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(Please note this post had to be re-published due to code conflict issue. Apologies but some prior comments will have been lost)

The first part of the 4th step in The Secret Code of Success: 7 Hidden Steps to More Wealth and Happiness concerns Goal-Free-Zones.

What are Goal-Free-Zones?

The author, Noah St John defines a Goal-Free Zone as “a time and place where you give yourself permission to stop setting goals.”

I’d like to add to this definition by saying that it’s also a time and place where you give yourself permission to stop thinking about and pursuing your goals.

This is something I have observed for a few years with great benefit to my life and business.

It took me a while to get to the point of being able to do this comfortably however because it requires a shift in your mindset. My intention with this post is to help get you moving to this point too.

Goal-Free-Zones Means Greater Wealth and Happiness

These will help you because you’ll:

1. -avoid burnout.

2. -stop believing your worth comes from your achievements.

3. -reduce the effects of information overload.

4. -reconnect with your Authentic Self.

Why Goal-Free-Zones can be a Challenge

Unplugging from your business is what you have to give yourself permission to do and then do it. This is not always as easy as it sounds. Why?

Usually because we believe a whole host of untrue beliefs that stop us from doing so.

Maybe you will recognize whether some of these belong to you:

• I don’t have enough time.
• If I stop being working and being focused I’ll lose control.
• If I stop thinking about my goals I’ll be lazy and unproductive.
• I don’t have the money.
• I don’t deserve to stop.
• I’m supposed to work hard.

These and any others peculiar to you are lies.

The reason you don’t give yourself permission to stop the goal obsession  is only because you have not priortitized this.

And you haven’t prioritized this because you don’t yet understand the importance of this to your success or you don’t yet believe you’re important enough.

If you want more detailed infomation about how to deal with this than I recommend you consult this section of Noah’s book in more detail.

Goal-Free-Zones Make you More Productive

In other words you’ll achieve more in less time. According to Noah St John we have four sources of personal energy – physical (quantity), emotional (quality) mental (focus) and spiritual (purpose) and all have to be replenished for us to feel happy.

Feeling happy is what leads us to achieving more.

Think of it this way: If you spend your money and never replenish it you will end up broke.

The same is true when it comes to your energy.

When you continually function on your energy reserves you achieve less and feel worse.

In other words before long you will also be energetically broke.

Only you know where you stand in relation to this….

Do you need to implement goal free zones into your business? Here’s how.

How to Implement Goal-Free-Zones Into Your Business

Give yourself permission to unplug from your business. I suggest you give yourself a minimum of one day off in seven where you do no business realted work or thinking if you can.

In addition you must implement Goal-Free-Zones into your business day.

“Scientific studies have found that human beings perform best in spurts of 90 to 120 minutes. Therefore, if you want to perform at your best, you must have times in your day when you unplug from work-related activities.” Noah St John

My business day is planned out in 90 minute chunks. I use a wonderful timer extension in Chrome called Chromodora which alerts me when my 90 minutes is over so that I can move into my 15 minute Goal-Free-Zone activity.

This is a time where I don’t set goals, think about them or pursue them in any way.

You don’t need to have hundreds of Goal-Free-Zone activities to do, just a few that you recycle.

Here are 25 Ideas for Goal-Free-Zones

1. Meditate
   
2. Pray
3. Say, sing, listen to Afformations
4. Visualize being on holiday
5. Write in your journal
6. Shower
7. Nap
8. Walk
9. Listen to a motivational recording
   
10. Stare into space
    
11. Call a friend
12. Listen to music
13. Swim
14. Play with your dog
15. Stroke your cat
16. Watch your goldfish
17. Lie in the sun
18. Hoover the carpet
19. Play with your children
20. Show your partner/spouse some affection
21. Make yourself something to drink/ eat
22. Read a book
23. Smell a flower
24. Tidy your desk/ drawer
25. Do some gardening

If you work for 6 hours a day on your business, that means 4 x 90 minute work sessions and 4 x 15 minute Goal-Free-Zones. In other words you will have given yourself an hour away from your goals every day.

Doing so will make you feel happier and more rejuvenated and you’ll be far more productive.

However don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself for a week and see.

The main reason you want to do this is very simple. To quote a well known line associated with a women’s  beauty product – BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT!

Do you already observe Goal-Free-Zones? How do you do this? Can you add to my list? I’d love to hear from you so please leave me a comment.

Be Happy!

Post Image: Craig Hauger