5 Ways To Accomplish Your Goals
It's time we buckle down and chat about the art of goal setting. It can be a challenging task, yet it is absolutely essential to seeing personal growth and development. When you become an expert at goal setting, it won't be long before you experience the effects of having control over your life. At Jackie, we are here to attest to the power of putting priorities where they belong and getting down and dirty with the nitty gritty. Goal setting is the first step in achieving what you have always dreamed. It's time to get your hands dirty and dive in to making your dreams a reality.
How to Accomplish Your Goals
Set short term goals too.
Long term goals are often easy to name. We all know the kinds of things we would like to have, attain or see for ourselves in the long term future, but so often we look past the day to day tasks we must complete in order to meet those long term goals. We must push ourselves to set short term goals so that we can celebrate the small victories that will pave the path to long term success. Think big picture. Name the end goal, then take the time to unpack what needs to be done on a day to day basis to see success in the long run. This is a skill that will ensure that your dreams become your reality and success is found without fail.
Put it on the calendar.
Bring out your planner and make some deadlines! It is human nature to be motivated by pressure and it's not a bad motivator. Convert that energy into willpower to accomplish your goals. Plot your long term ones on your monthly calendar and write out your small victories. This way, you are sure to meet your deadlines and see success faster than ever thought possible. When you can visualize your goals and to do's, you are more likely to find the tools to make those dreams come true. Allow yourself to be motivated by your deadlines and it will create space for your goals to become tangible.
Write everything out.
One of the most powerful tools you have in terms of goal setting is as simple as a pen and a piece of paper. Don't undercut the value of handwritten to do lists. It's times like these where it is more than okay to put the phone down and leave the laptop at home. Writing helps your brain not only organize your thoughts, but creates mental space and capacity for getting things done. When you take the time to physically hand write what needs to be accomplished, it becomes so ingrained in your thought process, that it will be impossible for you to ignore the opportunities at hand. For example, if you are aspiring to learn a new skill, like cooking, make a list of the things you will need. This is an absolutely essential step that creates mental capacity for your new goal. What used to be a passing thought is now ingrained at the forefront of your mind. As you go about your day, when you see opportunities that will help you meet your goal, you are more likely to take notice. Perhaps you see a flier at your local coffee shop for a weekly cooking class, or you save a recipe sent to you by a friend so you can create your own variation later. These are things that could have been easy to pass by without notice, but now that you have taken the time to physically write out what you want, these opportunities will appear around every corner.
Revisit your goals often.
It is so easy to write everything down, take all the necessary steps, and simply wish for your goals to come to fruition. The missing piece here is revisiting what you want. Set aside time each week and dedicate that space to spending some quality time with your goal journal. This way, you will be able to reevaluate what you want, measure your progress and decide what might need fine tuning. Remember, don't be so hard on yourself that you become rigid in reaching your goals. Goal setting is a fluid process; one that requires being able to adapt and change. Often times, with new information and time, you will realize that your short term goals might need to change in order to meet your long term ones. This is all part of the beautiful and messy process that is making your dreams come true!
Share your goals with others.
Community is an essential piece of goal setting. When you can share with others what it is you are striving to achieve, they can encourage you and push you forward. Having others to help you stay on track with your goals and spur you onward is an invaluable tool necessary to achieve what you had once only dreamed. Never be afraid to encourage one another and ask the challenging questions. Sometimes those questions will help you hear exactly what you needed so that you can propel yourself onward down the path of success. Talking about what you are working towards, even in casual conversation is a way for you to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind. Having a community of people to discuss, unpack and challenge your viewpoints, is a tool that will continue to serve you well as you achieve goal after goal. This community is the same one that will celebrate both your small and large victories along the way. Dive into your community and be expectant that you will succeed as you take on your dreams one small victory at a time.
*If you love this topic, check out our recent blog post, "6 Habits Every Successful Woman Must Have."