Do you know what I look forward to the most at the end of each year?
I’ll give you a clue it’s not Christmas!
It’s being able to look back and see all of the goals I set myself earlier in the year and how far I’ve come.
Sure, I may not have accomplished all of my goals exactly the way I envisioned. But for the most part, I have a lot to celebrate!
Reflecting on the goals I’ve achieved throughout the year allows me to feel successful, fulfilled, motivated, and above all else, I know that I can and will achieve anything and everything I set my mind to.
And I want you to feel the same!
Despite the tradition of new years resolutions I’m about to show you exactly how to set goals and achieve the life of your dreams whatever the weather!
Are you struggling to achieve your goals?
Setting goals is the most important step in achieving the success you crave. Whether that be in your career, health, personal life, or anything in between.
We often set these amazing goals for ourselves – such as eating healthier, only to gorge on a packet of sticky buns a few days later. The point being is that many of us set goals that we don’t stick to.
Why?
The two main reasons why you may not be achieving your goals are…
1. You don’t hold yourself and your goals in high regard.
2. You fail to effectively plan the steps needed to achieve your goals.
Let’s explore the reasons further…
Imagine you are hosting a party. You wouldn’t host a party without making plans beforehand, would you?
Well, I hope not otherwise you might find yourself with highly unsatisfied guests or with no guests at all!
You plan the steps needed to make your party a success because more often than not you care about the way others perceive you.
Having an unsuccessful party might mean that others could form a negative opinion of you. So, you make plans and you work hard to make sure everyone has a good time.
We often plan and work hard to satisfy others. Whether we are planning a party, having friends over for dinner or performing tasks at work. This is because we have the tendency to be liked and accepted by others which puts pressure on us to achieve certain tasks to the best of our ability.
But what about being liked and accepted by yourself?
Doesn’t the opinion you form of yourself matter more than what other people think or believe of you?
Sure it does!
Treat each one of your goals as a party towards your success and you’ll have a lot to celebrate in the long run. So, stop procrastinating and let’s get this party started!
How to set goals
Many of us make the mistake of storing goals in our heads or on our phones. The problem with this is that these can be quite chaotic places to store our goals.
Just think of all the information you already store in your head and phone!
Sure, your phone can be great for setting reminders towards your goals. But your actual goals should always be kept separate.
If you have not yet written your goals down in a notebook then you need to start doing this TODAY!
I recommend keeping a notebook solely for your success journey.
I prefer notebooks that have an inspiring message on the front or have a pretty design. This makes me want to pick it up! Check out some of my favourite notebooks here.
When purchasing a notebook make sure it’s something you enjoy looking at, as it will be your new best friend (at least until you discard it for a new one).
Other things you will need to set your goals:
- A pen
- A yearly planner
1. Create the life of your dreams
The first step in setting goals and achieving them is to write down your dream life. Writing down the way in which you want to live your life is the perfect way to start. Especially if you do not have any specific goals in mind.
Use your notebook to start writing down what you imagine your future to look like once you achieve your desired success. Be specific as you will be using this to help set your goals.
Don’t just think about one aspect of your life such as your career goals. Think of the bigger picture.
Once you achieve your goals what will your life look like?
Will you have more money? More freedom?
The simplest way to manifest the life of your dreams is to write “as if” you are already living it!
Start your sentences with the words “I am“.
For example,
I am living my greatest life.
I am successful.
I am living on a sunny tropical island.
Now it’s your turn!
2. Set your goals
Based on your ideal life, jot down all of the long-term and short-term goals that you need to achieve to get to your desired life.
When setting goals you can use the SMART acronym to help you:
Specific – Get specific about what you want to achieve.
Measurable – Make sure your goal is meaningful and motivating towards your ideal life.
Achievable – Make sure that the goal is realistic and achievable.
Relevant – Is this goal a necessary part of your journey?
Timed – Set a realistic deadline for when you believe you can achieve this goal by.
Example: I will set up my own virtual assistant freelancing business within the next 2 months (always try to include a specific date as to when you will complete your goal).
Once you’ve set your goals it’s time to separate these goals into different categories. For example, life, personal and career goals.
Finally, structure your goals in order of importance. Starting with the most urgent ones.
Remember that life is constantly changing which means that the journey it takes to get to your dream life may also be subject to change. Therefore, at times, you may find it necessary to alter the goals in your journey.
3. Create actions for your goals
The next step is to turn your goals into actionable steps that you can complete daily. In other words, break your goals into bitesize chunks.
For example, let’s imagine one of your goals is to lose 10 pounds in weight by the end of the year.
Action: Join a gym.
Action: Eat healthier…
You get the picture.
Don’t forget to create a deadline for each action. This creates a sense of urgency and will help you to achieve your goal within the timeframe that you have set.
4. Work on something daily
You have imagined your ideal life, set your goals and created your actions.
Now it’s time to whip out your weekly journal (if you haven’t already purchased one now will be the perfect time to do so) and schedule the actions you created into your weekly routine.
Aim to do an action everyday towards your desired success however small it may be.
If you are not used to scheduling your goals into your daily routine then this step may seem overwhelming. If this is the case, then I recommend working on your goals for a few minutes each day.
You can then gradually increase the time once you get accustomed to your new routine. Remember, it takes time to make a new habit so give yourself time to adjust.
5. Act “as if”…
Now for the final step.
To manifest your dream life you need to be on the same frequency as what it is you are trying to attract.
Have a think about how living your dream life will make you feel?
Try not to focus on the feelings you might get from any material possessions as these feelings will be fleeting. In other words, do not go out and buy yourself expensive things to try to feel these feelings. Instead, focus on how you will feel deep down once you achieve your goals.
You will most likely feel happy, fulfilled, and successful. So embrace all of those feelings and start incorporating activities into your daily routine that will allow you to feel these feelings.
Ways that you can do this include:
- Working towards your goals everyday
- Spending time doing things you enjoy
- Appreciating yourself, others, and the world around you
- Celebrating life
- Staying positive
Conclusion
If you are ready to start living the life of your dreams, then setting SMART goals and working towards them every day is the place to start.
Acting “as if” you are already living the life of your dreams will allow you to manifest your goals into reality a lot quicker. Remember to treat each one of your goals as a party towards your success and you’ll have a lot to celebrate in the long run!
You can achieve the life of your dreams. Believe it and YOU WILL achieve it!
