We all have goals. Some of us set our goals and achieve them. Others don’t.
So here’s an interesting question: – What will be your first step toward achieving your goal?
I’m sure most of us would say ‘to reach my goal, I have to start working’. That’s true.
However, let me ask you another question – How much time does it take to reach your goal?
It takes time. And it takes effort. And it takes patience.
Let’s face it – we all have a busy schedule. There’s no doubt about that.
We have meetings, deadlines, presentations, interviews, exams, projects, assignments, reports, etc.
That’s why we often find ourselves saying that we don’t have time to exercise, go to the gym, meditate, read books, write articles, etc.
Well, guess what? If you really want to change your life, you have to make time for yourself.
Here’s a secret – You don’t have to spend hours every single day doing these things.
In fact, you don’t have to do any of these things.
All you have to do is decide to do one thing every day.
For example, if you want to eat healthier, you don’t have to sit down and plan your meals for the whole week. Instead, you simply decide to eat something healthy once a day.
Or if you want to learn Spanish – you don’t have to study Spanish grammar for 6 hours every night. Instead, you simply pick 1 hour each evening to study.
This is called ‘micro-commitments’ and they are extremely powerful. They give you momentum, focus, discipline, motivation, determination, inspiration, courage, strength & power.
They give you everything you need to succeed.
Now you may think that you don’t have time to do anything. But the truth is that you DO have time.
You just choose NOT to do it.
When you make a decision to do something, you automatically stop thinking about all the other stuff you have to do.
Instead, you focus on what you want to accomplish.
There are several things that you may think about doing to reach your goals. However, these things are not going to help you achieve your goals. If you really want to succeed, you need to follow a plan.
What are the steps necessary to reach your goals?
Here are three steps that you need to take to reach your goals.
Step 1: Set Goals.
Before you set any goals, you need to decide what you want to accomplish. For example, if you want to lose weight, you need to decide whether you want to lose 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30 lbs, 40 lbs, 50 lbs, 60 lbs, 70 lbs or 100 lbs. Once you have decided what you want to lose, write down your goal.
For example, if you want to lose 40 lbs, you would write down “40 lbs”.
Step 2: Make a Plan.
After you have written down your goal, you need to make a plan. This means that you need to break down your goal into smaller parts. For example, if your goal is to lose 40 lbs, you need to divide your goal into smaller parts, such as losing 15 lbs, losing 25 lbs and losing 35 lbs.
This helps you focus on each part of your goal. By focusing on one part at a time, you will be able to see progress faster.
Step 3: Take Action.
Finally, after you have made a plan and broken down your goal into smaller goals, you need to take action. This means that you should start working towards achieving your goal.
It is recommended that you work towards your goal every single day. This will ensure that you don’t fall behind.
Remember: if you want to achieve something, you need to take small steps every day. These small steps will eventually lead you to success.
So what will be your first step toward reaching your goal?
#1. Write Down Your Goal.
Write down your goal. You need to write down your goal, because writing down your goal makes you aware of your goal. Writing down your goal makes you accountable for your goal.
Writing down your goal gives you an opportunity to visualize your goal. Visualizing your goal helps you understand your goal better.
#2. Break Down Your Goal Into Smaller Parts.
Break down your goal into smaller sub-goals. For example, if I want to lose 40 lbs, I need to divide my goal into smaller parts, such as losing 15 lbs, losing 20 lbs, losing 25 lbs and finally losing 35 lbs.
By breaking down your goal into smaller bits, you will be able to achieve your goal faster.
#3. Focus On One Part At A Time.
Focus on one part of your goal at a time. For example, if my goal is to lose 40lbs, I need to focus on losing 15 lbs, losing another 15 lbs and then losing another 15 lbs.
Focusing on one part at a given time ensures that you won’t fall behind. Focusing on one part at once will also give you motivation to continue working towards your goal.
#4. Work Towards Your Goal Every Single Day.
Work towards your goal every single morning. Working towards your goal every single night will ensure that you don’t fall behind.
Working towards your goal every single evening will motivate you to work towards your goal every day.
#5. Don’t Give Up.
Don’t give up if you fail to achieve your goal. Remember: if you want to succeed, you have to stick to your plan.
Sticking to your plan will ensure that you don’ t fall behind. Sticking to your plan will also ensure that you achieve your goal.
How many types of goals are there?
There are two types of goals: short-term and long-term.
Short term goals are those that you set yourself to reach within a certain amount of time. Long-term goals are those that last longer than one month.
Short-term goals are easier to achieve, since you don’t have much time to waste. However, once you accomplish your short term goals, you may find yourself feeling frustrated because you haven’t reached your long term goals yet. This is normal.
Long-term goals are usually more difficult to achieve. They require patience and dedication. If you want to reach your long term goals, you need to plan ahead.
Here are some tips to help you reach your goals faster.
#1. Set Realistic Goals.
