How many of your new year’s resolutions resulted in you giving up, slacking off, or becoming completely distracted that you forgot you even made a goal in the first place? Too many to count?
Here’s the truth: Everybody’s got what it takes to be whoever they want to be, doing whatever they want to do, successfully! But the difference between the people that dream it and live it is one simple thing: a plan. A vision without a plan is a good idea that rarely ever becomes a reality.
This is the perfect time to start planning your year! Figure out what you want to do, make a plan, and follow it! That’s it! Here are 3 simple tips that will help you plan your way to the exact year you dream of.
1. Start with the end in mind.
Count the cost of what it is you want to achieve. Many people start things they can’t finish because they simply don’t do enough research. What will it take to get from where you are to where you envision yourself? Whether it’s money, time, support, a healthier lifestyle, etc., figure out what you need and how much of it it’ll take to not only start your goal, but finish it.
2. Think big, then break it down
Making goals can be scary. Everyone claims that the sky’s the limit, but what if you fail? What if you you’ve never done it before? What if everyone thinks you’re crazy for even trying??
Here’s a simple trick to making your big goals less scary and more achievable: Break it down! Let’s say you go to your favorite burger joint, and you order the biggest burger on the menu. You decide you’re going to eat the entire burger. But how? One bite at a time!
It’s the same with your goals! Don’t base them on what you think you can accomplish easily. Go big!! Then, think about all of the little steps it’ll take to get there. You can only take one step at a time anyway, so you might as well be taking steps toward something epic!
3. Be S.M.A.R.T
Good rule of thumb: Make sure every one of your goals are smart ones!
S.M.A.R.T stands for:
Specific- Details matter! The less specific a goal is, the less likely it will be successfully achieved.
Measureable- Make sure that your progress and success can be measured in some way. If you’re losing weight, it’ll be in pounds. If you’re writing a book, it’ll be in pages. Get it?
Actionable- This is the “how” of it all. What smaller actions will come together to achieve the overall goal?
Relevant- Ask yourself: “Is this goal relevant to the overall lifestyle I am trying to achieve? Does it relate to the other goals I am setting?”
Time-bound- Give your goal a specific time to be completed and give yourself monthly, weekly, or daily checkpoints as a way to keep you on track.
Don’t wait until the vision board party to start planning. Your plan is your power so the sooner, the better!
