It’s the New Year BABBBEY. If you know where I got that line, then you’re a real OG. (Peep the Instagram.) But, the New Year comes with new goals. If you’re ready to start the goal-setting process and gear up for 2021, then you’re in the right spot. Keep reading for all my favs goal setting and achieving tips.
Step 1: Imagine your “dream life”
As I explained in my manifest journaling post, you may want to sit down and figure out what you truly want this next year. Would you like to be a dog mom? Would you like to switch career paths? Do you want to move into your dream apartment? To draft your goals, you must figure out what you truly want first.
Step 2: Pinpoint goals you may need to get there
Once you’ve drafted up your “dream life,” then you figure out the logistics of getting there. To get a dog, you may need to study up on how to train a new puppy or hit a savings goal. When switching career paths, you may have to brush up your resume and learn some additional skills. To earn your dream apartment, you may have to increase your monthly income.
Step 3: Brainstorm additional opportunities
Take it a step further and brainstorm additional areas you could advance. Could you go the extra mile and start up a side hustle to earn more for your apartment? Could you start working out to improve your physical and mental health to perform better at work? Think of a few other improvements you may be able to make that improve your lifestyle and your goals.
Step 4: Draft your yearly goals in SMART format
It’s time to get into the real nitty-gritty of the things. Draft up your yearly goals in a journal, on your computer, or anywhere else you can reference easily in the SMART format. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. An example would be this :
“I will save $12,000 this year for a house. To do this, I will save $500 each paycheck, two times a month for 12 months. To keep myself accountable, I will have weekly money meetings to ensure I’m on track with my goal.”
Step 5: Now break them down by month
The trick to the trade is to break down your yearly goals into smaller goals. Break them down into months, weeks, and daily goals. For instance, this year I want to focus on my Youtube channel. Since starting it, I promised myself (and you guys) to upload a video every Sunday at 12 CST. To do that, I have to create 5 videos a week while keeping up with my 9 blog posts a month. Feel free to use my free calendar printable to stay in-tune with your goals!
Step 6: And then break them down by week
Again, break the down again. Every Sunday I like to plan out my weekly tasks. I check in on my goals and see what I need to do in the week to keep them up. Since I have to upload 5 videos a month, on Saturdays I will batch film ~2 videos. Then on Sunday, I will need to edit. And during the week I will need to outline, write, and upload 2-3 blog posts. I normally like to do this on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Step 7: Now put them wherever you may see it most
Put your goals when you see them every day. I am a goal lover, so I list mine on a whiteboard that hangs above my desk and journal them every day/week. On top of it, I manifest journal to help keep me motivated to put time towards my dreams when I feel unmotivated. A few other ideas are putting them in your phone notes and taping them to your bathroom mirror.
Step 8: Figure out a tracking system that works for you
I personally believe you’re more inclined to finish up tasks if you’re able to check them off. I’m that much of an organizational freak that I will add tasks to my to-do list that are already completed, just to check it off. So, I like to write out my goals on my whiteboard with weekly check-off boxes. I get way too excited to check off another to-do that I finish up my tasks earlier than expected.
Step 9: Schedule weekly accountability meetings
To take the extra step and ensure you’re holding yourself accountable, schedule weekly meetings with yourself. I do this specifically for my budget. I love to shop, who doesn’t? Yet, I have high budgeting standards that I want to keep myself accountable for. I want to be financially fit, and to do that, I have to exercise my spending habits. To do this, I sit down every Sunday to update my budget and see where I’m at with my goals.
Step 10: Now get to work
Now, it’s time to put in the work. Most of the time, you have to put in a lot of hard work to reach your yearly goals. So, keep your head up and put in the time and effort towards your future self. Always remember to show up for yourself, even when you feel unmotivated (which you most likely will be faced with).
I hope y’all are ready to hit the ground running on your yearly goals. (I know I am!) To be fair, I set quite a bit of goal and standards for myself every month.
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