Goals help us stay motivated, engaged and enthusiastic. In my mind they are the most helpful balm for a sluggish, un-focused or disheartened soul. But sometimes it can be hard to identify your goals, especially for the short term. These tips will help you set a small, attainable task (while also looking at the bigger picture).
Find a comfortable seat, minimise distractions and meditate for 5 minutes. It’s only 5 minutes of your life, but it will help clear your mind so that your goals have the space to form. If you’ve never meditated before, it’s very simple – set the timer on your phone and sit and focus on your breath for 5 mins. Each time the mind tries to wander and think of something, bring it back to the breath. Preferably do it with your eyes closed. And feel free to meditate for longer if you want.
After the 5 minutes is up, grab a piece of paper or your phone and ask yourself: What do I want in life? Jot down whatever comes up, and don’t be surprised if some of the answers feel surprising! These are your ‘long term’ goals.
From these long term goals, choose something that jumps out at you. Something that makes your heart truly sing. Then work out what you’ll need to do to get to that goal. For example, if you want to get a book published (long term goal) then you’ll need to write a book proposal (short term goal). Your goal may be internal (something about the way you think or feel) or external (something you want to do or not do)
Before you go ahead with your goal, ensure that it meets the following SMART criteria.
Provided it’s ‘SMART’, now write down your goal and commit to achieving it! Some people like to ‘sign’ their goal with their name, or to share their goal with a friend to help keep them accountable. Also, it helps to take a moment to truly think about WHY this goal matters to you. Having a deeper connection to your goal will keep you focused.
That’s it! I’d love to hear how you get on with your goals, so do let me know! Please share this article with someone you think may find it useful, and if you’re interested in a full goal setting experience for 2022, check out my workbook here.
