Technology for Achieving Goals
Technology sometimes gets a bad wrap, but it can be a fantastic tool for setting and achieving goals in all areas of your life.
This week on Learning to Lead we talked about the technology that has worked in setting goals in any area of your life. The discussion was a reminder that your role as a leader is not just about what you do at work or achieve business goals, but also how to invest in yourself, in your health and wellness, mindfulness, and continuous learning.
This discussion included several great insights, as well as numerous resources (scroll down for the full list). Here 10 takeaways from the discussion:
Starting with health or wellness goals can be a great way to take care of yourself, while also reinforcing positive habits you can apply in all areas of your life.
Technology can be powerful at automatically monitoring areas of your life. It can uncover trends, alert you to things you weren’t aware of, or keep you on track.
Journaling is a common topic in our clubhouse discussions, but in addition to analog writing, try a digital journal to capture ideas, and easily go back and reflect on what was happening during specific periods of your life.
Be careful not to get addicted to data and forget why you are using technology and whether it’s helping or distracting you. If you find yourself falling into this pitfall, change up your routine and technology.
Get clear on what you value! No technology can help you achieve goals if you don’t know what you want to achieve. Spend time understanding what you want and then leverage technology to make those plans a reality.
It’s important to allow room for inspiration to strike. Use time blocking on your calendar (Outlook, Google, Apple, or whatever calendar tool you like) to focus on specific topics and areas so you can create space in your day to work on what you value.
Using tools to track your ideas or inspiration is a great way to not rely on memory. Use technology to log articles that you enjoy, quotes, ideas, or even restaurants you want to try.
There is finite space, time, and energy even with technology. Make time to regularly audit what tech you are using, what’s adding value, and get rid of anything that you are not using. If it’s not working for you, let it go!
Try many different tools and approaches to find what works for you! Not everyone works the same way, processes information the same way, or has the same needs. Hack together a workflow of analog and digital solutions that work for you, even if they don’t make sense to anyone else.
Remember that not all goals need to be professional. If you are having a hard time figuring out what works for you start with something fun, maybe a trip you want to take, a hobby you want to start, or a project around your house. Pick something fun that feels easy to think about and plan.
Reminder, whenever embarking on a health or wellness goal, always consult your doctor before making changes to your diet or health regiment
Quote of the Week
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes. - Andrew Carnegie
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Resources
Daily Watch (including sleep/health tracking): Apple Watch S6
Exercise Watch: Garmin 245
Running Metrics/Analysis: Strava
Sleep Tracking App: AutoSleep
Weight Loss Tracking: Happy Scale (great visualizer!)
Food Tracking / Lookups: My Fitness Pal
Health Trend Analysis & Log Book: Apple Health
Notes/Knowledge Tracking: Microsoft OneNote
Ideas/Notes: Things
Digital Journal: Day One
I also always recommend subscribing to the Makoism newsletter for great tips on tech, workflow, and overall insightful content. This edition includes a list of favorites related to this week’s topic.
In a future discussion, we will dig into how tech can sometimes fail us in setting and achieving goals. Ahead of the discussion, I highly recommend reading this article from Wired which has some interesting insights into the psychology of to-do lists.
Full Replay
Due to some technical difficulties, there is no full replay this week. We hope to have replays back next week for the discussion: Navigating Change as a Leader. Join us in the official Learning to Lead Clubhouse every Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am PT.