We all know that the new year brings resolutions, changes, and fresh starts, but it often times brings something else that has played a big part in my life - goals. Goals have become a tool that push me to work towards a task or achievement until completion. The “art” of setting reasonable and achievable goals is much more difficult than it may seem, and I wish I could say I have become a pro at it, but that would be false. Thankfully, I have learned a few tips along the way. Today, I am going to share four tips to help you check off whatever goal you decide to set!
Be reasonable and realistic
I once ran a half marathon. It was a goal I had for a while. I had to train at for months, but imagine that I just decide that I want to run a full marathon tomorrow. We both know that my body would physically give out and that 26.2 miles would look at lot more like 2.62 instead! When setting goals, think about if they are actually reasonable. Think through obstacles and challenges that may occur. It is perfectly fine to break your goal up into smaller segments if that helps. So maybe instead of my full marathon tomorrow, I decide to complete a 10k by the end of March.
Be as specific as you can
“I want to read fifteen new books this year” sounds a lot more distinct than “this year, I want to read more.” Be as specific as you can when setting your goals. By being specific, you are allowing yourself to know exactly what you want to accomplish and when you want to do it by. Having a “deadline” type feel to a goal tends to help me get serious about achieving it.
Stay positive and reward yourself
Oh no, you missed another day of working out because your classes are consuming you! Don’t let that discourage you. We all have those days. Move on and aim for a better tomorrow! A huge part of accomplishing a goal is staying strong mentally. Allow yourself some grace and keep pushing towards your end result. And when you do achieve something, reward yourself! This will keep you from becoming discouraged and giving up.
Prioritize
I have found that too many goals at once can become overwhelming. I normally choose one goal and go for it. You may find it helpful to choose one goal for each part of your life (health, spiritual growth, education, etc.) or just one life goal at a time. Either way, when you focus on one goal it becomes easier to give time to it instead of having to split your time between goals.
So now after reading this post, you will never have to worry about not accomplishing a goal ever again! Haha, as much as I wish that was true, it is not that easy. Hopefully these tips will help you make goals that are achievable and accomplished soon. Good luck, and let me know how it goes for you!
Sincerely, MC
