Tips For When You Want to Set Goals and Actually Meet Them

It was high school math class, and as usual, I was daydreaming. My eyes met an obnoxious banner in the back of the classroom that read, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” There was something so irritating about that stupid banner! That phrase had been preached to me many times in my young life and continues to interrupt my daydreaming but this time it was in a good way. I don’t want to spend my life daydreaming…I want those dreams to get feet and actually go places! This happens through making a plan of action!

Goals are great but without a plan, they are just taking up space in the journal beside your bed.

I have never been much of a planner… ok, like at all… I loathe spreadsheets, commitments, New Year’s resolutions, schedules and of course, making goals. I prefer to fly by the seat of my pants…the only problem with that is when your pants stop fitting you have to come up with a new plan! Or when your family doesn’t have any underwear or socks to wear…. not. even. one.

Some of you may be Excel junkies and wake up with a to-do list and a black marker to check off those accomplishments. Let me learn from you. For the rest of us we need to make a plan for our beloved goal list.

Before you begin setting those pesky goals first consider this: What is your why? Why are you doing this? If you don’t know your why, you won’t have a reason to keep showing up because there will be days you just want to quit! I work in the health and fitness industry and we always say, “Your why has to be bigger than your excuses!”

Before you begin setting those pesky goals first consider this: What is your why?

One of my goals is to exercise 30 minutes a day and to eat whole foods. My “Why? Why do I do this to myself?” Is that I have a whole lot of crazy! Ask my hubby. When I am exercising and eating right, my crazy is managed; I am a better mom and wife. I am nicer.

If the why is answered, then before you make a commitment, take that goal through this series of questions:

1. Does this goal compliment my life priorities?
2. What is it going to take to accomplish this particular goal?
3. What type of sacrifice will be required?
4. What do I need to limit in my life?
5. Does this goal honor my life’s purpose?
6. How will accomplishing this goal make me feel?

After the goal has been defined, gather that much-needed wisdom, strength, and perseverance you know you will need and:

1. Set a specific date for it to be accomplished.
2. Create daily benchmarks that will help you achieve your goals (write them down).
3. And celebrate when you reach that goal (because you will)! Job well done!

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