This time of year is so full of hopes, and dreams. The ending of an old year and the starting of a new one comes with a clean slate. January is a wonderful time, great for new beginnings, and a fresh start! A new year is a giant button to begin anew!
Each new Year, my husband and I go out to lunch and talk about our goals: the things we nailed, how we did last year, and areas we want to improve. We each set our own goals. We meet with the family. They set their own goals. We also talk about things we want to do as a family. We don't do everything all at once. We create a vision to work towards.
I feel that it is important that children learn how to set goals, work towards goals, and complete goals. We are their example. Life can throw us a curve ball, at times. And sometimes we throw ourselves one. Do we get derailed? Yes, from time to time, we do. Then we get back up and move forward. Sometimes, we get into a goal and discover that it was not the wisest course of action. Then we set a more appropriate goal. Good habits can help us reach our goals. A lack of good habits can undermine our goals. Sometimes, we have good habits, but not the ones we need to move forward. So, we need to step back and evaluate our habits, before moving forward.
New habits are difficult to set in place, but easier if you take baby steps. People often put huge goals out there. They do not take care to break them down into bite-size pieces. Then they take an all-or-nothing approach. The first slip-up they think is, "What's the use?" Hence, few goals make it through January in much less, than a week. So, how do you overcome this? Why, of course, reverse engineer your goals.
A Dozen Steps to Make and Reach Your Goals
Preliminary Considerations:
Before even making your goals consider evaluating how you did last year. Think in terms of moving forward and improving. This is not about being perfect. This is about growth. Give yourself a month to evaluate and make goals that are meaningful to you.
I created a simple devotional - 31 Days to a Better Life: A Devotional for Mothers. This is a prompt each day to consider, evaluate, and take a simple baby-step goal forward. One does not need to make giant goals to make progress, just a simple Thirty-one Days to a Better Life. Once you have done your evaluation, each day, it will be easier to select a few goals to prioritize, and then take these dozen steps listed below. You do not need to work on all thirty-one areas at once. Keep it simple. Some helpful supplies would include: a calendar, sticky notes, and a composition book, spiral notebook, or journal to make a record of your journey. Enjoy the journey!!!
1. Brainstorm Target Goals
Brainstorm your target goals. A target goal is your main destination. Get crystal clear on why the goal is important. Imagine your life after achieving your goal. Write down why you want to achieve the goal, and why you do not want to stay the same.
2. Keep it Simple
Set only a few target goals. Keep it simple. Be clear. Be specific. If you want to lose weight; how much? If you want to get out of debt; how much? If you want to build a nest egg; how much?
3. Block out Special Dates
Block out special days on your calendar--birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates. On a macro level, honor these special times in your life by planning time for loved ones and yourself. On a micro-level, block out time during the day for devotions, meals, and exercise.
4. Make Post-it Note Deadlines for Target Goals
Stick a Post-it Note on each deadline. Why use Post-it Notes? It is easier to plan and to move deadlines around in the planning stage than penciling and erasing as you reverse engineer your calendar.
5. Set Realistic Deadlines
Set a reasonable deadline for each goal. If you work at a reasonable pace, how long will it take to reach your goal? If weight loss is your goal, you will need to form new lifestyle habits. Otherwise, when you reach your goal and revert to old habits, you will return to the state you are trying to get out of. Do the same for getting out of debt, or building a nest egg.
6. Cluster Stepping Stone Goals
Cluster-think mini stepping stone goals to help you accomplish your big goal. What new habits will help you achieve your goals? What mini-goals can you set as stepping stones to your end goals?
7. Set Stepping Stone Goals
Set mini stepping-stone goals to get you to your destination. These mini-goals are the results of new habits. What new habits do you need, so you can achieve each mini-goal? Break down your big goals into 5 % - 10% mini-goals. Let us say you want to run a mile, but can't walk a mile today. Start by walking a block each day for a week. The next week add another block. Then add a block each week thereafter, until you get to a mile. Then jog the first block next week. Add jogging a block each week until you can jog a mile. This is a doable goal. This can be used with debt or savings.
8. Set Post-it Note Deadlines for Stepping Stone Goals
Set a realistic Post-it Note deadline for each mini-goal! Place a Post-it Note on the mini-deadline date on the calendar.
9. Journal the Journey
Keep a journal or bullet journal your journey. Have both bullets to check off and space for daily feedback on what is working, what isn't, lessons learned, and adjustments to be made. List your victories each day!
10. Use the Buddy System
Find a buddy or a friend to report to and help encourage you. But do not talk about your goals to family, friends, and, on the internet. The brain has a way of checking it off as accomplished the more you talk about your goal.
11. Get Back Up
If life happens, and it most assuredly will, don't give up! If illness, injury, or overwhelm takes hold, review the steps above, get up, brush yourself off, and know that getting back on the path is a choice. Choose it! You can do this! Restart where you are.
12. Celebrate Victories!
Celebrate as you reach every stepping stone goal. Every stepping stone goal achieved represents a milestone or milepost you have passed. You are 5% or 10% closer to your target goal! You can share your Victories. Rejoice in those victories. Enjoy the Journey!
As you do these dozen steps, you will find goals become reachable.
What ways have worked for you in achieving your goals?
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