We’re now just over half way through 2019… I know! Can you believe it? And, as many coaches do (and I’m sure many of you, too) I decided to start reviewing my goals. I’d written them in January, outlining where I want to be and what steps I needed to put in place to make sure I got there. Now in June, its time for a review, update and amend. And for anyone who may have slightly gone off track – to find your way back to those goals! You can read more about this here.
Goal Setting
If you didn’t set any goals for 2019, how about setting some right now? Perhaps you’re thinking of some personal goals, including improving your nutrition, getting healthy or moving more? Maybe you’ll have more free time whilst the kids are off for the summer holidays and you’d like to take up a new hobby or learn a skill together? Or perhaps you’re a business owner and would like to really drive your business forward, to grow in size or reach? Whatever goals you’ve set for yourself, personal or business, here are some helpful tips to start planning the rest of your year and getting them ticked off your list:
Planning Tips!
Keep Your Goals To A Minimum – this is one example where quality definitely reigns over quantity! There’s no point setting twenty goals when you know that you only have a limited amount of time to make them happen! From my experience working with 1000’s of clients, I also know that setting yourself too many goals simply causes feelings of overwhelm. If you feel daunted before you even start working towards your goals, you’re likely to suffer from paralysis by analysis and stumble before you even leave the stalls! Set a maximum of three big, important goals for yourself. Whether it’s learning a new skill or pushing your business forward, you need to make sure you can focus your time and energy on what’s most important to you. You can then break them down into smaller, more manageable, bite-sized tasks or goals.
Make Them SMART – in business, we often set objectives and goals using the acronym SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. Incorporate this model into your personal goals too and you’ll set yourself up with a strong foundation to achieve them.One of my goals, for example, is: Incorporate 20 minutes of mindfulness/self-hypnosis into every day, as part of my self-care regime. You’ll see that my goal is Specific; it states what and how much. The goal is Measurable, as I can keep track of when I’m incorporating mindfulness into my day. It is Achievable – the small bursts of time require minimal commitment so I know it’s realistic for me. It’s also Relevant to my self-care goal and Timely with allocated 20 minute bursts built in.
Be Accountable – this one is really important! How many times have you thought about achieving a goal, but perhaps lose touch with it? When we’re responsible for achieving something, especially if it’s for our own benefit, it can be all too easy for us to allow other things to take precedence. Women in particular are guilty of allowing our own needs and wishes to be pushed to the bottom of the pile. And yet we’ll run ourselves ragged to help others with theirs, flagging them as more urgent or higher priority! If we’re asked to work on a new project by a boss, we have to do it, there’s no choice! They’re expecting it to be done and it’s part of our role’s remit. So, we’re made accountable for the task and we put our best work in to make it happen.
Why should we react any differently to our own set of goals? Write them down and share them with a friend, colleague, nutritionist, personal trainer, coach. You can enlist the support of anyone in your network to help you achieve your goals. Equally, a friend or family member can enlist your support with theirs too, especially if you have similar goals. Being Accountability Buddies for eachother means you’re both more likely to achieve them; you won’t want to let the other one down! Check in with each other on a weekly basis and update via text or email on your progress. Most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate your wins and successes, no matter how small they might be!
Keep on Track
One way I help my clients remain accountable for their goals is with their own Online Coaching Plan. This provides them with 24/7 access to all the information we gather from our coaching sessions together. For instance, their successful outcome, mindset shifts, core values and the annual and monthly goals they set themselves.
Studies have proven that if we write a goal down, we’re 42% more likely to achieve it!
As well as keeping to hand what they’ve identified as important, it enables them to track progress against set criteria. When we regularly review our progress, it’s far easier to prevent things from slipping or other tasks taking priority. And if life does get in their way, as it’s bound to occasionally, it’s much easier to get things back on track. You simply pick up where you left off and continue making progress once again!
If you’d like to know a bit more about having your own Online Coaching Plan, please get in touch at Katie@TheCatalystforLife.com and I’ll happily take you on a guided tour!
If you’re all set with your goals and just want a bit of help in finding your way back to achieving them, click here to read my post with more helpful tips! I’d love to hear what you’ve chosen to set as your three goals this year. Get in touch katie@thecatalystforlife.com or find me on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.
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