Build a Better You
Every now and then, we self-analyze. We think of clean slates, new motivators, ideas or habits. However, if we are completely honest, we all face the same old risk of falling back into old patterns. Most of us have abandoned our resolutions within a month, most times making those declarations a distant memory. Staying focused on a goal isn’t about hype or fancy planners. It’s about the discipline of small intentional changes every day. It means being mindful of performing those unglamorous things that isn’t worth posting to our social media outlets because adapting to change, even if its’ for our good can be exhausting. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your eyes on the prize when the hype around change beings to fade.
1. Just Get Started!
The first goal after setting a goal is to just get started and be specific about the goal. Remember, procrastination kills dreams! If your goal is vague, it’s easy to compromise and abandon it. Saving more money sounds like a great goal, but if you put a weekly or monthly dollar value on it you are more likely to stick to it. If something like “I will save one hundred dollars out of every paycheck” is a goal you can achieve; you will feel a sense of accomplishment each payday. This will help you feel empowered and in control of your finances. If you’d like to get into shape, set a goal to walk three times a week on your lunch break. This is a goal that is easy to achieve because you are already at your work place. The hassle of driving to the gym after work is eliminated if you implement getting in shape into your work day. A specific goal helps to create a routine and gives you direction. Once you discipline is infused in your strategy, the momentum will become second nature.
2. The Power of Routine
Successful people rely on routines. When we establish routines, we take the guess work out of what to do next. A decision doesn’t have to be made because a routine encourages accountability and over time positive results will manifest. Routines remove distraction so we can stay the course to achieve our goal.
Create your routine but remember to alternate tasks related to your goal to lessen boredom. Have a slightly varying schedule during the week. It could look like Monday, Wednesday and Friday I will go for walks during lunch break. However on Tuesday and Thursday I will catch up on my reading list at lunchtime. Anchor routines around activities, professional or personal commitments to ensure consistency. The idea is to create a routine you look forward to doing which will keep you motivated even on days you just don’t feel like following through.
3. Don’t Make Drastic Changes
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were you. Don’t be too rigid with the idea of keeping a goal. If you overload your brain with a thousand new goals, you are sure to fail. Change is moving the needle slowly, one task at a time. Set a few goals first and master them. After they become a viable part of your routine, add more. By focusing on one or two priorities, you will feel a sense of accomplishment instead of feeling overwhelmed. Being focused means you have a strong desire to do things consistently and more efficiently than you did previously. If your goal is to spend less time on social media, start by setting limits. This may look like not engaging after a set time each day. However, if you decide to go cold turkey on social media, you are more likely to fail.
4. Big Goals – Baby Steps
Many times goals need to be compartmentalized into smaller steps. If your goal is the write the next big American novel; your passion may trick you into believing you can achieve this in two months. The realistic approach would be to write maybe three hundred to five hundred words a day. Goals don’t have to be rushed. Taking time to be deliberate is important. If you set a humongous goal, your brain will say “what were you thinking? We can’t do that!” and more than likely your goal will be abandoned. Goals can be inspiring or intimidating depending upon your approach. While you are working on a goal, it’s the small wins that keep us in the race until we cross the finish line of success.
5. Focus Like it Matters
Remember you were built for success! The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve the success you desire? One thing most people struggle with in keeping a goal is distraction. In staying true to a goal, managing distractions is something that cannot be avoided. We all have them in our lives. Children, work demands, family and other commitments have to be managed well in order to reduce or eliminate distractions. Phone notifications, endless scrolling and even lengthy phone calls chip away at focus. You have to protect your focus to make sure you and your circle respect your time.
6. Track Progress
Percentages will vary, however according to Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University, writing down goals significantly increase the chance of following through. In her study she found forty-two percent actually achieved their goal. This is crucial because while our goals take shape we can track and celebrate progress. The progress tracker can be noting changes in a journal, calendar or if financial it can be seen by more savings or a large debt being addressed. A way to track progress can also show areas that need improvement. This keeps you aware of how to tweak your plan. So pick a way to track your goals to ensure victory!
7. Plan for Resistance – It’s Coming!
Although humans are creatures of habit, we also have a natural inclination to resist change. Setting new goals mean confronting the fact that we dislike disruptions in our behaviors; even if it doesn’t serve us anymore. Breaking out of this mindset will take a lot of self-reflection – and work. The reality is you will encounter days when you won’t care about the goals you’ve set. You will feel tired, busy or discouraged. You may even ask yourself why you attempted to do whatever this new goal is in the first place. This doesn’t mean you’ve failed, this feeling is normal! The mistake is thinking you will be inspired every day.
Plan for days when staying true to your goal is difficult and lonely sometimes. It can feel like you are deprived as you watch others seemingly having fun. The thing to remember is you’ve identified a need in your life and your goal is helping you respond to that need. Find groups or join communities that will cheer you on in your quest. In the end, you will be the victor and you will learn more about yourself while combating resistors that present themselves in your life. Consistency beats intensity every single time.
8. “Why”
Goals are realized if they honestly mean something to you. This is your “why” When we have a why, we understand that although our goal may improve our life in some way, it will impact our loved ones on an even greater scale. A financial goal means security for the family, a personal goal to get healthy will extend your life, and an academic goal will position you for better career opportunities. The long and short of it is, do you believe your why is worth all of the gains, losses and challenges that come with working your way to victory? When the voice of giving up rears its ugly head, ask yourself how will your life improve if you quit? Goals stick when they mean something to you. Double down, don’t abandon the reason why you started, focus and keep making strides.
The end of an era in our life inspires us to pause and reflect on what may need to change. Goals challenge us to do the work involved in our growth process to become a better human. It’s not about being perfect or beating ourselves up in the midst of a setback. What it reveals is if we implement the right routine day in and day out we are building our self-reliance, character and mental health when no one is looking.
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