Personal Development Plan

[Veekay]

There are several areas in my life that I want to improve - after having read a lot of books and Steve's blog and articles. The list has 10 goals like quitting smoking, exercising, meditation, diet, avoiding procrastination etc. - how should I approach these areas. Should I take one goal at a time or should I go the big bang way - trying to achive all goals at one time. Any suugestions or experiences ?

[timmymayes]

I too am finally setting goals and organizing my life. As far as how much to change at one given time I think its sorta dependant on a few factors. To determine what I was going to work on first and formost is sorta determined by what I have envisioned and planned over the next two years. I am not going out further just yet as I'm only 23 and i'm new to the prospect of planning. But once I had the skeletal outline of my next two years I sorta filled in the gaps with what was most important or what would follow a logical set of steps. First I mapped out the time restrictive goals then I filled it in with things like Losing 50 lbs which is a big part of my next 6 months. For you I would recommend quitting smoking before you go to exercising because logically once the habit of smoking is broken then you stand a better chance with your exercise as your body is already healthier for the previous habit broken. Avoiding procrastination and things relating to becoming more focused and motivated are IMHO good to do right up front by combining it with a couple of other goals so you have something to not procrastinate about or something to organize/plan. For me one of my other big goals is to install an organization/planning system that I use daily. To this end I'm getting a C# certification and losing 50 lbs and starting the habit of reading 2 books a week (for now) which give me some material to focus my planning and organization on.

Steve recommends overwhelming force when it comes to conquering an indivdual habit/task. I think for making a radical shift in your life, such as you are trying to do, tearing the whole thing down and restructuring seems like a better idea than trying to fit each goal in eventually. This way you are planning how each goal/life change fits into your new vision of your life instead of implementing one and giving any current bad habits a chance to pollute your new manner.

But this is just my personality I do not fear change I embrace so for me I quit my day job which paid ok(12.31) moved back home, quit video gaming, got a part time job working a meager 15 hrs on weekends at 7.00 an hour, quit talking to my go nowhere do nothing friends, deleted all of my old book marks, programs, desktop icons and whatever else was not focused in my new direction and started devouring steve's articles as well as a few newly purchased self development books to enact a new plan. My new life has me drinking nothing but water, very occasionally some juice, increasing my vegetable intake by 200%(though I still eat meat for now), exercise for at least an hour daily(usually more), I plan/journal/organize daily, I've started logging my dreams, reading for at least 2 hrs a day, developing C# skills for at least 4 hrs daily, no tv(except 30 mins for the office), and much much much more to come. So far I'm 17 days in with very few faults and am very proud of it. To me the full change was nessecary as I tried changing one thing here or there but other areas of my life would creep in and take over without me realizing until i was off course.

I hope this helps,
Timothy

[Alex]

What has worked for me, over and over again is to not think of what I am doing as a change. Change is a process. What I recommend and what works for me is to think of what you want to accomplish as a new you. Affirmation: "I do 30 minutes of cardio each and every day." There is no change, no before, no after. There is the present day, and the habit which you have undertaken into your daily life. As you walk (aside from the fact that you'll probably be listening to audio tapes in order to be efficient) you think about how today's habit shapes your future. Affirmation: "I read for 2 hours each day." Create the new you out of thin air, not from the old you. Your daily habits will shape who you will become.

This is what works for me, I could be wrong, I often am

[stephencp]

The list has 10 goals like quitting smoking, exercising, meditation, diet, avoiding procrastination etc.

Assuming your written goals are made very specific, you can progress on many at one time - but make sure you write them all down, refine them, review them EVERY DAY (if not morning AND night) and write affirmations for all.

Stephen
Power-Book Library: Free personal development, success, inspiration and motivational classics
Personality and Growth Bookshelf

[child]

I quit smoking, began exercising, changed my diet comletely and many other major changes in just 3 months and I ll just repeat what has been already said.

