+254722457898
When you feel tired, ensure you rest. Taking a break is not abandoning your goals.”
Year in year out, we set goals and make resolutions with the hope that the year ahead will mark a turning point in our lives. Many of us are very optimistic and confident at the beginning of the year but few days into it, we lose momentum and revert to our old self-defeating habits. Below is 5 points article on how we can practically set goals and actually achieve them.
Write down your goals & break them into daily activities
First, when you set your goals, write them down for the record. Written goals are easy to refer to and even follow through on progress made if any. Once we have written them down, break the goals into small activities which can be pursued everyday. Thereafter, build these activities into your daily routine. A routine helps us to attain consistency in our actions. With the consistency, we can be sure to achieve a small percentage of our goals every day. When all the small achievements are collated over a year, you’ll find that you achieved significantly.
When feeling overwhelmed, rest.
Secondly, as you embark on pursuing your goals, always remember to rest. There are days you are going to feel tired, unmotivated and most probably cynical about everything. On such days, take a break, let your emotions stabilize and once you feel better, kickstart your pursuit from where you left. Never allow guilt to get the better of you because you decided to rest. Taking a break does not mean you’ve abandoned your goals. Also, remember that on such days, determination and longsuffering may not work. Rest, think things through and strategize.
Don’t obsess about the goals
Third, don’t obsess on the goals everyday. Checking every once in a while to evaluate the progress you are making is vital. But don’t beat yourself too hard especially when things feel stagnant. Instead of obsessing on how you must achieve your goals by hook or crook, develop qualities that will make the pursuit of your goals feel more natural. For instance, inculcate self discipline and integrity. Self-integrity is all about keeping the promises you make to yourself. Discipline and self-integrity will help to fight procrastination by doing what needs to be done when it should be done.
Link your goals with your values & purpose
Fourth, don’t set your goals mechanically. Be sure that your goals align with your deepest values. When a goal propels you to achieve something you value and care about, the victory is more sweeter and meaningful. Also, goals linked to our values are easier to pursue as the motivation will in most cases be intrinsic. You don’t need to incentivize yourself as the goals are already in line with things you care about and seek to achieve over time.
Celebrate small achievements
Lastly, always remind yourself that nothing in life is a must. Your goals are important but that is not to mean they must be achieved within the timelines set. And so dont beat yourself too hard because you failed to achieve a goal you relentlessly pursued. When you’ve done your best and things did not work out as expected, cut yourself some slack, rest and restrategize. Celebrate the progress you’ve made and build on it this year.
Read article on personal development I published a few days ago to better understand the process of setting meaning and impactful goals.