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If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I’m constantly trying to set goals for myself. I can remember being a little girl with some really big aspirations. I wanted to be a professional figure skater, a teacher, a cosmetologist, and the list goes on. It honestly wasn’t until the second semester of my freshman year of undergrad that I realized I wanted to go into journalism and write for a living. Did I know I was going to become a published author back then? Nope!
If you were the opposite, meaning you didn’t know what you wanted to be when you “grew up” or if you’re still in the process of figuring that out now, that’s OKAY. Alan Watts said it best, “You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.” Let alone a month or even a year ago. Life is all about evolving and this blog post is going to show you seven ways you can learn how to set goals for yourself and actually stick to them.
Write down your goals
Let’s be honest. Things become more real when you can see them. Instead of jotting down your goal(s) in your phone, try writing them on a piece of paper or a sticky note and placing it somewhere you’ll see it every single day.
Find an accountability partner
Sometimes all we need is that little voice in the back of our heads that will keep us on track. If you’re not one of those people who can self-start or self-motivate, but you happen to know someone who is (think friends, family, co-workers), then loop them in and ask them to do weekly (or daily) check-ins with you to make sure you’re doing what you set out to do.
Read self-help books (or listen to the audio version)
Sometimes you need to hear people translate their experiences so that you can then pour some of that knowledge and motivation back into yourself.
Utilize existing positive affirmations OR create your own
Positive affirmations are a great way to keep you motivated and instill that daily dose of confidence you to keep you pushing forward. Choosing the right words will help to encourage both your mental and emotional well-being.
Dedicate a “time block” for your goals
Whether it’s 30 minutes or a full hour, having a dedicated “time block” for yourself will help you plan what you’re going to do in advance, whether it be hours, days or weeks ahead of time. It will also help you stay ahead of the curve and feel more motivated.
Start small
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You can start by setting a small goal and letting that snowball into something bigger and then something even bigger after that. REMEMBER: Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s important to focus on what you can control in your space where you are.
Create a playlist
Music is everything! Try creating a playlist that will help you remain productive and try to only play that playlist when you’re ready to sit down in your dedicated workspace (wherever that may be) and get to work.