The Nightingale Center

The Smarter I Work, the Luckier I Get

by Dr. Lois Nightingale

Working smarter, not harder has become a high priority for many people. The following is a list of strategies to be more effective, efficient and have a greater impact on the life you wish for. These are ways to increase accomplishment, decrease procrastination and relish all the "luck" others long for.

1. Write a list of the most important areas of your life (such as; children, work, relationships, income, education, exercise, spirituality, recreation, travel, family, etc.) Then prioritize these as to their level of relative importance to you. Rate them starting with one, being the most important, and two being the next of greatest importance, etc. Take a good look at your list. Does the way you allot time in your day reflect your core values and what you say is important? If not, what would you like to shift to in your schedule to better reflect congruence with what you say is important to you?

2. Give yourself credit at the end of each day for the things you have accomplished (don't disqualify these by "shoulding" that they; "should have" been done faster, better, sooner, more competently, etc.). What we pay attention to and make note of, we get more of. Give yourself credit for a minimum of three accomplishments a day (these do not have to be gigantic, just things you set out to do at the beginning of the day).

3. Make a compete list of all the things you want to do. Make the list comprehensive. Divide large or long-term goals into smaller, component tasks that you can easily begin and complete in a day.

4. With a pencil, write the month and the year by which you would like to complete each item on your list.

5. Now rewrite the items for the current month and write beside each one the date by which you will finish each task. Do this at the beginning of each new month.

6. Write a "To Do" list each day. Some people like to do this at the beginning of their day; others like to write it for the next day before going to sleep at night. Make your daily list realistic (you want to create a sense of accomplishment) but with a bit of a stretch (push yourself a little). Put a star by the item that will have the greatest impact toward your goal and the one you are most reluctant to do. Do those two things first.

7. At the end of your day circle the items that are still undone. Transfer these to the next day. If you have moved an item three times without completion, either: a) do it first on the fourth day, b) divide it into smaller tasks, do the first one that day or, c) scratch it off your list if you have decided it is not that important or there is another way to accomplish the same thing.

8. If you are working toward a specific goal, find a person or group to hold you accountable. Make appointments, commit to specific goal completions, and then report back, at the appointed time, to the person or group to which you made your commitment.

9. Schedule recreation time. A rejuvenated you is more effective and efficient.

10. Stay inspired. Consciously seek out positive friends who are passionately heading toward their dreams. Read inspirational books. Put up affirmative statements and read them aloud. Listen to motivational tapes in your car or while walking. Sign up for educational classes or courses that will rekindle your passion for what you do and give you more creativity and inspired enthusiasm.

11. Address negative self-talk. Notice where you put yourself down, call yourself names, predict you won't succeed or silently beat yourself up. Change your internal dialogue to positive compliments. Even if you have to start by just adding on to your old habitual statements, "up until now" (For instance, "I'm always late...up until now". Or "I can never think of the right thing to sayup until now"). Take the effort it requires to develop the habit of saying kind and complimentary things to yourself. We can only be as kind to those around us as we are first to ourselves.

12. Notice where you are "Lucky". Pay attention to at least one thing that went unexpectedly right each day. Take note of unexpected kindnesses, surprising opportunities, and windfalls that came "out of the blue". The more you pay attention to miracles, the more often they show up. Write them down everyday and share then with at least one other supportive and caring person in your life.

You will notice the smarter you live your life the luckier you will become. Luck is a matter of choice and following through on your commitments. Plan, show up, pay attention, keep your word, be kind to yourself and others and you will enjoy a charmed life beyond all your wildest expectations.

© 1999 Lois V. Nightingale, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist (lic# PSY9503 ) and director of the Nightingale Center in Newport Beach and Yorba Linda, Ca. 714-993-5343