![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manlife.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/markus-winkler-LNzuOK1GxRU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUnderstand the difference between Strategy and Tactics <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This one comes from military history and strategic studies. In those academic disciplines, a strategy is a broad concept that is used to direct the overall efforts of some organization, such as a military, towards a bigger overall goal. For example, the US’ strategy to defeat the Japanese in WWII was to pursue an island-hopping campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tactics nest under strategy: they are what groups or individuals do to meet the goals of the strategy on a daily basis. In the same example, the tactics were using ships to bombard coastal emplacements before landing troops via small boats.
The same distinction applies to our lives as well. If my strategy to get in good shape involves losing weight, then a tactic to adopt would be to simply not purchase calorie-dense snacks that would tempt me at night. Most goal planning starts with a strategy, but it is defining tactics that aid in the achievement of that strategy that make goals possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
After-Action Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I borrow this idea from a former student of mine who spent some time in Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror. After each mission that his unit carried out, they would sit down as soon as possible and write up what they called an after-action report. These reports consisted of three main questions: what went right, what went wrong, and what do we need to do differently next time? Applying these questions to mission planning later meant that tactics and equipment could be honed over time. Rome was not built in a day. It was built by people and took centuries. Each and every one of those human beings required food, water, and sleep. As do you. A lot of what I’ve mentioned so far is great advice for people who are already organized and have systems in place to make their days run well. That is to say, people who already have their act together. If you have dreams, but not goals yet, my suggestion is to start with three lists. Most people have dreams. They want to reach some level of financial success, perhaps start a family, or have a dream house, car, or so on. What a lot of people do not have, I find, are the tools necessary to turn those dreams, things that you want, into goals, things that you are working … <\/p>\n
That same skill applies to us. If my goal, again, is to lose weight and I do a workout that makes me tired but hurts my joints, my after-action report might come to the conclusion that working out is good, injuries should be avoided, and thus, next time, I should do a different kind of exercise. Putting your actions into this framework, every time you do something that aids you in achieving your goals puts you a little closer to refining effective tools and tactics that are tailored to your needs. An after-action report is simple to do and you can do it in your head, bu<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manlife.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/austin-distel-mpN7xjKQ_Ns-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeware Burnout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Especially when we start working towards goals, the initial enthusiasm will carry you through long nights, hard workouts, and the like. But that enthusiasm will fade. Ask any graduate students in your life how they really feel six years into a Ph.D. Excited is not a word they will use.
When the enthusiasm and newness are gone, you will need a base upon which to fall back. To keep that base strong, keep the fundamentals in mind. Try to get eight hours of sleep if you can. Do not work weekends if you can avoid it. Eat well, and cut down on caffeine and alcohol. That way, when you do need to pull an all-nighter to make some insane deadline, then you have a fair shot at doing it.
Treat your goals as marathons rather than sprints. If you have been keeping a reasonable pace, then you can still sprint when you need to. If you have been outpacing yourself for too long, however, you will burn out and end up having to play catch-up later, which is even harder after burning out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganization is Key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first should be a list of things that you want to accomplish in the next five years. The second ought to list things that you can, should, or must, do in the next month to work toward those goals. The final list should be a to-do list for today, with those two other lists in mind. On the hard days, when you are demotivated and want to quit, a to-do list is a simple tool that can get you out of bed and back to doing what you need to do.
I recommend making these lists at the end of the day: for me, it makes sense to figure out tomorrow’s plan before logging off of any work platforms so that I can go to bed with a clear idea of my responsibilities for the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manlife.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/jess-bailey-94Ld_MtIUf0-unsplash-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I used all of the strategies I described here to complete my Ph.D. With that said, I learned the hard way to implement all of them together. Doing things that are the work of a lifetime, which many goals are, is often a process of making mistakes and learning through them. Perfection is likely not possible, and you will have to revise at all levels, from tactics to strategy, and even the goals. All of that is acceptable, and the thing that matters first and foremost is committing to trying, every single day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"