I have big plans for the future. I always do, as I believe that my goals are not dreams. I like to look at not just long term goals but short term goals that will take me through this next season. They are real because I make them real. Goal setting can be difficult, people don’t like to own what they want to create, it makes them fear failure and be accountable to what they want. This year is especially difficult for most people with fall coming up, the start of a new school year, and of course, the looming presence of COVID. Where did 2020 go? The first step to achieving our goals is writing them down, announcing them and getting organized! It is important to provide yourself with a structure that will work for YOU!
Before you say it, let me beat you to the elephant in the room...or blog post, COVID has brought about a time of immense uncertainty. This can make goal setting and organization even harder than it normally is. My advice to you is to take a moment. Stop. Breathe In and Out. And keep reading as we talk about achieving your goals.
First, I like to lay out what I want to achieve in this season. My goals fall under several categories or buckets such as professional goals, personal goals, and goals for my family/ home. Try thinking about your goals under at least three categories, it’ll make it easier to conceptualize. I like to use the concept of SMART goals. Are you familiar with SMART goals? S-M-A-R-T stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. To read more about smart goals and access the ever so helpful worksheet click here.
Here are a few of the goals that I have set for myself through the end of the year in categories (I have made it tangible so it doesn’t overwhelm you lol)! Hopefully, it can act as a good example of how to organize your own goals.
Once I write down my goals they start to become more real, but I don’t stop there. I create a visual representation of each goal through vision boarding or journaling. In fact, this month to help you get started my business partner Kristine Gardner and I are offering a Goals and Visioning workshop on Wednesday, September 23rd at 10am to help you gain clarity and make a plan to reach your goals!
The next step in getting organized to achieve your goals is utilizing the tools that we have at our fingertips. A good thing that came out of quarantine is that I have become more well-versed in all things technology! It’s like the old Olivia Newton John song Let’s Get Physical has become Let’s Get Digital!
Everything from Zoom to Pinterest has helped me create a structure and maintain consistently organized in this season to get to my goals. Pivot, Pivot, Pivot! Be flexible and open to learn new ways to grow to get to your goal!
Let me outline a few tips and tricks I have for navigating through online resources to help you with your goals.
This is different from anything else that we have experienced in the past. There is more uncertainty than ever these days. Don’t let these uncertain times discourage us from achieving, but rather that we settle into the discomfort and plan to reach our goals!
This is the one time in my life that I am certain we are all in this together and only by utilizing each other can we build our successes together! Here's to second chances and the opportunity to bring forth the goals you set in January!
