The quote goes like this, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Let’s be honest, half of the time the reason we don’t achieve our gals has something to do with not knowing how to start our goals and we put it off altogether until we realize months have passed and we haven’t achieved anything. I feel ya sister. We tend to get stuck on phrases like, “I’ll get it done tomorrow” or “I’ll do it later” and somehow tomorrow and later never comes.
The reality is that we have to take advantage of this time. Procrastinating and leaving things for later is not going to help us achieve our goals. Of course, if you have been giving it your all and you need to take a break. That is acceptable.
Since the beginning of the year, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and trying to figure out the best ways in which I can achieve my goals. Here are the 10 things that I do at the beginning of each month to set myself for success.
01. Plan, Plan, Plan
Write it down. Write everything that you have to accomplish in a piece of paper, notebook, sticky note. The way I see it, having an agenda is where you write everything down like your goals for the week or your goal for the year and how you plan to break it down weekly and daily to take the first steps towards that goal.
At the end of the year when you look back at your agenda you can reflect on the things that you did right and what you can improve on. Your agenda can help you see a better picture of how much you accomplish that year towards your goals.
If you’re a pen and paper gal like me try buying an agenda. If have found cute and inexpensive ones that work great or maybe you are interested in bullet journaling or maybe your a tech girl and you love using an app or you’re google calendar to organize your life.
For instance, if your goal for this year is to be healthy. Write down a grocery list of healthy foods in your agenda and then write down some meal prepping ideas and then write down a time in your day when you will meal prep and not only will you have a healthy meal, but you will also be saving money.
02. Write your top three goals
It’s hard to say you want to start eating healthier and expect that it is going to magically happen when you were used to eating out for all your meals. Just like you write things down in your agenda you also have to start small with your goals and build your way up. It can feel overwhelming when you have a to-do list that resembles an encyclopedia. Focus on three goals every single day that you have to accomplish no matter what. For example, that goal we all have of making better food choices you could write your top three goals for the week 1. Drink more water, and write down how many glasses of water. 2. Walk my dog everyday, What time? make it a date. 3. Go to the gym at least 2x a week. Who can I invite to join me? The more specific you are with your goals the easier they will be to accomplish.
03. Color coordinate
I’ve talked about this before in my agenda post. I’m talking about it again because I really believe in it. Color coordinating helps you keep track of what you are focusing most of your time on. If you do this for two to three week and go back and look at it your agenda will show you what you are focusing on. Is it something that is productive? is it something is getting you closer to the life that you want to have?
04. Have your to-do list near you
Preferably somewhere where you can see it first thing in the morning. It’s kind of hard to know where you are going when you don’t have a plan. Have your to-do list on placed on your nightstand. Write it down the night before, be detailed. Write how you want to feel the next day. That way, you wake up with purpose. Even if you mark off four things off your list that is motivation to keep going and accomplishing more.
05. Have a clean space to work in
If my room is a mess I can’t concentrate the same goes for my desk. Mae sure that you are taking some time throughout your day to focus on little things that can become bigger messes if they don’t get health with then and there. If your environment is clean, then your brain is not focused on the clutter and you get to focus on whatever you’re trying to accomplish, also that’s one less task that has to be dealt with if you get a little out of the way every day.
06. Don’t multi-task
I know that in this day and age it’s difficult to focus on one thing at a time, when we have so many distractions like our cellphones showing us new notifications, or endless incoming emails. I’m the first to admit that I have seven other tabs open when I’m working on something. Even right now as i am typing this I have four different tabs open. However, it makes such a difference in productivity to focus on a single task at a time. Not only will you complete it much faster, but you’ll actually complete it and not just waste your valuable time.
07. Set a timer
If you have a deadline for something then you know that you are going to give it your everything. A great trick that I have learned that is life changing is giving yourself a time to complete a task. For instance, if I need to sit down and delete emails and clear off my inbox (a task that I dread but know that I have to get done.) I set up a timer for 30 minutes to an hour and stay focus. Kind of like no multi-tasking, setting a timer helps you focus on the task at hand and because it’s counting down you want to get as much done before the timer goes off.
08. Find the Inspiration
Sometimes it’s not that we lack the organization, it’s that we lack the motivation. Trust me, I’m there with ya’. If I don’t feel motivated then I’m not going to do it. Keeping yourself motivated while trying to accomplish your goals, especially if they are bigger goals that are going to take some time is not easy. That is why it is important to do things like creating vision boards or writing things down in paper to continue to inspire you. Celebrate small victories that you do achieve.
09. Find time for yourself
Chasing your drams and working hard to achieve your goals is not going to be easy. The reality is that in life, the things that are worthwhile are going to take a lot of getting out of your comfort zone and doing things differently. So don’t forget about the most important person, you. You can only give 110% when you are taking care of yourself. Write in a journal, read a book, take a long bubble bath, jam out to your favorite songs. Whatever it is make sure that plan time in your agenda for yourself.
10. If today does not go as planned, there is always tomorrow.
There is this line in “You Are A Badass At Making Money” by Jen Sincero that says this, “time is an illusion” simple sentence, powerful words. Basically, time is a man-made illusion. Time is anything that you choose to do something you want to achieve. So, if this week, day, month, and even year didn’t go as planned there is always a new day a new hour to reinvent yourself and keep on trying. Time is infinite and it is at this time that we have to chase our dreams and goals relentlessly.
Let me know in the comments below if you have tried anything from this list before or if you have any other ways in which I can incorporate into my monthly routine to continue accomplishing my goals.
xx, yadi
