Nov 17, 2016 06:01 AM EST By Audri Taylors, UniversityHerald Reporter

It might be too overwhelming to think that we are actually getting closer to the end of the year and the first day of 2017, which is basically the reason why you better start planning as early as now. If you want to make a change in your life for the next year, today is the best time to think about it and do something about it, unless you choose to make the next year just a repeat of this one.

No matter how busy you are, you should not allow your life to be controlled by the tasks you have at hand and by the routine you do every day. Making a change and making a progress on the goals that you want to be able to achieve means you have to make time for them daily, weekly and monthly, because according to studies, if you do not make the conscious effort of doing these things, your life will always be dependent on the habits you go through each day.

Here's how you can start making a difference.

Look at the things that you do every day at work and analyze the amount of time you spend for your office tasks and the time you spend on the activities that will help you achieve your goals. Minimize the time you spend for the jobs that keep you from doing the most important ones.

Next, according to research, you should already have a plan earlier on about the days that you can spare for more productive activities. It will be best if you start them during the first few months of the year.

After which, you have to observe your environment, your workspace. Most of the time, whatever is in front of you is what you are most likely going to do, which is why the most important projects are the ones that should be present in your workspace so you can easily focus your attention on them.

Lastly, learn from the most productive people you know by finding out what works for them to make time for their most important goals.

All these things will, after all, help you make next year a lot different and a lot better from this one.

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