1- Do them step by step. Do not begin with challenging things, just do little things and build your self dsicipline like you would build your muscles in weight training. (For example quit something like one brand of coffee, it does not have to be a meaningful act, just quit something, anything. Then quit coke, then all sodas, then coffee, then smoking...)

2- Write your goals and read them everyday. Or rewrite them every morning.

3- Visualise yourself as you have already achieved your goal.

I went smoke-free so easy that i still can not believe it. I was a 1-1.5 pack a day smoker for 15 years.

[Tabs]

Originally Posted by Veekay

There are several areas in my life that I want to improve - after having read a lot of books and Steve's blog and articles. The list has 10 goals like quitting smoking, exercising, meditation, diet, avoiding procrastination etc. - how should I approach these areas. Should I take one goal at a time or should I go the big bang way - trying to achive all goals at one time. Any suugestions or experiences ?

Hello, hope you started working on your goals as you read this… The first thing that jumps out at me is “avoiding procrastination” everything hinges on that one goal, if not you will keep "starting tomorrow".

If procrastination is already an issue, then big bang might not be the way to go because the changes you need to make a lifestyle changes not a one-time project.

I say this because I know exactly what you are talking about, except for smoking you will find all your items on my list. What I did was take everything on the list and do a little at a time each day.

• Exercise: Walk 30 minutes a day at least five days a week. Three weeks later I am in a gym working out at least 50 minutes, doing weight training and planning on adding yoga. BTW I also just read You on a Diet by Dr. Oz, it will scare you into working out when you know exactly what lack of exercise is doing to your body.
  
• Mediation: Start with five minutes a day. (Don't do it on lying on your bed you will fall asleep)
  
• Smoking: One or two less cigs a day, depending on your current limit
  
• Doing all the above you have already taken care of your procrastination issue. You also have to call yourself on the procrastination thing, you know when you should be focused on something more important, just check yourself and get to work.

The reason a little at a time works, because at some point your body starts to crave more exercise, with exercise it wants healthier food and less cigs. You meditate five minutes then six then ten and more. It a gradual process and I have found every time I try to do too much at a time I can only sustain it for a few weeks if I get lucky.

Good luck it doesn't happen overnight by when you start seeing changes you will be even more motivated.

Cheers

[Cassie]

I think it's easier to tackle issues a bit at a time, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I'm going to outline specific goals for my personal development this weekend and post them somewhere visible. In the beginning, constant reminders are helpful for me. Or else I tend to get absorbed in other things and start sliding more.

I am working on quitting smoking too, if you need some some support. I'm currently down to about 1 - 3 per day.

[skinnyninja]

I think you should prioritize as follows:

Quit smoking, and use that success as a springboard. Build on it.

Most medical professionals agree that quitting smoking is the single greatest thing you can do for your health.

Quitting smoking is probably going to be the toughest goal. Once you achieve freedom from nicotine, other goals won't seem so difficult.

Focus your plan and your goal to quit smoking. Agree with yourself to forget about the other stuff until you have a month nicotine-free. Some people might not agree that quitting smoking is as important as I am making it out to be. If you question it's importance as well....then go do the research for yourself.

After doing my own research, I found that quitting smoking was definitely numero uno on my list. I now have over a year of complete freedom from nicotine.

For me, quitting smoking was the key to my personal growth journey. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but I don't think so. Cigarettes were "holding me back." Now I am an avid jogger and I am consciously changing my diet for the better. Indeed, quitting smoking led me into personal growth!

[Cassie]

The days I get by without a cigarette, I definitely feel proud and very competent. I'll focus primarily on that goal then. Thanks for the reply, SkinnyNinja.


Current running goal : No cigarette today

[Veekay]

Thanks everybody for the advice and suggestions. I have started my self development plan with quitting cigarettes as the first goal and action point. After this I will start with "getting up early" and exercising. Taking one step at a time for now till I get more self discipline. Today is the second day - I have been cigarette free so far after quitting cold turkey. I had tried the gradual reduction method and that did not work - so i have used 'overwhelming force' to quit cold turkey and need to keep up the momentum. Will keep posting on the progress.

