Believe it or not but we are already in October and it will be Christmas in a few weeks! Scary right? We know…while the end of the year can be quite a joyful and celebratory time, it can also be a time of reflection and end of year blues. Unanswered prayers, unfulfilled ambitions and…unmet goals.
Well before you start feeling low, here are 5 tried and tested methods for smashing some of your goals before 1st of January 2017.
- Write them down…were you can see them!
Okay, so I know we’ve been sounding a bit like a broken record this year. Since January, we’ve been talking about goal setting and journaling….but it really does help. We often don’t remember our goals until we write them down. Writing down your goals, and reading them back to yourself, plays a great role in affirming yourself. Plus, it’s no use to just write these goals down in a book you never use or see frequently.
Keep your goals with you as often as possible. Write them on your bed head board or in a notebook that you carry often. That way your goals are never out of sight which also helps you remain focused.
Tip: write down 3 things you want to achieve before the end of the year in a book that you will always
- Focus on the action not the result
One way to set realistic goals is to understand the difference between actions and results. So for example, your goal is to lose 3 dress sizes this year. This is more of a result than action. The problem with unrealistic goal setting is that we focus more on the results instead of the action required to reach the goal. For weight loss goals, you should set actions such as
-exercise 3-5 times a week
-only drink fizzy drinks once a week
-replace half of the carbohydrates on my plate with vegetables
If you did this consistently over 3 months, you are likely to see massive reductions in your waist line.
Tip: Ask yourself, what actions do I need to set to help me reach my overall goal
- Get realistic
One of the key reasons why you probably haven’t met your goals is because they weren’t realistic in the first place. This is a sure fire path to failure. You wanted to save a million naira in 2016, but you earn 100k a month. Errr….unlikely. Unless you have zero expenses or multiple sources of income…it is quite likely that this goal would be unmet. A more realistic goal would have been to ‘save 20% of my monthly salary’.
It gets easier to do this when you look at the actions required instead of the results. Using the savings example, once you focused on the action required to save 1million you would immediately see how unrealistic your goal was or you would set an additional goal to find an additional source of income, either way it forces you to be more realistic.
Another way to set realistic goals, is to break them down into smaller measurable components. So for example, if you want to lose 3 dress sizes by the end of the year, it would mean you would need to lose a dress size each month….how realistic is that?
Tip- look at the three goals you have written down, ask yourself what you will need to do every month to achieve them…is it possible?
- Be Disciplined
Many times, we act like setting a goal is the end of the matter. Goal setting is only the beginning. Achieving the goal is where the hard work is…and believe me no goal is achieved without some form of sacrifice. From foregoing your favorite sugary snack, to working late into the night to get that promotion, every goal will require dedication, focus and discipline before it is achieved. So for the next three months, look at the goals you have write down and make sure you understand the cost it will take to achieve them
Tip- for each goal, write 3 things you will need to sacrifice to achieve them. Ask yourself, are you prepared to do this?
5. Get accountable
Accountability partners are great tools for reaching desired goals! An accountability partner is someone who you trust enough to share your goals with. Their role is to help encourage, scold and spur you towards your goal finish line. It’s always best if you both act as each other’s accountability partner. Have bi-weekly reviews and meet at least once a month to review progress
Tip- Choose an accountability partner today
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