Ririan on finishing core tasks first, and routines [zen habits]

Ririan, the creator of the excellent Ririan Project, is a student in Bucharest, Romania. He has a passion for books, blogs and websites about productivity, personal development, health, nutrition, leadership and GTD, and takes the time to share his personal experiences to help readers make steps towards creating a better life, day by day.

1) What would you consider your greatest achievement in the last few years? Feel free to add other achievements or goals if you’d like.

Although my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, all the achievements I made up to this date are equally dear to me. Certainly one of them was starting and growing the Ririan Project blog. The benefits and the satisfaction that blogging has been offering me are beyond any measures.

My blog has become the most powerful knowledge management tool I use. Ririan Project resembles my intelligence department – it collects masses of data in an organized fashion and stores it there, making it available for me to access at any time. The more people read my blog, the more feedback I get, and hence, readers help me complete my information. I also find out about new, interesting people because they link to my blog, comment on my blog and so on.

Blogging also offers me the chance to give back. I’ve learned so much by reading others’ contributions, that it feels like an obligation to give back.

2) What was the key to achieving that success for you? Was there one thing, or were there a number of factors?

One of the biggest emotional stumbling blocks to success is one’s inability to fully trust himself/herself. This can literally undermine one’s motivation, energy, focus, and the realization of one’s dreams. Therefore, starting to really trust myself and my ability to achieve any goal was what made a difference for me. Of course, there are some other key factors as well; for me, it takes daily vigilance, it takes getting up every morning knowing that I will make the best of my day. It also takes the time to plan my life, list out what I want from it, and start working toward achieving my goals.

3) What are the essential habits that you’ve formed to help you achieve your goals?

Major events are rarely the forces that direct our lives toward success or away from it. It is the little things that we daily choose to do, or not to do, that really make the difference. Here are some of the habits I have formed over the last 2 years to keep me on the right track to completing my goals, and getting the most out of my life along the way:

  • Journaling – It allows me to clear out my thoughts and feelings, in this way gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a great problem-solving tool: I can hash out a problem, and then come up with solutions easier by writing it down.
  • Finishing my core tasks early on – Starting my day off by doing my core tasks early on, before distraction takes over, gives me a sense of accomplishment. This puts me at my personal best and carries over into a very full and productive day.
  • Seeking information – I’m either reading a book, personal development articles or talking to someone who inspires me. This keeps my mind open to new ideas, and takes me out of my ordinary mental world for a while.
  • Following a routine – I go to bed and wake up the exact time every day, at the same time making sure I get 8 hours of sleep (I don’t function well on anything less than 7 hours). Routine keeps things in check, ensuring that I get what I need done.

4) How often do you think about your goals, review them, and take action on them?

I think that in this case, just like in many others, the philosophy of “little and often” assures the best results. Reviewing my goals as often as daily allows me to regularly monitor, and steer my progress with a minimal amount of time – reviewing is a very quick process, taking only 5-10 minutes.

5) Describe how you overcome failure, how you pick yourself back up if you are struggling, and how you motivate yourself if your enthusiasm is lagging.

This goes back to reminding myself that whenever I make a mistake, there is always a lesson to be learned. In this manner, mistakes become helpful because they can give a clear direction towards my weak points – areas where perhaps I am deficient, need additional knowledge or training, or need to reevaluate my approach. Whatever the reason, if I take the time to explore what happened, I can always learn what I need to know to correct the situation and to put systems in place so that the same mistake does not reoccur.

6) Could you describe your productivity system and any productivity tips you have for people?

I can’t really say that I have a productivity system, or that there are some unusual tools that help me get everything done. I’d suggest everyone to shift their thinking from “having to” do something to “wanting to”. In this way, all your tasks become your own choice, and taking the commitment to get things done really helps boost up productivity.

Others in the Golden Goals series:

Original post here: Leo

11 May 2007 | Goals, Golden Goals | Comments

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