This article is written by Denise Grant, Public Servant and Legal Assistant at the Ministry of the Attorney General.

The views of this author are their own and do not represent the views of Ministry of the Attorney General

It turns out only 8% of people actually achieve the goals they set themselves.

Then again, who really has time to pursue goals in the midst of already demanding schedules centred around work and family?

I’ve been a public servant for five years. I have a family of four children, a full-time job and a daily four-hour commute to and from the office, and I recently made it my goal to become a lawyer. Four years later, I’m now a third-year law student.

In it for the long crawl

My journey was not without gruelling obstacles. Having been out of the academic scene for many years, I had to dust off my study skills and habits. I incorporated studying into my daily routine: any opportunity I had to read, I took it.

Whether it was in the waiting room at an appointment or while driving as a passenger, competing priorities quickly became overwhelming. Between family, work and other commitments, at times I felt as if I was drowning. My drive to stay true to my commitment forced me to find a balance.

Once you’ve identified your goal, avoid asking: What if I fail? Only you have the power to reach for your goal. Believe in yourself and your ability to attain it

I realised that I could not be everything to everybody. I had to make some choices. I got clear about what my priorities were, what I could and could not delegate and what I could afford to get rid of from my life.

And yet, unexpected demands beyond my control came anyway. I encountered health challenges, both personally and those that affected family members. At times, this knocked me off my feet. I made sure I took time out to deal with the pain of these circumstances, and gave myself permission to close the books, meditate, or simply have a cup of tea.

Crunch time

However, these weren’t my biggest challenges. My biggest challenge was something more fundamental: managing my time. In total, I had to write twelve exams to secure my degree. My goal was to complete them within four years. Each term, as the exams approached, I felt the pressures of not having enough time to prepare.

I worked in a demanding environment — my daughter was enrolled in dance and my sons played basketball competitively and coached youths in leadership and public speaking. Invitations came from friends and family to attend various events. I had to turn some down. I became selective of when and with whom I spent my time, reduced my television and computer screen time, and applied that new found time to my studies. In turn, I learned to treasure each moment with those closest to me in ways I didn’t previously.

Success may not feel like success if you are unhappy or unhealthy. Busy schedules that pull you in different directions are stressful. Manage your energy, not just your time

Ordinarily we begin by internally listing the dozens of reasons why we can’t get what we want. Pretty soon we talk ourselves out of it. My experience has taught me that the best way to begin is to list all the various reasons why you should put in the work; why it is important to follow that particular dream or pursue this particular goal. In this, it is important to be honest and specific. Reflecting on that period in my life, the reasons I never gave up was ultimately that I had a life-long desire to become a lawyer that I was determined to fulfill, and I wanted more career options.

Once you’ve identified your goal, avoid asking: What if I fail?. Only you have the power to reach for your goal. Believe in yourself and your ability to attain it.

Up next are the obstacles. Time for another list, this time a to-do. Tackle each item one at a time — small tangible goals to be completed on a daily or weekly basis will go a long way.

Play to your strengths, and play hard

Crucially, you should take the time to celebrate after you’ve completed each undertaking. If you’re applying to an educational or training programme, once you’re through the first stages, don’t just sit and wait anxiously for acceptance. Celebrate having accomplished the admission process. Repeat this for every item you successfully check off your list..

Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone. Like me, you may be required to gain leadership or public speaking experience outside of your current position. This can be challenging if you’ve never spoken publicly before. Participating in activities and events in your community is a great way to get started. Consider joining a committee in the office to network. This can open the door to speaking or presentation engagements.

However, leadership experience can come in different ways, and it’s important when it is those that you enjoy most naturally.

Be kind to yourself

Lastly, take time to enjoy the people and places around you. Success may not feel like success if you are unhappy or unhealthy. Busy schedules that pull you in different directions are stressful. Manage your energy, not just your time.

Marking additional  tasks on your calendar can be discouraging. If you don’t feel like doing laundry, maybe just don’t do it after all. If you feel like walking in the park instead, go for it. Practice becoming emotionally in sync with your energy levels. This will change the way you get things done.

The quote that best sums it up for me is by Martin Luther King: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Good luck. — Denise Grant

(Picture credit: Unsplash)