What is all the hype about GOALS anyway? And how to ensure you achieve yours.

It is a new year. A new day. A new week. A new season. Whatever it is, you’re feeling motivated and ready for a change.  So now what?  The word “Goals” is getting a lot of hype right now.  But why is setting goals so important?

We’ve all heard this definition: "A Goal is a dream with a deadline."

Setting a goal, writing it down, drilling out what it really is that you’re seeking to achieve not only gives us a concrete objective, but also fuels our sense of excitement and accomplishment as we attain results.

So how do we set ourselves up for success with creating and achieving our goals? Read more for some tips that I’ve put together through research, personal trial and error, and professional experiences.

Firstly, DREAM BIG.  When solidifying your long term goal (meaning six months to a year from now), don’t be afraid to reach for the stars.  What is important to you and WHY? How will life be different when you achieve this? If I saw you walking down the street, how would I know that you’d achieved this (e.g. happiness, health, financial stability, relationship contentment)? How will achieving this goal look and feel? Make this goal REAL.

Then, BREAK IT DOWN!  When solidifying short term goals or next steps, this is where the heart of change happens.

• Identify your first step.  Be specific. For example, you want to join the gym. You might think the first step is to….“Join the gym.” When, really, you may need to a) find a gym near you or b) find your gym shoes or c) decide on a membership budget.  Identifying and solidifying the literal first step or next step helps us take that step.

• Make it measurable. How will you know you've achieved your goal? Add a numeric scale, a timeline, specify when/where/how long/with whom.  Outlining a clear definition of achievement can help us be successful and measure progress.

• Make it achievable. We’ve all been there. We have full intentions of packing lunch 5 days a week, doing yoga every morning, being intentional with our communication every single time we are in a conflict. The list goes on.  We are ready for change NOW, right? We know that setting goals that are fully attainable (meaning, you are 80% confident that you will achieve this) helps us be successful.  If you are confident that you can go for a walk one time this week, then commit to one time!  If you achieve more, bonus! If you achieve the one time, then you have achieved your goal. Setting attainable goals helps build our sense of confidence and motivation in moving forward.

• Post it where you are sure to see it. Personally, I have a rotation of at least 12 sticky note reminders posted on my desk. Yet, these reminders are pretty easy to ignore when I am powering through my day. I am much more likely to attend to my goal if I see it- on my bathroom mirror, at my kitchen table, on a phone alert. (You get the picture.) Make your goal SO visible that you won’t be able to ignore it. Keeping your goal forefront can fuel motivation and aid in sustainable change.

• Recruit help!  It takes a team. Research has proven that having supports in place helps us be successful in change. For some people, support means asking a friend to walk with them. For others, it means telling their spouse their goal and asking for encouragement. And, for others, support means taking a pen to paper and reflecting within themselves.  It is okay to ask for help, and recruiting support can be a game changer in achieving success.

So you’ve got some ideas. You’ve taken some steps. What now?

Continue looking within yourself. I suggest taking 5 minutes a day to reflect on what is important to you, what went well for you, and what you learned from your experiences.

It’s totally normal for progress to be a winding road versus an upward trajectory.

Be patient and compassionate with yourself!

I KNOW that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

And, if you decide to seek the support of a coach, I would love to partner with you on your journey!