Wow, can you believe we are heading into the last quarter of the year already? Doesn’t it seem like it was just spring?
For many people, starting the fourth business quarter creates a sense of stress or outright panic about completing year-end goals. If this sounds familiar, take a look at the tips below to help you end the year successfully and with enough momentum to pull you into the year to follow.
Set Aside A Clear Time To Reassess Your Goals
The start of the 4th quarter is a perfect time to revisit your goals and assess where you are on each one. As I support my clients in doing this, I find that unless there is a clear time set aside to review and re-evaluate their goals they never get to it. And if you don’t take some time away from the daily grind to check in and see where you are, you won’t be able to create a clear path to where you want to be by year’s end.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
When you are reviewing your goals get really clear where you actually are today compared to where you want to be by the end of the year. Notice what went well and what didn’t and see what you can do to most easily course correct. This is NOT the time to beat yourself up and create a downward spiral that keeps you stuck. You need to get clear on what you can change so you can get to where you want to be. In this process, ask yourself what you need to succeed in reaching your year-end goals. You may need to develop some skills around overcoming procrastination, increasing delegation , or staying focused on priorities to stay on target going forward.
Make Adjustments, If Needed
As you reassess your goals, adjust them if it makes sense. Try to ensure all goals are SMART : Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time specific. If you decide to be a little bolder with your goal setting, also be realistic about what you can do well—or at all—given the time you have between now and year-end.
If overwhelm starts to occur, take it down a notch by asking yourself and a trusted colleague “If this goal is going to happen by year end, how can I most easily make that happen?” By talking through the solution with someone else, you may be able to find solutions that would not have come up otherwise.
Get Clear On What You Will STOP Doing
As you are put together a clear plan to reach your goals, be as clear about what you will stop doing as what you will start doing…especially if you have a tendency to try and do too much!
Remember Your Self-Care
For peak performance as you end the year, schedule planned rest periods. According to the article Champions Love the 4th Quarter: 10 Ways to Close Out a Great Year , “All work and no play is not the true champion’s way.”
Unless you stay physically and mentally strong through year end, achieving your goals won’t mean much. And stress can derail even the best of efforts and intentions.
These are just a few of the techniques that can help you approach your fourth quarter with excitement and ultimately end this year feeling stronger and more capable than ever.
If you continue to struggle with time management issues that keep you from greater success, I’m here to help. Whether you’re new to this whole “time management thing,” or if your system just needs a few tweaks, how we can help you develop a system that works specifically for you and your life.
- Time Management Strategies to Help You Land the Big Clients You Want - April 17, 2024
- Stress Management for a Productive Spring: Are You “Normal”? - April 4, 2024
- 3 Things Realtors Can Control in a Busy Spring Real Estate Market - March 15, 2024
