By Evan Vitale
This is our third and final part of a series on setting and reaching personal goals.
As I’ve said in the previous blog posts, it’s very easy to set a goal (and many people claim resolutions on January 1 for the upcoming year). However, there’s a huge difference in setting a goal and reaching it.
As you set your goal, one of three things will happen:
- You’ll work hard and obtain your goal.
- You’ll work hard most of the time, but you won’t reach your goal.
- You’ll never do anything in working toward reaching your goal.
Let’s focus on No. 1 and No. 2 as our main challenge is how are we going to reach our goal?
Here’s the secret to reaching any goal: break your goal down into smaller, bit-sized and winnable chunks.
How?
Well, let’s say we have a goal that we want to lose 20 pounds in the upcoming year. That’s a good goal and it’s one that we can reach.
Now, let’s break it down into smaller chunks. How are we going to lose 20 pounds?
- Create a smaller goal of walking every day for 30 minutes. Break this goal down into when are you going to walk every day. In the morning? At lunch? After work? Make it good for you so that you’ll actually do it every day.
- Take a look at your diet. Now, I’m not saying you’re going to switch to an all bread-and-water diet, but what kinds of foods and drinks could you start cutting out of your daily intake that would impact your weight gain or loss. For example, cut back on sugar; carbs and sugar-drinks like soda. A friend of mine totally cut out all soft drinks and starting drinking water instead. Not only does he feel better, but he immediately started losing weight.
There two steps are only the beginning, but they are simple. Plus, if you succeed in reaching and following your “sub-goals” then you’ll reach your main goal quicker.
Now are you ready to set a new goal for yourself for the upcoming year? Create the goal. Then, create a list of steps that you must take in order to reach the goal. Have a plan. Follow it!
