6 Steps to Create Goals That Excite You and Keep You Focussed
The start of the year can be a frustrating time. You could be full of enthusiasm to get going on your goals for the year – but you’re concerned that in a world full of distractions, you might not stay focussed and make the most of 2024.
I’m here to help! Below are 6 simple steps to ensure that you create goals that excite you and that drive you every day!
1. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO GET DONE
A great way to coach yourself (without the need to hire a coach!) is to ask yourself questions. Here are 4 powerful questions to discover your true desires and needs…
How do I want to feel by the end of this year?
What would I have liked to achieve?
What is important to me about this goal?
What would make me feel proud of myself?
If you are still struggling to nail down what you WANT and NEED, fill out this worksheet to help you pinpoint what you want to BE, DO and HAVE. Use it as a brainstorm for years to come too - this exercise doesn’t have to be limited to this year. It can be your blueprint for your annual goal-setting!
2. WRITE YOUR GOALS DOWN
Did you know that writing down your goals increases your chances of sticking with them?
Describe your goal in specific terms and timescales e.g. 'I want to start practicing yoga twice a week and running once a week' rather than 'I want to start exercising.'
For extra input-us, write down ‘how you will know you have reached your goal’ and ‘when you'd like to have achieved it by’
Some more ‘self coaching questions’ to help with this are:
What it will 'look' like when you've done it?
How will you feel when you've done it?
What value will it add to your life when completed? How will completing this goal improve your life?
What will I be saying to others when I’ve completed this goal? What will they be saying to me?
3. BREAK DOWN YOUR GOAL - OR CHUNKING
Once you have your goal(s) clear for this year, you might want to break them down. This is also called ‘chunking’ and it’s a great way to create small, manageable tasks.
For example, if your goal is to ‘Find a new job in 2024’, this might feel overwhelming and create feelings of ‘where do I start!’. To ensure that you move forward with this goal, break it down into steps and add a completion date to do it by, such as:
Complete CV/Resume - by 1st February
Send to recruiters - by 12th February
Research companies in the industry - by 28th February
Apply for available jobs - week commencing 6th March
By doing this you will be less likely to use avoidance tactics or procrastinate, as you have a plan with small, achievable goals. Ticking off each smaller goal will also give you a feeling of success and motivation to keep going toward your final goal! It’s a win-win!
4. CREATE A MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENT
Often our surroundings can influence our motivation. Answer the questions below to come up with new ideas and ways to make your task more enjoyable and/or fun!
Consider your 5 senses for ideas to boost your motivation and enjoyment:
VISUAL – I love the sight of? (Trees, sky, a busy coffee shop, the sea)
AUDITORY – I love the sound of? (eg. The waves, music, hustle and bustle of a cafe, silence)
KINAESTHETIC – I love the feel/feeling of? (eg. feeling joyful, appreciated, cashmere, grass under my toes, sunshine on my skin)
OLFACTORY – I love the smell of? (eg. coffee, flowers, fresh bread)
GUSTATORY – I love the taste of? (eg. favourite foods and drinks eg. Smoothie, fruit, pastries - chocolate, wine!
Once you have answered these questions, think about how you can use the things that you like, to create environments for you to complete tasks more effectively.
5. REWARD YOURSELF
Plan treats to keep driving you forward. Give yourself things to look forward to - like watching a TV show after small tasks are completed, or bigger treats when you’ve reached a milestone (eg. go dancing, book a massage, time with friends etc)
6. ASK OTHERS TO KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE
It’s proven that humans are more likely to do a task if they are accountable for it. Consider asking friends family, work colleagues or even a coach to keep you on track. It can be as simple as telling them the dates of when you want to do the tasks by, and to expect a message from you.
If you need my support with reaching important goals for you this year, drop me an email with your contact details and I can talk you through what options there are for you. Email me here: louise@louisedockery.com