Goal-Setting for Balanced Living

Work-Life (Im)balance is awful framing It’s “work some work, live some life.” It’s vague. No numbers. No goals. For someone with a tech background, this framing makes no sense. I wanted something better: • Logical • Goal-oriented • Exact numbers for balance 6 years ago, I reframed it: 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 2 clear goals in life: • Live a healthy life as long as possible. • Leave a meaningful legacy (work, family, projects). Health gives the time and energy. Legacy is everything created and left behind, not just work. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝟴𝟰 + 𝟴𝟰 = 𝟭𝟲𝟴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 84 hours for Health (Your Self): • Sleep • Nutrition • Exercise • Self-care 84 hours for Legacy (The World): • Work • Projects • Learning • Family & Household It’s flexible. A student might invest more time in learning and less in work or projects. A parent might invest more in family time. But the 84h/84h split stays. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 (~𝟴𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸) • Sleep: ~49h • Self-Care: ~7h • Nutrition (+Family): ~7h • Exercise (+Learning +Family): ~21h 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 (~𝟴𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸) • Work: ~42h • Family & Household: ~14h • Learning (+Commuting): ~7h • Projects (Coding & Creating): ~21h This works for me, but everyone’s balance is different. Are you happy with the Work-Life split? ------------------

As 2023 draws to a close, I found myself in a heartfelt conversation with a dear friend. His curiosity was piqued by what goals I might set for the new year. Reflecting on the year that was, I realized that I had consciously chosen to establish new habits over traditional goals, leading to one of the most extraordinary years of my life. Upon assuming my new role at Noble House Consulting Pte., my journey brought me back to Bangalore, a transition that was more than merely geographic. This transition required me to adapt to novel work methodologies and build connections with numerous new colleagues, with each encounter enriching the network of relationships I now treasure. A few years back, a former colleague introduced me to Brian Tracy's enlightening book, "Goals." Tracy notes that a 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 3% 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 set goals, while the majority do not, for reasons such as: Believing that goals are unimportant 😒 Not knowing how to set them 🤷♂️ Fearing failure 😨 Fearing rejection 😖 This reminder highlighted that while habits provide the foundation of our daily existence, it is goals that offer direction and purpose. Tracy advocates a seven-step approach to setting effective goals, which I am eager to embrace in 2024: 1. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠: Commit clear, specific, and detailed goals to writing. 👑 2. 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞: Ensure your goals are measurable and objective. 📏 3. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Implement schedules and establish sub-deadlines to make your goals time bound. ⏳ 4. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: Set goals that are sufficiently challenging to expand your capabilities. 💪 5. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬: Ensure your goals reflect your deepest beliefs and guide your path in harmony. 🧭✨ 6. 𝐀 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭: Cultivate balance in your goals, spanning career, financial health, family, personal health, spirituality, and community involvement. ⚖️ 7. 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫: Let a significant, definitive purpose guide your life’s journey. 🌟 This framework not only sets a blueprint for achievement but also ensures that our goals deeply resonate with our personal values and what we hold dear. As the current year fades, I stand ready at the threshold of 2024, poised to transition from cultivating habits to setting goals—goals that represent more than mere milestones; they are the stepping stones to a purposeful and directed life. Let's take this on together. Think about the good stuff from this year and gear up for the next. It's the perfect moment to go after what matters most to you. Are you ready to embark on this transformative journey? Image Credit: DALL-E #GoalSetting2024 #LifeWithPurpose #NewBeginnings #BrianTracyWisdom #MakeItCount

Its the last working day of 2023. We made it! Let's talk about something we all juggle with daily: balancing our long-term visions with the short-term wins. It's like walking a tightrope, isn't it? On one side, you've got your grand dreams – those big, audacious goals that get you out of bed in the morning. On the other side are those quick tasks and immediate deadlines that demand your attention. So how do we keep from tipping over? Firstly, it's crucial to recognize that both are essential. Your long-term goals give you direction and purpose, while short-term achievements keep the momentum going and provide a sense of progress. But here’s the tricky part: not losing sight of your ultimate destination while navigating through day-to-day tasks. It’s easy to get caught up in the now and completely forget where you’re heading. One strategy I’ve found helpful is setting aside regular Focus Time with myself. Am I aligning my daily actions with my bigger picture? It’s like having an internal GPS recalibrating to ensure I’m on course. Another tip is to celebrate those small victories along the way! They're not just pit stops; they're fuel for your journey towards those larger aspirations. And let's not forget about flexibility. Sometimes short-term opportunities can open doors we never expected, potentially reshaping our long-term objectives in exciting ways! Now here’s a question for you: How do YOU balance between what needs to be done now and where you want to be in 3 years? Let me know your thoughts or strategies below! #goalsetting #productivityhacks #careergrowth

