As 2018 nears an end, now is the time to start thinking of all the goals that you want to achieve in 2019. In order to keep the momentum that will drive you forward in achieving your goals, you’ll have to think S.M.A.R.T! This means that the goals you set will have to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely.
But before you start mapping out your goals, it’s important that you commit. You’ll have to make a deal with yourself that everything you write down, you’ll commit to 100%. These aren’t new years resolutions that you can give up on. This means giving it your all, and not backing down no matter how tough things get. Here are the six steps that I follow when setting goals, and they may just help you make 2019 your best year yet!
Step one: Commit completely
If you’re not 100% committed from the very beginning, then you might as well give up before you even start. How badly do you want to be better? How much do you want to succeed?
Step two: Understand why
If you want to make a positive change in your life, then you need to understand why goals are essential. It’s also imperative to recognise why these goals are important to you. You need to know exactly what’s involved and where you want to go.
Step three: Create goals
Now that you’re committed, and you understand why it’s important to set goals for yourself, it’s time to set your actual goals. As I mentioned before, I group my goals into financial goals, feel-good goals, and health goals.
When setting your goals, it’s also important to list all the people who can help you. Who, apart from yourself, can hold you accountable? And who will support you in achieving your goals? Who will your goals ultimately affect? It’s essential to know these things.
Step four: Break your goals down into tasks
As I mentioned above, it can be quite daunting and overwhelming to achieve a goal if you don’t break it down into manageable chunks first. Write a to-do list every single day, and make sure that you get these tasks done. The path to achieving a goal often involves ticking smaller tasks off, one at a time.
Setting daily tasks for yourself makes your goal actionable. This means that you’re not just simply setting a goal, but you’re taking action every single day in order to achieve your goal.
Step five: Devise a schedule
It’s vital to commit to a schedule. If you don’t, then you’ll be going nowhere slowly. Be specific about when you want to work on your goal and when you want to achieve it. If for example, you want to go on an expensive Christmas holiday, then you can’t start working on your goal in November. Be realistic, and know what time works best for you.
Step six: Assess and reassess
The reason why it’s important to revisit your goals on a daily basis is so that you can assess whether or not they’re still important to you. If they are, then assessing and reassessing them will help you stay focused and motivated. You’ll be able to assign new tasks and activities for yourself, and you’ll keep moving forward towards your vision and your goals.
