9 Ways to Juggle Long Term Goals with Short Term Needs

Like riding a motorcycle safely, meeting goals requires keeping an eye to the future as well as being immersed in the present. Constantly scanning your environment prepares you to respond to traffic, road signs and the unexpected – like animals and bouncing balls.

At the same time, you look well down the road. This not only gets you where you’re going, it helps maintain balance.

long-term-goalsBreaking long-term goals down into a series of shorter-term steps keeps work and personal projects manageable and on track. It enables you to measure progress towards your ultimate goal.

 

9 Ways  to Juggle Long Term Goals with Short Term Needs

Plan

Start with the end in mind. Do your research, understand what to expect, how to prepare, how long it will take, what resources you’ll need and what milestones you’ll measure. Then start out.

Heed the Weather

Keep an eye to the sky. Identify trends and potential hazards in your environment that can affect you short and longer term. When riding, I don’t like to put on rain gear unless I have to and even then, I usually wait until the last minute. But if I see a storm brewing and anticipate there will be no convenient or safe place to pull over up ahead, I’ll put it on before it’s necessary.

Watch for trends in your work and home environment. Prepare to react, preferably before a storm blows in.

Look Long Term

Stay focused on where you’re going, in spite of distractions. It helps maintain balance and avoids giving away energy to things that are outside of your control and/or not about to influence you.

Stay within your limits

Even with a long-term focus, ride your own ride. Stretch goals are great, but you may need additional experience before you become proficient. Consider your skills, your line of vision, obstacles, possible hazards and the potential consequences of not being able to react appropriately.

Anticipate

While I may never have been down a particular road, I know to watch for loose gravel on paved corners where cars have gone onto the shoulder and kicked it up. I adjust my ride.

Likewise, every life challenge isn’t a new lesson. The names and faces may change, put the underlying issues are the same. Learn to recognize the parallels and avoid repeat lessons.

Consider the unseen; unspoken

Watch for things like deer at night. You know the risk is there.  Act accordingly.

Adjust for the road surface

You’ve entered an area of rough road and know there will be bumps for a while. You also know you can get through it by accepting it and keeping your eyes on where you’re going.

Short term you may have to deal with immediate challenges like potholes, slick surfaces or raked pavement. They can make things uncomfortable but don’t need to prevent you from getting through.

Learn from the past

On a motorcycle, mirrors remind you of lessons you’ve already had. They also alert you to hazards coming up from behind that you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of. Check them frequently.

Prioritize

Even the best-laid plans get changed. New information, unforeseen requirements or the introduction of new people can require you to re-evaluate, re-prioritize and modify your plans.

It’s like traveling down an open freeway that becomes congested with traffic. Your focus shifts as you’ve got more traffic to deal with and possible delays. Realizing you don’t have the time to meet your original agenda, accept that the delay is out of your control, let go of tension and adjust either your arrival time or your destination.

Successfully navigating life’s Road requires a delicate balance between long and short-term views. Since you’ll go in the direction your eyes are looking, it’s important to stay focused on your goal.

At the same time, ignoring short-term hazards will land you in the ditch.

 

About

Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.