5 Goal Planning Tips to Get Your Life Together

I’m a little late to the game on 2020 goals/resolutions, whatever you want to call it. I don’t like the term “resolution”. By definition it means a firm decision to do or not to do something. I mean, we are human and change is not an overnight thing. As much as I wish it was, life would be so much easier ha!

Instead of resolutions, I set goals. Now I don’t just try to complete my goals all within the year, I’m realistic about them. I break them out and try to “complete” them within 90 days. I wouldn’t even say they are goals but more of habits. Generally it takes two months of you doing that new thing to have it become a full blown habit. I know, that’s a long time! Within a week or two, the habit starts to form and gets a little easier.

For my own goal setting below are my 5 steps that I do when I’m ready to goal set.

Write Your Goals Down…

This one seems like a no brainer, but the part that I want to stress here is the actually writing them down. I’m not talking about typing it on your notepad on your phone or typing an email to send to your self…no device involvement. Take out an old fashioned pen and paper. And if you don’t have any well head to your closest store. I know that it’s slower to write down your goals, but that slower process allows your brain time to think and really concentrate on what you are writing. By writing, it helps your brain commit those goals into your memory better. You’ll also be surprised that it triggers creativity and other thoughts. Once you have it down, by all means, type those bad boys up!

When I’m writing my goals I think of things I want to do, be better at, future growth, business, really anything that comes to mind.

Here are a few of my “goals”…

not hitting snooze on the alarm

I use to be so good about not hitting the snooze button, but became lazy so this is a habit I need to bring back to 2020.

define a bedtime and morning routine

this is a routine more for myself, outside of kids and family. I use to have a good routine but now I’m all over the place. I need to take the time to determine a plan for both and put in action.

determine a workout plam/schedule

this is another area where I had a good routine, but because work has been crazy, I haven’t been able to workout. I need to sit down and map/schedule time to workout. If you have it scheduled, the better chance you will follow through. I also honor that scheduled time and try not to schedule over it. That means even client meetings at times. If I don’t have an outlet, then I don’t have a good mood.

Set a Theme…

When I’m writing my goals down, I actually make a section and note all the bad things that happened the year before, all the good things, and things I could have done better. Once my goal and year before list is “done” (I use this term lightly because are you ever really done), I go back and review and determine a theme. I sometimes make an overall theme that maybe doesn’t fully relate to my goals on paper. For example, last year almost broke me mentally. Work was busier than usual and was a lot to handle with being a mom and wife. So this year my theme is from our good friend, Elsa, “let it go”. I got caught up in things that I should have just let it go. If I have a theme or motto, then I keep that as a reminder in my head when something does come up.

Schedule Your Goals…

Each day I write out three things that I need to do to get to that goal. They also have to be three things that won’t take a lot of time. It’s all about small accomplishments that drives you to continue. Now, I’m not perfect and I do not do this every day. Some goals can’t be written out. Like “don’t hit snooze” I mean you could, it would be a good reminder. That one requires action. For this goal, I do however note down to remember to turn my phone on silent and put it in the bathroom, because that is a new practice. That is my anchor for meeting my goal.

Now, if I’m trying to reach a goal that requires more thinking and planning, like starting a new hobby, business etc then adding a daily task to do will definitely help. For example, defining a new workout plan/schedule. Sure this could be “just workout” but you’re not just going to get up one day and work out. If you do, it’s probably going to last a couple days. Well, that’s the case for me 🙂 For this goal, I want to start small. Some task examples is when will I be able to schedule my workout be for the next day, what workout will I try (because I want to find something I love so I will continue), building a new playlist, laying out workout clothes, buying new workout items, etc.

Implement Those Goals….

This can be the hard part and what everyone struggles with! It is also where goals die. You want to take small steps to be successful. It doesn’t matter how long you are doing something, there is not magic number of days. It’s all about your mindset and feeling like you are closer. Taking mini steps are major milestones toward your goals. Maybe you want to work out early in the AM. So wake up 30 minutes early and do 10 min every day or every other day for a week, then gradually increase. It’s also good to have an anchor, something that triggers a habit/goal. For example, it’s a goal to make sure I use my planner more. I put my planner next to my laptop in my bag so when I pull my laptop out, my planner is on top which is a trigger for me to write in my planner while my laptop is starting up. Again, it’s all about baby steps.

Don’t Sweat It…

As I tell my kids, it’s ok to mess up just try better text time. I try to remember this for myself. Give yourself grace, you’re learning. We all didn’t learn to walk the first time we did it, ok I’m sure there are some but you get the idea. If you didn’t mark off that task for your goal, it’s ok. I give you permission to mess up 🙂 We are all human and no one is perfect. Even master goal setters stumble. The important thing to remember is that things do not happen overnight. You will stumble and it’s ok, just pick yourself back up remind yourself this is part of the process and do better the next time.