Would you like this year to be your best year yet? Have you struggled in the past to meet the goals you've created? When you create your goals this year, follow these 7 steps and you'll be on your way to a year of success!
Write Them Down!
What happens when you write something down? It becomes real. You remember it. And, when you write it down, you can track your progress. There's an added bonus as well - you get the satisfaction of checking it off when you've completed it! So write them down and keep them in front of you.
Take the First Step First
Sometimes people set themselves up by setting goals they're just not ready for. An example would be a person who hasn't exercised in years setting a goal to work out 7 times a week. How successful is that person likely to be in meeting that goal?
Think about what needs to happen to get you ready to accomplish your goals. In the example above, a first step might be researching what kinds of exercise are available. Or perhaps some internal work is in order - what beliefs does that person have about their ability to be physically fit?
If a goal is feeling unrealistic to you it's a good sign that you need to "back up the train" a bit, and look at what steps you need to take to be ready for that goal.
Break Big Goals into Small, Consistent Steps
If a goal sounds too difficult, you may want to break it down into smaller steps. Years ago I coached corporate managers, and we only met once a month. Because of the four weeks between coaching sessions, their action plans could be pretty overwhelming, and sometimes they didn't complete them. That's why I love coaching clients on a weekly basis. Approaching goals one week at a time just seems more do-able to people. If you're taking an annual goal and breaking it down into 52 weeks, the individual steps are so much easier to complete!
Let's say your goal is to be in an exciting new job by the end of the year. In scenario A you create the goal in January and know you have 52 weeks of taking action to accomplish that goal. In scenario B, you set your goal at the beginning of the year, but don't start working on it until November. In which scenario might you have more success in getting that new job? And in which scenario are you likely to end up completely stressed out?
Taking small and consistent steps can serve you well. I see people get much better results because they're taking smaller steps toward the bigger goal.
What would it look like to break your goals into smaller steps?
Make Your Goals Measurable
If one of your goals is to "be the best mom ever," it might be difficult to look back at the end of the year and determine whether you have achieved it. Your goal needs to be more specific and measurable. For example, a goal might be "When my kids want me to listen to a video with them or take an interest in what they're doing, I will," when in the past you might have used the dishes, laundry, or work as a reason not to.
If your goal is a better relationship with your significant other, how might you make that more measurable? An example of a measurable goal might be going on a date with your partner at least once each month.
The key here is to be able to answer this question for each of your goals: "How will I know if I achieved it?"
Calendar Time to Work on Them
Do you calendar time to work on your goals? I've found that people calendar all their meetings and commitments to other people, but when it comes to their commitments to themselves, they're not even putting them on the calendar! Instead they just fit them in "where there's time." And guess how often there's time left for them? I've also seen people write their work and kids' activities in ink on their calendar and put their personal goals in pencil. This of course indicates that their stuff isn't as important as everyone else's. What's wrong with this picture?
It's critical that you calendar time to work on your goals in a way that says they're at least as important as everyone else's plans for you.
Find an Accountability Partner
It's amazing how much more accountable we become when we share our goals with someone else. This is why so many people hire coaches to help them reach their goals. Your accountability partner could be your coach, a friend, a mentor, or your mastermind group. Don't rule out your kids here! They would be happy to help you stay accountable to your goals. And what a great way to model accountability for them!
Who would make the best accountability partner for you? Find someone who will ask you how you're doing with your goals. And make a commitment to share your progress with them from time to time. This is so important to your success!
Review Them
Make sure you look at your goals on a regular basis, whether that's weekly, monthly, or quarterly. I've found that reviewing my goals with my coach at the beginning of each month works well for me. Others find it helpful to post their goals on the wall at their desk or in a place where they see them every day.
Which of these 7 steps will help you create a year you'll look back on and celebrate?
Debbie Delgado is a Certified Empowerment Coach and owner of IdealLife Coach in Bloomington Illinois.
Are you ready to create your ideal life? Please visit my website at the above link to learn how!
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