A key part of self improvement is goal setting. By thinking about what we want in life and how we want to achieve it, we can create milestones and goals for ourselves. Setting goals is an ongoing process for each of us, and our goals are constantly evolving as we change and grow. However, a goal is made of two things: intention and action. We can have all the best intentions in the world, but if we don’t follow up our goal setting with actions, we will never actually achieve our goals. The true key is consistency. We have to consistently set goals for our self and continuously take action to meet our goals.
Here are some simple and easy tips for keeping yourself on track with your goals, while pairing up intention and action consistently:
Do a monthly check-in. Schedule one hour on your calendar at the end of each month, and make this time non-negotiable. By keeping this date with yourself, you give yourself the space and time to review your goals, check-in on where you’re at in meeting them, and plan out action steps for the month ahead to continue to reach your goal. This time is critical for your goal setting success, so it’s important to always show up for yourself and do this monthly review.
Make a list of small actions. Take a look at your list of goals. Often, we can pick big, lofty goals, which sound good in theory, but can be hard to apply to our everyday lives. One key way to keep yourself on track with your goals is to break each goal down into small actions. Take a look at each goal and decide: What’s the one thing I can do today to meet this goal? Then do that action as soon as possible.
Build momentum. Action feeds action, so the more steps you take towards your goal, the more momentum you will build towards achieving it. If you have a daily planner, set tasks for each day for each goal. With every day you cross off that to do, you are moving one step closer towards meeting your goal.
Celebrate wins. Eventually, you will achieve your goal, or make major breakthroughs on your way to achieving the goal. Celebrate each and every win you have. Every time you are closer to your goal than you were before, treat yourself in some way to celebrate the achievement. By encouraging yourself with positivity, you will increase the likelihood that you will keep on working towards meeting your goal.
Keep a goal diary. Buy a notebook that is fun and get some colorful markers and stickers. Create a goal diary, with lists of your goals and a weekly calendar of the actions you are taking towards achieving them. Make it fun by including inspirational quotes or jotting down bits of inspiration you receive throughout the day. It will be very encouraging to look back one day at your goal diary and see all the progress you’ve made.
Ultimately, the only way to achieve your goals is through you. It’s important to hold yourself accountable for meeting your goals, but to also remember to be gentle with yourself throughout the process. Sometimes a day of rest will be more beneficial to you than trying to do something when you just don’t have the energy. Other times, it might be more helpful to get up and do the action than to make excuses. You will always know what is best for you, and it’s most important to maintain a positive attitude and remember that you can do anything you put your mind to.