Goal setting is one of the most efficient ways to accomplish your end results. Many times we set goals that are unrealistic and hard to achieve. If we took the time to evaluate what our end goal is and determine the steps to get there we would achieve way more success. I believe the easiest way to start creating goals is to start small. Maybe you would like to start a business? or become financially independent? Start a daily self-care routine? Whatever it is, the goal is achievable if you BELEIVE in yourself.

I’m an advocate for creating goals, it’s how I’ve been able to develop and attain success in most aspects of my life. I know we have all tried to work towards something and end up quitting, but this shouldn’t discourage you from picking up where you left off. Push forward, you got this!

What is a goal setting (exactly)?

A goal setting is a PROCESS of determining something that you want to accomplish and establishing measurable goals and timeframes. Just because you want to do something doesn’t mean you will get it done. Time and time again we set out to try something new, challenge ourselves to be better people. However, sometimes life gets in the way and we drop everything we thought we wanted all together. When you are goal setting, you can create short-term goals, which can be daily, weekly, or monthly, or you can have long-term goals which are yearly i.e a 5-year plan. Goal setting keeps you laser-focused.

How to set goals?

When creating goals, make sure that they are attainable, and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. For example, if you want to become more productive with your day-to-day tasks. I would suggest picking a day once a week and writing down everything you need to do for the week. Then break down those goals into days and hours if needed. Having your goals in front of you will help you be more accountable for your actions.

There are serval ways to set goals; you can write them down, add them to a calendar, use an online platform like Trello, create a vision board, or tell someone your goal so they can hold you accountable. The list goes on, but the critical component is ACHIEVING the goal and never giving up.

Step#1: Determine to end goal

The first step in taking action towards your goal is to figure out what you want to achieve. Write down precisely what you want to accomplish for the day, week, or month. Let’s call this your brainstorming process. Make sure it’s something that makes you happy so that you will stay motivated and finish up strong. If you are horrible at achieving goals, start with little victories and see how you feel. Then move on to the big leagues.

Step #2: Write down your goals

Take this step very seriously. When you write down your goals on paper it helps you stick with them and makes it more concrete. Make sure you think about how you want to feel once the goal is achieved, where your mindset will be, and how this goal will bring value to your life. Also, when writing your goals, make sure you have a positive mindset. For example, “I want to have clear skin and create a skincare routine” versus ” I don’t want these ugly blemishes on my skin anymore, I look ridiculous”. Be kind to yourself, why would you want to hurt your own feelings? Once you have all of these components, set up your timeframe to achieve the goal, so you have a clear vision of where you’re headed.

Step #3: Tell a friend or someone close to you

When you tell a friend or someone close to you, your goal, it’s beneficial; this person will always hold you accountable for your actions and make sure you don’t miss a beat. Try to find someone who cares about your results and will be okay with being the bad guy from time to time. I always tell my close friends about my goals because they do check-ins to make sure I’m moving towards what I want to achieve. Plus, it feels good when you can give them valid updates about your progress.

Step #4: Create your action plan

I would say this is the fun part, but it honestly depends on the type of goal you’re trying to achieve. Take your goal and break it down as far as you can. When doing this, you will create your “little victories,” so you can see your progress step by step. It helps you stay on track and keeps you focused on the end goal. If the goal is too big, you might not achieve it within your timeframe, which will cause you to give up. So make sure every goal you set is practical for each action.

Step #5: Take Action

Now, this is your time to shine! Taking that first step towards your goal, how does it feel? When making the first move, make sure you keep your list of goals in hand(i.e., on the phone) or in front of you on a calendar or post-it notes at all times. It will motivate you so you won’t have any excuses.

Step #6: Re-evaluate and Assess

Once you’ve been killing it for about a week or take a step back and examine your progress. Did you lose a pound this week? Did you finish your business plan? Do your skin slightly clear up? Whatever your goal is, make sure you’ve accomplished those little victories as you still may have a long way to go. When you re-evaluate and assess, you get to see the areas in which you can improve on to push you to possibly get your results even faster.

Step #7: Celebrate

YAY!!! You did it!! Take this time to pat yourself on the back because you set out to do something, and YOU made it happen. It’s the most fantastic feeling because no one can take this victory away from you. When you work your ass off for something that adds value to your life, take it as a blessing. So many people have goals and never achieve them. Goal setting is vital to get to the next step.

Keep like-minded people around you at all times; they will breathe life into you and your goals. I would never want to you be that person who lives with regrets because you didn’t at least try. Always remember to set goals with confidence.