consequences
Every choice you make comes with consequences — even small ones. “It’s in the nature of being finite that every choice comes with some sort of consequences, because at any instant, you can only pick one path and must deal with the repercussions of not picking any of the others,” Burkeman wrote.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Burkeman encouraged his readers to use this knowledge of sorts to choose the path that feels best.
He said having the ability to examine the potential consequences of a decision is a ”freedom in limitation.” Essentially, being able to weigh your decision should be considered a form of empowerment.
Befriend What Scares You
It’s hard to get ahead if worries are holding you back. Burkeman suggested overcoming your fears by befriending them. “Confronting the situation is the only way to do something about it,” he wrote.
This, of course, can feel easier said than done. However, he said you can face your fear in your own way, as long as you get there. “It might mean finding the least intimating way to get stuck into it, or asking someone else for help,” he wrote.
Do Things ‘Dailyish’
Success rarely happens overnight. Instead, Burkeman advised aiming to take small daily steps — but not fretting if you don’t make progress every single day.
“Deep down, you know that doing something twice per week doesn’t count qualify as ‘dailyish,’ while five times per week does,” he wrote. “In busy periods, three or four times per week might get to count.”
He said this approach ensures you’re prioritizing success, but in a realistic manner. Instead of aiming for perfection, you’ll have the freedom to continue moving forward, without putting too much pressure on yourself.
Set Quantity Goals
When working toward an objective that’s important to you, it’s easy to sweat the small stuff. However, Burkeman said this isn’t the best path to success.
Instead, he recommended setting quantity goals, as this makes the activity less strenuous. For example, if you’re writing a book, he advised setting a timer for 10 minutes and challenging yourself to write without stopping for the entire time period.
He said this can be a more effective way to make progress, as it’s not uncommon to procrastinate if you’re laser-focused on quality.
“A quality goal puts you in the driver’s seat,” he wrote. “Instead of hoping you produce something good, you get to know you’ll produce something.”
This can help build momentum, inspiring you to keep working toward your goal. Even if you end up not using some — or all — of the work attached to quantity goals, they’ve still served an important purpose.
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