2.   Hold Yourself to Strict Deadlines

Deadlines are the key to making a plan of action and managing your time effectively. The trick is to use deadlines every step of the way. Simply break up large goals and deadlines into smaller, more manageable pieces— intermediate goals and deadlines—thereby establishing benchmarks for your progress.

For example, if you need to achieve a particular goal by Wednesday, what needs to be done by Tuesday? Monday? Sunday? Saturday? If you know you need to achieve a particular goal by June 1, then what needs to be done by May 1? April 1? March 1? If you know you need to achieve a particular goal by 5 p.m., then what needs to be done by 4 p.m.? 3 p.m.? 2 p.m.?

Once you have a schedule of intermediate goals and deadlines, you’re ready for the final planning step: making a list of concrete actions—essentially, a to-do list. As you tackle each concrete action and move toward each intermediate goal and deadline, you can monitor your effectiveness along the way. If you find yourself off schedule, you know you need to reassess your approach:

—  Are you taking the concrete actions you’ve planned?

—  Are they taking longer than you thought? Or are you running across unexpected obstacles?

—  Do you need to revise the plan? Or to change something about your work habits?