[Wanderer]

Good luck with the new lifestyle
Quiting smoking is an excellent way forward
If you make sure you rip up all your cigarettes, then you have to make a conscious effort to go and buy some, and on the way there hopefully you will be able to stop and think NO

Maybe post I will not smoke on your door so you reinforce it everytime you leave?

Good luck

[child]

Cold turkey definitely works...

When the cravings come just think something else and they will pass in a minute. If possible stay away from smokers. And never take another puff! At some point you will feel strong and there will be voices in your head saying you can smoke just one and you can go back to not-smoking. Do not fall into that trap. You will be almost nicotinefree in 72 hours but if you take even just one puff your nicotine level would be just as before again and you d be in the withdrawal zone again.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Veekay

Should I take one goal at a time or should I go the big bang way - trying to achive all goals at one time.

I find 3 is the magic number ; I can pursue about 3 goals at a time without becoming overwhelmed. One is usually a comparatively passive 'not' goal (eg. "don't drink coffee") which is probably less taxing than 3 active goals.

The danger of a 'not' goal though is that it leaves a hole ; if you don't deliberately replace it with something, you can end up either fixated on what you're not doing (eg. smoking) or unintentionally replacing it with something else unhealthy (such as binge-eating). I'd recommend deciding up front what you'll do instead when you (eg.} feel like a smoke...

[Veekay]

Thanks Keith - You are right, deciding up front for a replacement helps. When I am getting the urge to smoke - I am taking a 2 minute walk and also chewing gum. However it will be interesting to know what others have been doing for deliberate replacements of smoking.

[realgoalgetter]

Originally Posted by Veekay

Thanks everybody for the advice and suggestions. I have started my self development plan with quitting cigarettes as the first goal and action point. After this I will start with "getting up early" and exercising. Taking one step at a time for now till I get more self discipline. Today is the second day - I have been cigarette free so far after quitting cold turkey. I had tried the gradual reduction method and that did not work - so i have used 'overwhelming force' to quit cold turkey and need to keep up the momentum. Will keep posting on the progress.

Hi Veekay, congrats on your healthy lifestyle changes.

As far as pursuing one goal or many, maybe it would be possible to link all of your changes into one healthy lifestyle identity change, one focus serving many purposes, so to speak.

I heard a tape by Tony Robbins on Identity that would make all of the above changes into one profound change that encompasses all at once.

It is definitely possible to align your goals into one major focus. I'll have to go back and research again so I can brush up on his material, but almost 20 years ago, I quit smoking, I quit drinking, and I dropped 60 pounds within 3 months.

The key to profound change I think (IMHO) is to get leverage on yourself by realizing that you have not been living up to your potential up until this time and your behaviors are not consistent with who you really are and who you want to be. (am I making any sense at all?) maybe some of the coaches here could explain this more effectively than me.

Anyway, you can always do more than you think you can, so go for it! I'm watching you succeed . . . (LOL)

Al

[sunshinelady]

Originally Posted by Alex

What has worked for me, over and over again is to not think of what I am doing as a change. Change is a process. What I recommend and what works for me is to think of what you want to accomplish as a new you. Affirmation: "I do 30 minutes of cardio each and every day." There is no change, no before, no after. There is the present day, and the habit which you have undertaken into your daily life. As you walk (aside from the fact that you'll probably be listening to audio tapes in order to be efficient) you think about how today's habit shapes your future. Affirmation: "I read for 2 hours each day." Create the new you out of thin air, not from the old you. Your daily habits will shape who you will become.

Alex, I agree with what you say...

Veekay, it is best just do what you feel to do first, what you are ready for. And then do it without thinking of the past because the past is only a memory. Only now, in this present moment, you have the power to decide and change whatever you want to...You can write affirmations for that which you repeat whenever you need to be remembered. Everything what you repeating regularly will sooner or later will become a (new) habit through repeatition. Focus only on the new one and forget about the old one...