I remember once setting a goal that I would make a million dollars before I was twenty. Yes, I was ten years old when I made that goal (and perhaps I had watched a little too much of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), but in my young mind, it was a GREAT goal!

I’ve grown up a little (okay, maybe a lot), and I’ve learned that goals need to be more specific to be achieved. Also, I’ve learned a lot of other goal-setting tips, and I want to share those tips with you.

I know it seems a little early to think about your goals for next year. But to make your dreams come true, you must start planning now.

Can I tell you something? I want you to achieve your dreams, set goals, and crush them! Are you ready? Let’s go!

image credit: Fotownetrza via Pixabay

CRUSH YOUR GOALS BY DREAMING BIG

Close your eyes and think about what you want to achieve. It’s important to do this because often, what we see around us affects our train of thought.

Do whatever you need to do to relax your mind and body. Before I dream of my goals, I like to pray. I ask God to search my heart and make my greatest desires clear to me.

Imagine achieving your greatest goals and dream BIG.

After spending some time in thought, write your dreams on a piece of paper. Write all of it down. Don’t edit or disqualify… document everything.

CHOOSE THREE GOALS

After your big dreaming session, choose three goals you would like to achieve in the next year. Here are some things to consider as you choose your top three goals:

• Choose goals that you’re passionate about.
• Select realistic goals. You can still dream big but stay grounded.
• Make sure that the goals are specific (and measurable).

Write down your three goals.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

What does achieving your goals look like? Write down how you will know you’ve completed your goals. What does success look like? Be as specific as you can.

SET YOUR BENCHMARKS

I like to break my year into the quarterly benchmarks of:

• March 31
• June 30
• September 30
• December 31

Look at each segment and assess where you must be at each benchmark to achieve your goals.

photo credit: Ryan Wong on Unsplash | image designed with Stencil

For example, if I set the goal of writing an eBook by December 31st, my action plan may look like this:

Before March 31, I will:

• think of an idea for an eBook
• write a detailed outline
• start writing the book

By June 30, I will:

• write the entire first draft
• decide on a title

By September 30, I will:

• reread and self-edit the book
• submit the book for professional editing
• complete the final draft
• secure advance readers/reviewers

By December 31, I will:

• format the book for e-publishing
• design the cover
• give the book to advance readers/reviewers
• write out a detailed advertising and marketing plan

This gives a rough idea of the action plan benchmarks. As always, the more specific you can be throughout this process, the more likely you’ll achieve your goals.

TAKE ACTION

As you progress through the year, you’ll want to examine your quarterly benchmarks and make them more specific. Make a monthly action plan and hone in on weekly and daily action steps.

For example, if I want to lose weight and tone my muscles, I’ll write specific plans such as:

• Meal plan on Sundays (look at resources for low-fat, high-protein meals)
• Grocery shopping Sunday afternoon for the week’s groceries
• Lift weights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• Cardio activities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Walk as much as possible (i.e., instead of driving to the library, walk)

Then, I will write the times I plan to do these activities on my daily planner.

STAY MOTIVATED

While goal planning may be a breeze, staying motivated can be challenging. I have a few strategies that I use to stay motivated. Depending on the goal and my level of self-motivation, I may use a couple of these techniques or all of them.

MAKE IT VISIBLE

Write your goals on paper and hang them in a visible place. You can hang them in several places if you wish!

I have my goals as the wallpaper for my laptop. You can make it the background image for your phone, too!

MAKE IT YOUR WAY OF LIFE

There is no doubt about it—my Passion Planner has helped me achieve so many of my goals and dreams. My first Passion Planner was purchased in 2015. Since then, I have written an eBook, a parenting workbook, designed a homeschool planner, and launched an e-course!

A glimpse of my Passion Planner (and how I pretty it up)!

I couldn’t have achieved these goals without the intentional planning I did with my Passion Planner. There is nothing like it! There are sections to map out your plans for the month and spaces to reflect on your successes and areas for improvement.

I made goal planning and reflection a way of life. The constant documentation and self-reflection keep me motivated.

SCHEDULE REMINDERS

Take some time to schedule calendar reminders on your phone. If you need to work out, schedule it! If you need to write, set an alarm so you know when you need to start! Do everything you can to remind yourself of this significant commitment.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY

When I wrote my first eBook, I found a friend who was also working on a book. We started our own private Facebook page and regularly cheered each other on. We would also check in with each other and lift one another when we got discouraged.

CELEBRATE

Take the time to pause, reflect, and celebrate every milestone and every step you take toward your goals.

DON’T GIVE UP

Never give up. This is your dream! Take intentional action and make it become a reality!

It’s your turn; what do you do to crush your goals?

Jennifer Bly

Author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool and creator of The Deliberate Mom. Jennifer writes about parenting, homeschooling, her faith, and life with her husband and two girls. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care.