Whether you like to call them wishes, dreams, resolutions or goals, if you’re serious about making change in your life, try these five ideas. They’ll help you make your goals, resolutions, wishes and dreams come true.
1. Be specific.
The more specific your goal is, the better. In October of last year, I joined a challenge to run 43 miles in that month. This goal was really black and white, leaving nothing to the imagination. I simply had to clock 43 miles between the dates of October 1 and October 31 to achieve my goal. This clarity made every other step in the goal-achieving process easier. I knew exactly what needed to be done and by when.
As you write your goals, resolutions, wishes or dreams, be as specific as possible. A terrific way to make your goal specific is to include numbers such as pounds to lose, miles to run, minutes spent decluttering per day or bags of items to donate. You’ll know your goal is specific enough when you’re certain that you’ll know when you’ve crossed the finish line.
2. Identify a step to move forward.
It has been said that every journey begins with a single step. My 43-mile goal certainly did. Keep in mind you don’t have to know every single step you’ll take to achieve your goal, simply figure out one action you can do to move in the direction of your goal. Figure out when you’ll run that first mile, or decide on the first area of your home you’ll declutter. Then…go do it.
3. Decide when you’ll take action.
Block out specific periods of time on your calendar to make progress on your goals. This is the number one way to ensure you’ll achieve your goal instead of watching it fade into the background. Each week I planned out when I would run and set a target distance for each run. I blocked out my runs as appointments in my planner.
Do the same with your goal. Pull out your calendar and decide when you will work on your goal. Then, keep your appointment with yourself just as you would a hair cut or a doctor’s appointment.
4. Track progress to fuel success.
I used an app to track my miles as I ran them. I was amazed at how motivating this was for me! As I saw myself getting closer and closer to my 43-mile goal, I became more and more committed to reach it. How can you track your goal? Could you track your progress in your calendar, with an app or on a spreadsheet? Pick a tool that will help you keep your progress top of mind. You’ll see your motivation to complete your goal grow as you get closer to the finish line.
5. Share your progress.
I shared my running progress on my personal Facebook page. This gave me ongoing motivation as my Facebook friends encouraged me and cheered me on. But even more so, it cemented my commitment to my goal. I had gone public…there was no turning back. As you move forward on your goal, share your progress with family members, Facebook friends or an online community. You’ll give yourself that much more resolve to see your goal through to the end.
Here’s to making all your wishes, dreams, goals and resolutions come true!
P.S. If you’re looking for a tried-and-true system for setting and achieving your goals, check out my How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love online class. Start today and make progress on your time schedule!
