As an actor, it’s quite possible you’re involved in more than just acting. Perhaps you’re writing a short, a feature, or a novel. Maybe you’re producing or you’re about to launch a crowdfunding campaign for your Web series. You’re likely in an acting class, and there’s a good chance you have a job or two.
Do you feel like there’s never enough time in the day? Are you making excuses to others because you can’t follow through on a project? Chances are you’re spreading yourself too thin. Dropping the ball can be detrimental to your success. Simply prioritizing goals and redefining deadlines appropriate to those short and long-term goals can make a tremendous difference in your productivity.
To get started, first review some tried and true ways to keep yourself on track.
1. Make a master list. Write down all your goals. Big goals to smaller goals, whether they’re short or long-term. Seeing them in front of you is more powerful than just letting them all bounce around in your head.
2. Separate long and short-term goals. Decide which are long or short-term, and make a new list for each. Or you could make these your “personal” and “professional” lists, and manage your goals that way.
3. Choose your top 5. Now pick your top 5 goals on each list—the ones you really want to accomplish. This might be tough because they all feel important, but take your time and really think it through. Be honest with yourself. Consider which will be most impactful in your life right now. How big is the return on your expenditure of energy and time? Maybe one goal is more urgent than another.
4. Plan your approach. Do you need to learn a new skill or do research to accomplish one of your top 5 goals? What actions do you have to take to make these goals happen?
5. Stick to your list. It’s tempting to veer off your list to get to the other goals that were not your top 5, especially when you hit a sticking point, but this is where you being to spread yourself too thin and fall back into the cycle of unfinished projects and unrealized goals. Make a deal with yourself not to actively pursue another one of those other goals until you’ve attained one from your top 5 list. As you accomplish one and remove it from the top 5 list, you can add a new one.
There are many ways to manage these types of lists. Do what works for you. Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed. Using this or a similar strategy can help you reach your goals faster and in a more organized manner, rather than just performing random actions and hoping for the best.
Like this advice? Check out more from our Backstage Experts!