Are you any good at setting personal goals? I’m pretty terrible at it, to be honest. I’ve always just blamed my ADHD and my near-complete lack of being able to focus on only one of the thousands of things I want to do at a time. 😁 Host a podcast 😃 Write a book  😉 Update the Cognition Catalog 😐 Build an online shop 😥 Conference speaker 🫣 Professional career coach 😭 Professional voice actor All of this on top of the truly important things like spending time with my family and living a life that’s *actually* worth living. Limiting your focus to smaller more important priorities is one of the reasons why I love the idea of the OKR framework. But isn’t the OKR framework only for business leaders and C-level execs? Not anymore. When it comes to the OKR framework, people like Jeff Gothelf and Joshua Seiden are some of the first people I think of. They actually have a new book coming out about OKRs called "Who Does What By How Much?" on OKRs (link in the comments) So I was super excited when Jeff wanted to come on the show to talk about using OKRs for personal goals too. I honestly had never considered using OKRs for personal goals before, and I am so glad we had this conversation. If you struggle, like I do, to keep on top of everything you have going on, this episode is for you! Check the comments for a link to the full episode! --- 🎯 Here are some key takeaways from our conversation 1️⃣ Focus on changing habits, not just completing tasks: When setting goals, it's important to tie your results to real changes in behavior, not just completing tasks. Instead of saying you'll go to the gym 3x / week, aim to lose a certain amount of weight. This way, you're not just checking tasks off a list. 2️⃣ Write clear and measurable results: A good result should answer: "Who does what by how much?" This helps you focus on changes you can measure. Instead of "Write 10 blog posts," a better key result might be "Increase blog readership by 20% in the next quarter." 3️⃣ Find a community for accountability and support: Being around people with similar goals can help you reach your own goals. Join or start a group if you can't find one. Share your goals with them, check in often, and ask for help when you need it. 4️⃣ Set short-term goals: To avoid getting stuck, set your goals for short periods, like a quarter. This is long enough to see progress but short enough to change direction if something isn't working. After each period, look at how you did and decide if you want to keep going or try something else. 5️⃣ Start small and just give it a shot: If you're new to setting goals this way, don't try to change everything at once. Pick one area of your life you want to improve and try this method. It could be getting in shape, doing better at school, or starting a new hobby. The goal is to make positive changes in your life, so don't be afraid to experiment and adjust as you go. #UXdesign #OKRs #PersonalGrowth

As the founder of two companies, I worked 14 hours a day for over a decade, and yet I always found a way to maintain balance. I know the feeling of giving everything to growing your business as it's easy for entrepreneurs to become consumed with their work. Having been there, I've realized that taking care of yourself is as equally important as caring about your business. This shift has changed the way I build my business. Here’s how you can find the right balance: 1. Prioritize health: It involves both physical and mental health. If you feel sick, don’t be afraid to take a day off. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, and it leads to more off days in the future. You don't have to follow extreme activities to prioritize your health; it can be as simple as walking or meditation. 2. Set boundaries: Over the years, I've realized that maintaining boundaries is important for spending quality time with our loved ones and avoiding burnout. No matter where you work, it is necessary to determine when you are going to work and when you are not. This will help you achieve a healthy balance between your personal and work life. 3. Personal growth: Focus on personal growth and self-improvement. Learn new skills, seek feedback, and continuously learn to stay ahead. Everyone has a different definition of work-life balance. In the end, it’s not only about achieving your goals but also about finding fulfillment in your personal life. What is your approach to finding the right balance? Let me know in the comments. #worklifebalance #personalgrowth #selfcare