Setting realistic goals helps you avoid disappointment and frustration. Setting unrealistic goals leads to failure.
For example, if you want to lose 10 kg in 2 weeks, you won’t succeed. Instead, set a reasonable goal, such as losing 1 kg every week.
#2. Plan Ahead.
Planning ahead makes things easier. For instance, if you want to go shopping, you can prepare beforehand. You can also plan meals and exercise routines.
#3. Be Consistent.
Being consistent means doing the same thing over and over again. If you want to lose weight, eat healthier foods and exercise regularly.
#4. Reward Yourself.
Reward yourself after accomplishing each milestone. Make sure these rewards are meaningful. For example, buying yourself an ice cream cone after completing your workout session would mean something to you.
#5. Don’t Give Up.
It takes time to reach your goals. There will be days when you feel discouraged. But remember, you can’t give up.
Just keep going until you reach your goal. If you fail to reach your goal, pick yourself back up and continue working toward your next goal.
#6. Stay Positive.
Stay Positive, because negative thoughts lead to negative actions. If you think negatively, you’ll act negatively.
Instead, focus on the positives. Think about all the benefits you’ll receive once you reach your goal.
#7. Avoid Procrastination.
Procrastination is another factor that prevents us from achieving our goals. We tend to postpone tasks that we dislike.
However, procrastinating doesn’t solve anything. Once you decide to complete a task, you should immediately start working on it.
Remember, you can’t change the past. All you can do is control your future. So stop procrastinating and start taking action right away.
#8. Take Small Steps.
Taking small steps is better than taking big leaps. Taking small steps allows you to monitor your progress.
This will prevent you from falling off track. If you fall off track, you can easily get back on track.
#9. Focus On One Goal At A Time.
Focus on one goal at a time. This will allow you to improve your performance.
When you’re focused on multiple goals simultaneously, you’ll become overwhelmed.
#10. Ask For Help.
Ask for help. Sometimes we don’t realize what we need to do to achieve our goals.
So ask others for advice. You can also seek professional help.
#11. Create A Vision Board.
Create a vision board. Visualizing your dream life gives you motivation to pursue your dreams.
A vision board is a collage of pictures that represent your ideal life. Put pictures of your dream house, car, clothes, vacations, etc. on your vision board.
#12. Write Down Your Goals.
Write down your goals. Writing down your goals reminds you of what you want to achieve.
Writing down your goals also keeps you motivated.
#13. Find Support From Friends And Family.
Find support from friends and family. Having people around you who believe in you will motivate you to follow through on your goals.
#14. Get Inspired By Others.
Get inspired by others. Read inspiring stories online or listen to motivational speeches.
Inspiration motivates you to work harder.
#15. Learn New Skills.
Learn new skills. Learning new skills will broaden your horizons.
Learning new skills will also help you grow as a person.
#16. Remember That Failure Is Part Of The Process.
Failure is part of the process. If you fail, learn from your mistakes.
Failure teaches you valuable lessons.
#17. Celebrate Successes.
Celebrate successes. Recognize your accomplishments.
Celebrating success motivates you to take action.
#18. Do Something Different Every Day.
Do something different every day. Try out a new activity.
Try a new food. Go hiking instead of running.
Doing something different every day will help you break free from old habits.
#19. Use Technology To Track Progress.
Use technology to track your progress. Tracking your progress will help you see where you stand compared to your previous efforts.
Track your progress using apps. You will find them in Google or Apple app stores.
#20. Join An Online Community.
Join an online community. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn provide opportunities to connect with people.
These communities offer encouragement and inspiration.
#21. Follow Your Dreams.
Follow your dreams. Pursue your passions.
Pursuing your passion will help you live a happier life.
#22. Live at the moment.
Live at the moment. Enjoy the present.
Enjoying the present will help you stay happy and contented.
#23. Practice Gratitude.
Practice gratitude. Thank God for everything he has given you.
Gratitude helps you appreciate the good things in life.
#24. Volunteer.
Volunteer. Serve others.
Serve others will help you develop empathy.
Empathy is essential for happiness.
#25. Watch What You Eat.
Watch what you eat. Pay attention to what goes into your mouth.
Pay attention to what you put into your body.
#26. Workout With Other People.
Workout with other people. Exercise with a friend or group of friends.
Exercise with a partner will boost your morale.
In order to achieve your personal goals, you must have a strong sense of self-confidence. Self-confidence comes from within. You can build up your confidence by doing positive activities.
You must plan for SMART Goals. These are
- Specific – Be specific about what you want to accomplish.
- Measurable – Make sure that your goals are measurable.
- Achievable – Set realistic goals.
- Realistic – Don’t set yourself up for failure.
- Timely – Set deadlines for achieving your goals.
Track your goals on a daily basis and you can achieve any challenging goals you have set for yourself.
Remember that all goals are achievable goals.
Goal setting is a skill that anyone can master.
If you are looking forward to making some changes in your life, then it is time to start planning your future. Start today!
