Got goals? Creating timelines can be a game changer

Baby steps! And that’s where creating a project timeline can go a long way toward helping you reach your goal.

Let’s take that garden wall as an example. If I told you to go build your garden wall right now, you might think “Ugh, that’ll take all weekend. I’ll get to it later.”

Now, suppose I told you to start on the wall today—but your only task for the day was to go buy the supplies. A little more palatable, right?

Then the next day, I told you that your only task was to mark the area where you want to build it using tape, then walk away. Hmmm.

Third day: Use a shovel to dig a trench around the area. Not too overwhelming.

The point is: breaking up a task, no matter how simple or complex, into small, doable steps is the best way to reach any goal. Consider it a homespun version of project management, which is something almost every business—from mom-and-pop shops to multi-billion dollar corporations—depend on to create more precise timelines and boost their bottom line.

Ready to try it out? Here’s how to create a project timeline that you can actually stick to:

Start with a trial run.

The first thing you want to do is think small. You don’t want to plan an entire house renovation just yet. Start thinking about a smaller project you want to tackle, like spring house cleaning, a five-pound weight-loss goal, or planning a small garage sale. This is a way to test out a timeline and see what works—and what doesn’t—for you.

Don’t reinvent the wheel.

Gone are the days of creating timelines from scratch. Now, there are so many visually appealing and free templates already out there for the taking. Be sure to peruse the many different styles, colors, formats, illustrations and infographics available to find one that works for you. Timelines can exist in many forms, like spreadsheets, slides and documents, and can include weekly, monthly and annual layouts, plus every time period in between. You can choose from pre-made fitness and calorie planners, to generic roadmaps, workplans, multi-tiered styles and traditional project planning templates, from simple Gantt charts, to milestone and task project timelines, just to name a few. All of them let you customize them with your own information, making them a great way to get started.

Share your goal (and maybe even your workload).

Need some help with that garage sale or spring cleaning project? A great way to complete any task is by doing it as a team! Once you have your timeline set and ready to go, share it with your family, friends or anyone else you can get onboard. For example, if you create your timeline using an Excel, PowerPoint or Word template, it’s easy to share it in a single click. You can send an actual copy via email or, if you have shared family cloud, sign in to your account, pick the file you want to share, customize it to allow for different levels of edits, access etc., then add the recipient’s name (or create a group name for your project like “Shar’s Spring Cleaning Crew”) and share with the entire group in one click. Even if you don’t need help reaching your goal, it’s still a good idea to share it with someone. Why? One study found that a whopping 76 percent of participants who wrote down their goals and actions and then shared their progress with a friend achieved their goals. Only 43 percent of those who didn’t share ended up meeting their goals.

Reward yourself for each small task you complete.

Instead of waiting until the very end of your project to celebrate, you’re going to celebrate every small victory along the way. Not only is it fun, a recent study found that people who receive frequent rewards for finishing small tasks early-on in a project say they enjoyed the tasks more and stayed interested and more engaged compared to those who had to wait for a reward until the end. Remember, it’s the simple pleasures in life, so the rewards don’t need to be big. For example, treat yourself to your favorite latte; enjoy a candle-lit bubble bath; meet for happy hour with friends; sleep in on a Saturday… whatever works for you.

The good news is: The more tasks you complete, the more confidence you build. So, while you may be starting small this time, creating a project timeline is something you can do to accomplish any goal in life—from completing your college degree, to starting a small business, to paying off debt. How you use this amazing tool is up to you.