Productivity Hacks for Creators

How to Get Things Done and Achieve Your Goals

Have you ever set a goal and abandoned it before reaching the finish line? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, many of our goals are unachievable without a system in place to help us stay on track.

Obstacles to Achieving Our Goals

As humans, we often set goals for ourselves with the intention of achieving them. However, it can be easy to get sidetracked or lose motivation along the way. This can lead to abandoned goals and a feeling of failure.

So what is it that blocks us from getting things done and achieving our goals?

1. Reliance on willpower: Many people rely on their willpower to get things done, but the problem with this is that willpower is a limited resource. It can be easily depleted, especially if you are facing challenges or distractions. This can make it difficult to maintain focus and motivation, and can lead to giving up on your goals.
2. Getting stuck in the “starting loop”: Another common issue that can prevent us from getting things done is getting stuck in the “starting loop.” This refers to the tendency to constantly start new projects or goals, but never fully committing to them. This can be due to a lack of focus, fear of failure, or simply being overwhelmed by too many things to do.
3. Lack of a system in place: Finally, another major issue that can hold us back from achieving our goals is the lack of a system in place. A system is a set of habits, routines, and processes that help us get things done consistently. Without a system, it can be difficult to stay organized and focused, and we may find ourselves constantly starting and stopping different tasks.

Effective Strategies for Achieving Your Goals

To overcome these obstacles, it’s important to have a system in place to help us consistently make progress towards our goals. This can involve setting specific times for tasks, creating cues to trigger the need to work on a project, and rewarding ourselves for making progress. By focusing on the process rather than just the end result, we can increase our chances of achieving our goals.

1. Establish a routine: Set a specific time and place for getting things done. This helps to create a sense of consistency and accountability.
2. Use cues to trigger action: For example, you might place a sticky note on your computer to remind you to work on a specific task, or set an alarm to go off at a certain time to signify the start of your work day.
3. Break down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks: This can help to prevent overwhelming and make progress feel more achievable.
4. Find an accountability partner: Having someone to check in with and report your progress to can be a great way to stay on track and motivated.
5. Use rewards to incentivize progress: Consider rewarding yourself for completing specific tasks or achieving certain milestones. This can help to keep you motivated and engaged in the process.
6. Establish a system for tracking your progress: This could be as simple as keeping a to-do list or using a project management tool to organize your tasks. Having a clear picture of what needs to be done and how far you’ve come can be a great motivator.

Essential Books for Building a Successful Routine

There are many books that can help creators get things done and achieve their goals. Here are a few popular ones:

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear: This book focuses on the idea that small, incremental changes can lead to big results over time. It provides practical strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones, and can help you develop a system for consistently making progress towards your goals.
2. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: This book is geared towards creative professionals and addresses the common obstacles and resistance that they may face when trying to get things done. It offers practical advice for overcoming procrastination and other self-sabotaging behaviors and helps you develop the discipline and focus needed to pursue your work with purpose.
3. The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky: This book is all about navigating the often-challenging period between starting a project and seeing it through to completion. It provides insights and strategies for staying motivated and overcoming setbacks, and can help you develop the resilience and perseverance needed to see your ideas through to the end.
4. Making Things Happen by Scott Belsky: This book is a comprehensive guide to project management, aimed at helping creative professionals stay organized and on track. It covers everything from planning and prioritization to collaboration and communication, and can help you develop the skills needed to get things done effectively.
5. Still Like an Artist by Austin Kleon: This book is written specifically for creative professionals looking to build a sustainable career in the arts. It provides practical advice for balancing your artistic pursuits with the demands of everyday life, and can help you develop the habits and strategies needed to make progress consistently.
6. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon: This book is all about the importance of sharing your work and connecting with others in order to grow as a creative professional. It provides practical tips for sharing your work online and building a community of like-minded people, and can help you develop the skills and strategies needed to get your work out into
7. “Getting Things Done” by David Allen: This book is considered a classic in the productivity and goal-achievement space. It teaches a system for organizing tasks, prioritizing them, and getting them done efficiently.
8. “The One Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan: This book focuses on the idea that by identifying and prioritizing the most important task in any given moment, you can make significant progress towards your goals.
9. “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod: This book teaches a daily routine that can help you start the day off on the right foot and get more done in less time.
10. “The Productivity Project” by Chris Bailey: This book is based on a year-long experiment where the author tried different productivity strategies and techniques to see what worked best for him. He shares the results and the lessons he learned in this book.
11. “Sprint” by Jake Knapp: This book teaches a structured process for quickly solving complex problems and getting things done. It’s based on the “design sprint” process developed at Google Ventures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a productive routine is crucial for achieving our goals and reaching our full potential. However, it can be difficult to maintain motivation and focus over time. One key to building a successful routine is to have a system in place that helps us get things done consistently, rather than relying solely on our willpower. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid getting stuck in a “starting loop” and to focus on the process rather than just the end result. Finally, there are many great books available that can provide strategies and inspiration for building a productive routine. By implementing these strategies and seeking out resources like these books, we can set ourselves up for success and make progress towards our goals.