The Key To Moving From Reactive To Proactive
And what do I say to this?
Everything, and, yes, I mean EVERYTHING has a next action.
Skeptical? Let’s get practical:
What if you’re waiting for someone else?
If you’re “waiting” then your next action is to follow up. Maybe the person will get back to you before you need to follow up, and that would be fantastic. But it doesn’t change the fact that YOUR next action is to follow up. Now, if they get back to you before you need to follow up, well, then you just change the next action to whatever comes after that. No harm, no foul. The difference between waiting and following up is action; and to get things done you want to bias towards action. You have agency. Use it.
What if you’re not sure what the next action is?
Well, if you’re not (yet) sure of the next action, then it’s “google it” or “schedule time to brainstorm the next action” or “ask someone who’s done this before”.
What if you have a next action, but you still keep procrastinating?
In this case, it’s very likely that your next action isn’t small enough yet, or not clear enough. You want a next action so concrete, so small, so crystal clear, that when it pops up on your task list, you can’t convince yourself NOT to do it.
If your next action is too big to fit in an available slot on your calendar, then break it down further.
If your next action contains the words “figure out”, then it’s too vague. Get more specific.
What if you’re not sure WHEN you’ll need to or want to do something?
If you’re not sure when, or even if, you’ll do something, then your next action is “decide if I want to do this thing this week/month/year”.
When that task pops up and you do want to do it, then commit and define the following next action and select a next action date to make it happen. If you’re not ready to commit, then push the date to the next week/month/year and leave the next action as is.
But the point is this: You have agency. You have control. You just have to claim it. And before you know it, your days won’t feel like they’re happening to you anymore, because you’ll be in the driver’s seat making them happen.
*I really love this article and the information that the author shared with us. She is encouraging us to be more proactive with our lives. I think many of us always think there is something else to think about before we do something or make a decision, but we are in control of our lives! We have to remember that we should be confident in our ability to make decisions for ourselves! We know ourselves best, so don't be afraid to advocate for yourself."
Do you believe that you are proactive about your life or do you think you procrastinate in making decisions? If so, what are some ways you could work on making choices in a more proactive manner?
#Action #Proactive #TimeManagement
Link: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-key-to-moving-from-reactive-to-proactive/
@fruityPond7887
I really enjoyed reading this article! I also sometimes felt like not everything had the next action and this article was very encouraging.
I especially liked the part about procrastination. It clearly shows how important it is to set goals that are manageable and concrete or to divide them into smaller chunks if needed. I procrastinate a lot and as I am indecisive; I am always putting off making decisions. I think something that can help me to be more decisive is to accept the responsibility that comes with every decision.
@fruityPond7887
This was a great read and a great summary! I think for my friendships especially I always expect to be the receiving end of them hitting me up, or perhaps waiting for an opportunity. But I realize that I also have to be proactive in showing effort to keep these friendships up! Just being proactive in general in every aspect of life helps us be more prepared for when the event does come and gives us more time to think about it before and even after it happens!
