It’s that time of year when we like to reflect on the past and look towards what the future will bring. A part of this involves setting goals to bring about some kind of change or improvement in our lives. Envision your ideal life in different aspects such as career, relationships, health, and personal development.
Understanding your values
Setting goals in life is a crucial step toward personal growth, fulfillment, and success. Therefore it’s important to understand your values. Being able to identify your core values and beliefs will help you to set goals that align with what matters most to you. It will require some self-reflection and honesty. Our values and beliefs create the principles by which we live and help us to determine our priorities and guide our decisions. Our personal value system helps to shape how we interact with the world around us. Understanding what we value helps us to set goals that align with what we desire and believe is right, thus leading to living a more meaningful life.
Write it down
Putting pen to paper helps to enforce and solidify what we are trying to achieve. Write your goals down where you can see them regularly. Use a journal, vision board, or sticky notes on the bathroom mirror. Writing down what you would like to achieve over the coming year, will help you to stay on track.
Share them with family or friends who will support you and provide added accountability.
Break things down into smaller steps. Having a series of short-term goals that you can reach quickly will provide a sense of achievement and keep you focused and motivated to reach your larger long-term goal.
Review your progress along the way and celebrate your achievements. I like to set small rewards as I reach each milestone. This helps to keep me motivated and gives me those small successes along the way.
Developing new habits:
Reaching your goals often involves creating new daily habits along the way. It’s suggested that it takes 90 days to create a new habit. You will find that forming new habits goes hand in hand with achieving your goals. For example, waking up early every morning to exercise or carrying a water bottle with you to ensure you drink enough water. These new habits in time will become second nature to you.
In addition, I find it helpful to reassess every 3 months, to find out what is working and what isn’t. Always be prepared to reassess and make changes if you need to.
Setting goals: the SMART way
Setting what is known as a SMART goal, being Specific- Measurable- Achievable – Relevant – Time-Bound, will give you a clear and effective action plan to follow.
- Be specific and clearly define your goals. Instead of having a broad goal of ‘I want to get fit’, be specific instead and set a goal to go walking for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week. Break it down into smaller more manageable tasks to prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. If you have 20 kilos to lose, aim to lose just five, once you reach this goal, reset your goal to lose 5 again.
- Make goals measurable so you can track your progress. Instead of saying ‘I want to save money’, set a goal to save $5000 by the end of the year by saving $100 every week, or I want to lose 5kg in 3 months by the end of May.
- Ensure that your goals are achievable considering your current circumstances, resources, and capabilities. Your goal can be challenging but also achievable. Anticipate any potential obstacles or challenges you may face in achieving this goal and write down how you will overcome them.
- Ensure your goals are relevant to you. Do they align with your values, are they meaningful and worthwhile? Will this goal have a positive impact on your life and well-being? Is this goal realistic and in line with your values and beliefs and how you want to live your life?
- Assigning a time in which to reach your goals helps to keep you focused and on track to achieve them within a dedicated time frame. Setting short-term goals as well as long-term ones keeps you motivated and provides direction.
Goals are actions for Happiness
Goal setting acts as a roadmap for life, subsequently guiding your actions with purposeful direction. With a clear target in mind, they will help you focus your time, energy, and resources on what truly matters to you. In the pursuit of achieving your goals, it often means stepping out of your comfort zone, acquiring new skills, and overcoming obstacles, this leads to personal growth and development.
Setting goals provides improved decision-making. When faced with choices, it’s easier to evaluate whether they align with your objectives, allowing you to make more informed and purposeful decisions. Goals help you to envision the future and to plan for the long term, providing direction in life. Accomplishing your goals boosts self-esteem and confidence and is associated with a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Work towards what you want
Overall, setting goals is a powerful strategy for personal and professional success, providing a framework for growth, achievement, and a more fulfilling life.
Most importantly enjoy life where you are today and be happy in the moment.
My new Goal-setting worksheets will help you gain the understanding and clarity to set SMART goals that move you closer to your dream life. You can find the worksheets here. Simply print, put pen to paper, and set your goals for the year ahead.
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Wishing you every success on your journey to creating a beautifully organised home you love…. Sheree
