“The Sooner You Start, the Sooner You Finish”
With January coming to a close, it’s time to wrap up our talk about Goal Setting. We’ve talked about how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, staying determined to reach those goals, and how to utilize accountability throughout the whole process. This week, we will be discussing the simple, yet powerful saying, “the sooner you start, the sooner you finish!”
As you continue reading, we will be discussing the importance of this phrase as it pertains to goal setting and achieving. More specifically, we will be covering:
- The meaning and importance of this phrase
- Using this saying to accomplish your goals
- Building motivation through this sentiment
Let’s jump right into it!
What Does This Phrase Mean?
Though the phrase seems quite simple on the surface, there is a lot of complex meaning behind it. So, before we start, take a moment to think about what this phrase means to you. Have you heard this phrase before? How have you heard it being used? When do you hear it? What does it make you feel? You don’t have to write down your answers, but think about these questions to get you started.
“The sooner you start, the sooner you finish,” means, well, exactly what it sounds like. The earlier you choose to begin working on or towards something, the earlier you will be done with it. That means that if you have a responsibility to take care of, or if you’ve made up your mind about something you’d like to do, you should start working on it right away! The logic being that the quicker you get to work, the faster you will complete it.
Again, this saying is very straightforward, but it carries a lot of importance in terms of goal setting. Once you set a goal, this phrase encourages you to start working hard on it right away. Don’t waste any time, because the longer you wait, the longer it’ll take to finish. Instead, starting sooner will be much more beneficial, which takes us to our next point.
Start Working Right Away!
Whether you’re aiming to complete your homework or to earn your black belt, starting right away is imperative to making sure you are able to achieve your goal within the proper time frame. Additionally, if you start working towards it without hesitation, you are not only much more likely to achieve the goal, but you will do so faster.
The bottom line of this saying is to get started right away on your work; no hesitations. If you think about the phrase on the flip side, the longer you wait to start, the longer it will take to finish. So, why wait at all? By getting right to it, you allow yourself to do more work, and complete everything much faster!
The practical application of this quote extends into all of our daily lives, whether it be at home, work, school, or even at the grocery store! No matter what you have on your docket for the day, starting as soon as you can is most beneficial. This is especially true when you have a tight agenda full of responsibilities to take care of. If you wait an hour before starting, you’ll have less time for everything else you have to do, and when everything is said and done, you’ll have at least one less hour of free time.
On the contrary, if you start on the first task right away, you’ll give yourself the optimal amount of time for each task, and finish with much more time in the day to do whatever you’d like! That’s why we encourage our families to practice implementing this simple principle into their daily routines. It will especially help our children by teaching them to get to work right away.
Motivation
Finally, this saying is great for motivating yourself and those around you to start working. Knowing that you could have even more free time to spend if you just get started will get you in the right headspace to start working. If you ever feel uninspired to do hard work, just remind yourself that if you can just stay focused and keep working, you’ll have more time later on to relax. And trust us, that realization is a great feeling!
It can also serve as a deterrent to stalling, waiting, or hesitating. If you know that waiting to start will cause you to take more time to finish, you can avoid the undesirable consequences of procrastination. This is another reason why it can be extremely helpful to practice this with kids, who are likely to fall into the trap of procrastinating. Instead, we can prevent all that through this practice.
Keep this phrase in mind whenever you need to get work done, no matter how difficult. Even the easiest task will take you longer to complete if you wait. It’s always best to get working sooner, that way you’ll have more time to do whatever you’d like later on!
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In Our Classes…
In our classes this week, we will be repeating this mantra and teaching it to our kids, so that they can learn the importance of getting to work right away. Through our partner drills, group work, and individual practice, we will give them the opportunity to work on incorporating this principle into their routines. We will also encourage them to utilize it in all other areas of their lives, in order to give themselves more time throughout the day. Parents, we recommend that you practice it with your kids as well! Even though you’re all already rock stars who start work right away, practicing doing it with your kids will benefit the whole family exponentially!
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, this phrase comes down to the fact that time is the most valuable asset, when used correctly. If you get started right away on your to-do list for the day, you’ll have much more time later on to spend your way. Furthermore, that extra time you get can be used as an investment in yourself. You’ll have more time to spend on hobbies or passions, on honing your skills, or even with friends and family. Getting that extra you-time will alleviate stress, elevate your mood, and make you even more ready to tackle tomorrow’s goals!
How else can you see yourself using this phrase to stay motivated?
What else keeps you inspired to get to work?