Not only is it a new year but also a new decade, and it’s that time of year that we start to think ahead to what we want to achieve and make our new year’s resolutions.
This year, before you set a goal or make a resolution I want you to stop and think about these two things:
– Do I really want this
– Is this an achievable goal
If you answered yes to both of those questions, fantastic news!
So, now you’ve got you goal in mind let’s think about how to make it achievable. Here are my top tips for setting goals and resolutions that you’ve not only going to stick to, but excel at!
Write it down
First things first, get out a pen and paper and get writing! It doesn’t have to be your final goals and resolutions, it doesn’t matter if it starts with make more lists! Get everything in your head on to paper. It helps free your mind and get some clarity around what you’re things and what you want to achieve.
Categorise your thoughts
It’s unlikely that you’ll have just one goal that you want to achieve or resolution that you want to stick to. As you’re writing or even once you’ve finished getting your initial goals on to paper, start to think about grouping them. Is it a work goal, do you want to travel more? Is there something personal you want to work on? Categorising your thoughts will allow you to see where your mind is focusing and spot potential priorities for the year ahead.
Don’t feel limited by numbers! You can have as many goals as you like, and many may overlap. By splitting down into categories you’ll be able to see how these might work together without it feeling overwhelming!
Think niche
Be clear in what you want to achieve… Instead of saying you want to a new job, think about exactly what job you want, or maybe what product you want to launch. Being clear helps you to really focus and think about what you’re setting out to do.
Is it measurable
What does success look like, and how are you going to measure it? If you’re aiming to lose weight then it might be a simple case of hitting a certain weight or losing a certain number of pounds. However if you’re looking to start your own business, you might want to think about what milestones you’ll be setting out to hit, or how many sales you’re going to aim to make.
Is it realistic
This is super important. Are you being realistic with your goals? Now when I say this, I don’t mean it in a negative way. If you set unrealistic targets the chances of being despondent or annoyed increase, and in turn you’re more likely to give up. Make sure you’re setting realistic and sustainable goals that you can reward as you go along. Maybe think about breaking down a bigger goal or milestone into bite size chunks!
Think timeframes
When are you going to achieve your goals? Saying this year might be a little too vague! Again think about setting yourself milestones, this will allow you to track your progress over time and make sure that you stay on track!
Get in the zone
Achieving goals is as much about mindset, as about setting targets. To achieve, you need to believe in what you’re doing. Spend a couple of minutes at the beginning of each day to set yourself up for the day ahead. Positive affirmations are a great way to remind yourself of how strong you are, and using them on a regular basis can help get you in the right mindset to really get out there and hit your goals.
Mindfulness
Taking a moment to stop, think and reset is a great way to help you achieve your goals. In a fast paced life it’s easy to find yourself juggling multiple tasks and finding yourself becoming overwhelmed. By taking regular breaks to stop and be present in the moment, we give our brains a chance to focus and to rest.
It’s ok to stumble
Most importantly!! It’s OK to have an off day!
You’re not going to have a perfect day everyday, you are going to stumble or in some cases fall flat on your face, and that is perfectly fine! Embrace the mistakes and the side steps for the laughter that they provide or the lessons that they teach you, then brush yourself off and move on.
If you’re had a rough day then pick up the phone to a friend, or write it down, and throw it away. Do whatever you need to do to move back to a positive place ready to start again tomorrow and most importantly…
Embrace that perfectly imperfect you!
For more motivational tips and to meet lots of other women on a journey, why not join the Perfectly Imperfect You group by clicking here!