Why Structure Works

I have learned the hard way that structure is necessary to really accomplish goals. Without structure things tend to fall through the cracks, procrastination makes hours turn to months, and there’s a general feeling of chaos in the air.

Structure works because it gives me guideposts throughout the day or the month to know where I am and what I still need to do.  Structure, by design, keeps the house from falling down around me because I don’t forget I need joists and supports before I start nailing down the floor.

I know a lot of people who say they just wing it most of the time – and usually everyone but them can tell they are winging it. Projects don’t get completed, or if they do, there is some missed detail that threatens to derail it.

Some people here the word structure and think “prison!”  But structure isn’t a prison. Frankly, having no structure can put more limits on your freedom because you are often haphazardly grabbing different pieces, trying to pull everything together at the last minute.

If you ever feel like you just can’t get things done and you can’t believe you missed this detail or forgot that part, you might need to add a little structure to how you do things.

My primary tool for structure is The List.  The List details all the steps I need to take to reach the best outcome possible.   The List keeps you on track.  If you forget to look at The List for a few days, you will be very surprised by how when you look at it again you realize you really did miss something.  I almost always regret it when I don’t make The List because I inevitably miss something that would have been easy to fit in five steps ago, but now it means backing up and starting over.

If you try one thing to get a little more structure to your day – so you can really check off things as you work towards a goal – try The List.