A system is any formulated, regular, or special method or plan of procedure. 

Creating and following a set of action steps to complete tasks saves you on time and energy.   

Why you want to implement systems in your life

You do not need to create a system for everything that you do.  But having an efficient system takes the struggle out of tasks you hate doing.  A system stops you from using your time and energy on complaining, procrastination and/or feeling bad about a task.


  Action is the cure.  A system makes the task manageable. 

The challenge is finding the right system that completes the task to your satisfaction and as fast as possible (so you can spend your time doing things you like to do). 

How to create the system

Let’s say you have this challenging task you need to complete every month but it always make you want to pull your hair out.  The first step to creating a system is to imagine your life without this task.  Imagine waking up without worrying about it.  Sitting down on your desk without it.  Coming home to it being completed.  Going to bed without thinking about it.  Really live and experience about not having to face the challenge any more.  How would life be without this challenging task?

Next, in one sentence, describe why this task is a challenge.

Say hello to motivation and confidence!  Two things you’ll need to create a system.

How to create action steps

Dwelling on the worse case scenario or what hasn’t worked won’t push you forward (in fact it’ll keep you in the past where no action can happen).

  So look forward and create the plan. What will help the situation better?

I wish I had a way to do x, y, and z.  Think of every way possible and impossible way to complete your task.  Play the “what if…” game asking yourself “What if I had <this>?” and “What if I had <that>”.  Dream big and write everything down.  Nothing is out of the question. 

Start testing your system

The key to creating a system is to start following it as soon as possible.  You may not get it right the first time around so take notes on how things go.  Just keep trying!

You will feel resistance.  Recognize the things that are your distractors.  These are the things your mind guides you to when you start feeling like you can’t complete the task. 

For me I grab my phone and start checking email or text messages.  When this happens I ask myself what am I avoiding and is this act in line with my top priority?  Most likely it’s not.  Then I bring my focus back to the task.

The power in creating your own systems

There are many systems out there that others have created.  You may have tried a few of them which is great!  You can add this to the things that have worked or haven’t worked.  But nothing beats creating your own system. 

When you have created the system you increase the likelihood of success because this system is what you created.  You are in control and in charge.  The system was made with you in mind.  Having this system or systems will make you proud of your accomplishments.  It’ll give you the power to realize that you can implement any kind of system you want in for your family, your career, and your life. 

You can do it!