There are two kinds of people in the world. The first are those that rely on digital reminders to get their tasks done, whilst the others prefer the more traditional pen-to-paper list. Whether you’re studying a financial accounting degree or one in education, communication or business management, you’ll need a method that keeps you on top of your game.
Many people need some kind of motivation and record when it comes to their tasks, jobs and admin. This is regardless of your chosen industry. If you’re studying a financial accounting degree, a tool that lets you conquer exams and the ins and outs of Management Accounting and Finance is a must. Can you relate and if so, do you rely on a to-do list in order to check the boxes on tasks involving the likes of financial accounting, auditing and taxation? The burning question is whether or not these lists are even as effective as we believe them to be. There’s no denying that crossing off an item makes us feel like we’ve accomplished something. It also makes us feel as if we’ve got our lives together.
Do checklists have an impact on how productive we are? As it turns out, there’s a good reason why we feel so chuffed as we cross off things one by one. For starters, completing things means we’re one step closer to our goals. Sure, you’ve submitted only one of only six assignments but you’re closer to getting that degree than you were before this point. Psychologically, these things add up. Why? This is because they remind us of what we’re working towards. By setting smaller, achievable goals these add up to larger achievements.
How should we set goals?
Yes, big aspirations are good but these are harder to reach than smaller ones. It’s why we all need a healthy dose of bite-sized goals that pave the way towards bigger things. We think that the SMART Method is a great way to set your goals:
- S - Specific
- M – Measurable
- A – Attainable
- R – Realistic
- T – Time-sensitive
By using this method to classify your tasks, you’ll be able to complete them in no time at all. Breaking larger goals into smaller sub-goals is a good way to stay motivated and show progress on your quest to achieving the big goals. When we complete an item on our to-do list, we feel emotions of accomplishment, learning and success. This triggers the release of dopamine from the brain. As a result, we feel good and motivated to continue doing the same things in order to keep the feeling alive. This is why achieving small goals is important to keep us on track and working towards our destiny.
Having trouble getting started?
Writing out a checklist of things you need to do can often seem daunting. This is especially true when you’ve compiled a long list of tasks and have yet to tick one off. The best way to counteract this is by telling yourself that every completed item is a reward to yourself and your future. When your brain sees these as rewards, you’ll be more likely to approach tasks with enthusiasm because you know how good it makes you feel when you’re done.
#NewWorldThinking that does more than check boxes
At The IIE’s Varsity College, The IIE’s Bachelor of Accounting is firmly focussed on skills that meet the demands of the modern working world. For more on how we impart the problem solving and critical thinking that gets you noticed, please contact The IIE’s Varsity College today.
Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). South Africa’s leading private higher education provider that’s registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).