How do you know what's the best use of your time right now?

Link your daily tasks to your purpose.

You'll make better choices and see the value in seemingly insignificant or trivial tasks. It keeps you focused on doing what needs to be done to get what you say you want.

It's one thing to say what you want, to choose projects that will get you what you want, and set goals that will achieve those projects. But, you still have to do the work. You still have to pay the price by just doing it.

Linking your purpose to what you do each day underlines the responsibility and the discipline you need to complete your projects.

Having an overall objective and doing what needs to be done gets priority. You can make your choices about what you are doing consciously, knowing that every little bit helps.

For example, one of your projects in support of your purpose of an independent self-sustaining life may be getting a newer, more reliable car.

Choosing to bring your lunch rather than spending eight dollars at the caf every day is obviously the right choice. By doing the math, you quickly see you'll save about $150 a month on lunch. Putting that money aside will get you your new car that much faster.

It's the little things done consistently and persistently that make the huge difference in achieving our projects, whatever our projects are.

Even with exercise and fitness. New medical research has shown shorter periods of exercise done more often are more effective than longer periods of exercise done less frequently. Even if the longer exercise sessions add up to more overall time, they still aren't as effective.

Build in momentum sustainers. If you're like most people you start out a new project enthusiastically, and then lose track of it in the bustle of all your other obligations.

By building in appointments with people to check in with, and appointments with yourself for review, you force yourself to be accountable. You might want to set up weekly goals for yourself, or make an agreement to accomplish specific tasks by your next check in date.

Additional techniques for linking daily tasks and long term projects include:

* Remind yourself what to do to support your purpose. Put up reminder notes around your house to keep your purpose front and center.

* Figure out how long specific tasks take so you won't skip out by telling yourself it takes too long, or you don't have the energy.

At one point I decided I would get more serious about housework, especially doing the dishes. I had told myself it was too big a hassle to fiddle with before I went to bed. I was embarrassed to discover cleaning up the dishes actually took five to seven minutes.

* Use lost, or fiddle time, to punch a hole in a bigger project. I no longer leave dishes in the living room, at my desk or next to the bed. I take them into the kitchen when I am going, rather than waiting to make it a task to be done.

* Build in an artificial deadline and put yourself on a schedule. Play a game with yourself, and even reward yourself, for being a good kid when you've done one of those necessary but not fun little jobs.

* Give yourself credit for what you have done and the hassles and work it was to accomplish it. I live in a wonderful town. When I tell people where I live, their reaction is usually "You're so lucky to get to live there." Luck had nothing to do with it. It's part of a project I have in giving myself the life style I want.

Copyright 2005 Pat Wiklund. All rights in all media reserved. This article may be reprinted so long as it is kept intact with the copyright and by-line.