How Compartmentalizing Can Propel You Toward Your Dreams
Volume 1
September, 2024
By Dr. Kerri Valencia, Co-Founder & CEO, ConnectEd Consulting, LLC
At ConnectEd Consulting, LLC, we’ve had a bustling summer! We’ve officially relocated our business to Texas and are excited to be engaged in a range of projects across the state, including developing a fellowship curriculum for young civic leaders, business development for a nonprofit, and creating a curriculum and certification program on belonging and excellence for higher education faculty and staff. Additionally, we're working on leadership consulting for women’s wrestling and supporting business development and curriculum creation for women’s sports coaching in Colorado.
In our consulting work, a recurring theme has been the importance of strategic planning and organization, particularly for projects that challenge conventional norms. One powerful strategy I have embraced over the years is what I refer to as “compartmentalizing.” This technique has been instrumental in achieving goals and pushing boundaries, even when they seem unsurmountable.
So, what is compartmentalizing? It’s a method for organizing your time and focusing on specific tasks to advance your projects and dreams. Here’s how it works:
Removing Barriers: Allocate a dedicated time slot for a task and minimize distractions. Focus solely on that task, accepting that it doesn’t need to be perfect—just productive. During my master’s and doctoral studies, I had to study early in the morning and late at night to balance full-time work and family. By setting these specific times, I created a dedicated space for focused work. I learned to let go of perfection and concentrated on making steady progress toward my goals by focusing on completing tasks in smaller chunks: an outline for a chapter, completing assignments for a class, researching, etc.
Making Decisions and Sticking to Them: Avoid overthinking and make a decision with confidence. This is often what stands in the way of seeing an idea to fruition. Filling your head with all of the “what if’s” zaps energy that can be spent on completing tasks to reach a goal. Again, think of the idea of “chunking” tasks into tangible items to check off, which help you see results. Taking risks and trying new approaches can lead to unexpected successes. For example, after completing my master’s, I really wanted to pursue my doctorate. There were so many reasons not to: the cost, time, fear, raising a young family, yet I followed my dream, applied, and committed to the journey. Even if there are many reasons not to proceed, a single strong reason—like your own desire—can propel you forward. I supported my studies by working part-time as an adjunct professor, which was another way I removed barriers.
Following a Schedule: Develop a schedule to allocate time for working on your goals. Consistency is key. One thing I have learned over the years is that motivation is one of the most unreliable aspects of working toward goals or trying new things. Consistency is what will catapult you forward. Even when I didn’t feel like waking up at 5:00am to study, I did it anyway. The reward was always some tangible way I could see progress. Some mornings just the dedicated time to think about the work and take notes was enough to keep me moving forward. Also important is balancing your professional and personal responsibilities, including scheduling time for rest. Rest is essential—it’s non-negotiable. For me, Sundays have always been reserved for unwinding and personal activities, helping me recharge. While raising young kids and driving them to and from soccer games and practices, I learned to use that time to squeeze in my rest time by going for a walk or reading a book while waiting for them.
Setting Tangible Outcomes: Ensure that each dedicated time slot yields a concrete outcome, whether it’s drafting a document, outlining a chapter, or checking off items from your to-do list. Identify and record your next steps each time you sit down to work on your goal. Having clear next steps is crucial; it keeps you accountable and helps advance your work. Again, consistency is more reliable than motivation alone. Just as athletes train by showing up consistently, you must persistently show up and commit to your goals, regardless of fluctuating motivation.
Avoid Naysayers: This is perhaps the most important element for me, personally. Pursuing dreams is serious business that requires positivity and all of the aforementioned components. Stay clear of people who don’t support you! It’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and help you move forward.
Compartmentalizing is about creating structure and discipline to achieve your goals effectively. By dedicating specific times for focused work and balancing it with personal time, you enhance productivity and make substantial progress in both your professional and personal life. Compartmentalizing can transform your approach to achieving goals and enhance both personal and professional growth. If you’re ready to streamline your strategy and achieve success, ConnectEd Consulting, LLC is here to guide you with our expert leadership and educational consulting services.
