Three Small Steps to Take Today
Sometimes setting a goal can seem overwhelming and like a task, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can take small steps today to help you jump-start some of the skills you'll find helpful while reaching larger goals.
Set Intentional Mini-Goals
Try starting your day by writing a list of three things you want to accomplish. Here's an example from my day: 1) read for 20 minutes, 2) meditate for 20 minutes, 3) journal for 20 minutes. While these may seem vague, the purpose is to get me to sit down at the computer, not to put pressure on me for a word count or to finish a complete article. Pay close attention to the difference between "want" and "need." I need to pick up my children from school, so that isn't something I'd want to make as an intentional goal for the day since it's something I have to do regardless of how my day turns out.
Share Your Goal With Someone
Scientifically speaking, I'm more likely to follow through if I tell a friend or family member I want to accomplish a task. Why? Because of external accountability. I know there will be someone who knows about the plan, so I can't pretend it didn't exist. At The Goalden System, we still serve as this person for each other. For example, I have had difficulty getting back into my workout routine. When no one knew my plan, it was way too easy to get out of it and not actually follow through. Just yesterday, I had a business meeting first thing in the morning - a perfect excuse to avoid my workout. I started the discussion by sharing with Kate that I needed to be done right at 10 am so I could get my workout done. At 9:59, I made the conscious decision to keep working because we were making so much progress, and I didn't want to quit on her. But, that's not how accountability works. Sure enough, at 10am, Kate said it was time to end the meeting so I could work out, and she was able to keep working on our project for a few more minutes so that it was wrapped up for the day.
Simply sharing with someone else what your goal is, no matter how small, can make a world of difference. Who should you tell your goal to? Anyone you think will help hold you accountable. Find yourself a Kate that will see you're trying to avoid a task and will check in with you later to see how the task went. As a mom, sometimes I tell my kids what my goal is if I'm finding it hard to follow through - kids don't forget anything…unless it's to clean their room.
Reflect
Providing yourself five minutes at the end of the day to reflect is a gift you should give yourself. Try to keep your reflection time brief, but consider asking yourself the following questions:
What am I proud of today?
Is there anything I would have changed about my goals or actions today?
How do I feel going into tomorrow?
Reflection is a time to think back on the events of the day - it is not a time to criticize yourself. It's important to remember that not every day will go to plan, and that's ok. Remember to focus on the why behind your actions. You can adjust your daily goals as you continue to learn about your individual whys.
Remember, just take things one step at a time. Small steps lead to bigger change - take a few small steps today. You’ve got this!
