The Basics of Goal Setting

Goal setting is critical for achieving what you want in life. I truly believe this. From the simple to the big, goal setting can help you reach or exceed your dreams. Whether it be starting your own blog or saving for your family vacation, goals are what drives the engine to make it happen.

Raise your hand if you set goals? Most of you probably have your hand up. But the key is the next step to setting goals and actually achieving them, and probably the most critical to making them a reality – Writing them down on paper or a chalkboard. I’m a personal fan of the chalkboard method…it’s almost magic how it brings goals to life!

Hummm, which path will you take? If you’re up for it, let’s walk through the easy 5-step Process for Goal Setting.

Easy 5 Step Process for Goal Setting

It’s best if you can determine your priorities and then start setting goals that align with those priorities. For example if your priority is more family time, then your goal might be “working no more than 20 hours a week”.

1. Set goals that motivate you

Your goals need to mean something to you. Not your husband or kids, you. They need to be something that you’re actually motivated to accomplish. Don’t go overboard. 5-7 goals is plenty to focus on and a manageable number to track.

2. Set Smart goals

Maybe you’ve heard of SMART goals. Maybe not, but they’re the best criteria you can start with when setting your goals. The acronym means:

Specific – Set goals that identify exactly what you want to accomplish. Don’t be too broad.

bad example – Write an eBook.
good example – I will write an eBook for moms by the end of January that helps them organize their homes.

Measurable – How can you measure your progress? How will you know if you’re on track? Numbers are important here.

bad example – Save for our family vacation.
good example – Save $2000 for our family vacation by June.

Actionable – It’s best to start with an action verb and not be wishy washy.

bad example – Be more consistent with meal planning.
good example – Plan a weeks worth of meals every Sunday.

Realistic – Can your goal actually be achieved? You want to stretch yourself, but also make it something that you can actually do. I like to set the bar high, but not so high that I’d never achieve it.

bad example – Be on dancing with the stars.
good example – Learn to ballroom dance by Christmas.

Time Bound – A goal without a date is just a dream. If you really want to accomplish your goals you need to give yourself a deadline.

bad example – Lose 10 pounds.
good example – Lose 10 pounds by March 15.

3. Put Goals in Writing

Research proves that people who write down their goals accomplish significantly more than those who don’t. So grab a cute journal or use the chalkboard method to visualize your goals like I do. Just make sure you write them down!

4. Make an action plan

A plan can help you focus on the steps it’ll take to reach your goal. This will help you feel more in control and less all over the place.

5. Stick to it!

This can be the hard part. Life can often get in the way and your goals fall to the wayside. Don’t let that happen! Check in with yourself either weekly or monthly. Are you staying on track? Is there something you could be doing differently so that you’re more successful? Put the check in on your task list so your more likely to actually do it!

Grab Your FREE Goal Setting Worksheet

The practice of goal-setting is not just helpful, it’s the best way to bring more happiness into your life. So, grab your free goal setting worksheet above and start brainstorming your goals…and don’t forget to write them down or use the Chalkboard Method  (it’s like a vision board) so you can actually achieve them!

Here are my business goals for the coming year:

• Create a product to sell by March 2017.  I really want to help my readers simplify their lives and I want to do this by creating a product. My hope is that in turn it will help take my business to the next level. It’s also important to diversify my income streams.
• Double my monthly blog traffic by June 2017. I have a lot of work to do, especially on SEO, but I’m up for the challenge.
• Quadruple my email list by December 2017. It’s important not to rely on social media for most of my traffic, so I will grow my email list to produce more direct visits. This will serve my loyal followers better because my newsletters contain helpful info and freebies that I don’t always share on the blog.

You’ve got this! Let me know your goals and how you plan to achieve them!

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