We can all agree that 2020 hasn’t exactly started off how we wanted it to. I mean, I’m pretty sure no one pencilled a global pandemic into their goal planning on 1st January when setting goals and plans for the year. But all is not lost…
The world is still turning, and no matter what your goals were for 2020, they can still be achieved! Think of this lockdown as a well deserved pause on our hectic lives, a chance to step back and evaluate our lives and what we want to achieve.
This is the perfect opportunity to crack on with your goals, or set some new ones if you want to start afresh.
If you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals it can be pretty hard to stay focussed and stay on the right path. Setting goals also means you have a benchmark to determine whether you’re actually succeeding…
Here are 5 tips to make your goals happen in 2020:
Set Goals
I mean, this is the obvious step, right? To achieve the goals, you need to set them… but I mean actually set them. Whether these are life goals, career goals, big or small, think about what you want to achieve and whether it’s reasonable. Give yourself a bit of a challenge but make sure your goals are in reason… if you’re taking up running but you’ve never run before, maybe don’t aim to run a marathon in 4 weeks time - start with a short run (or even a jog) around where you live.
Make sure the goals you set actually motivate you - goals that make you actually want to get up and do something towards reaching them. If you still need an extra push, an action plan can also help keep you on track. Setting out each step you need to take to reach your goal makes it more reachable. Think of each point in your action plan as a stepping stone - what do you need to do to get to the next one? Ticking off a step is also super satisfying.
Once you’ve decided on some goals, write them down. Be super clear when writing them down what you want the end result to be and exactly how you’re going to get there.
Know your purpose
Why do you want to achieve the goal you’ve just written down? For the personal sense of accomplishment? Or is it for someone else. If it’s a personal goal, bare in mind you might need a few little motivators on the way and possibly a few celebrations when you hit milestones. If you’re doing it for someone else, make sure they don’t set the goal for you in the first place. But to be motivated enough to make it happen, you need to set the goal yourself.
Understanding why you want to achieve your goals will give you a stronger sense of purpose and is more likely to keep you motivated during the difficult times. If you don’t know why you want to achieve the goal, what was the point in setting it?
If you aren’t sure about the goals you have set, or if you think they lack purpose, there’s nothing stopping you from downgrading your goal and lowering the bar, or even just starting again!
To achieve big bold goals, you need to be firm on the goal, but flexible on how you actually achieve it. A strong sense of purpose will help you keep your eyes on the prize and keep you going in the tough times.
Keep your goals visible
This is where your creative side can come in. If you’ve set a long term goal, a vision board can be really helpful in keeping you motivated on the long run to it. A vision board is basically a board filled with images, quotes, inspirational words which motivate you and give you that fire to keep going with your goals. Vision boards are especially helpful when you feel like you’re getting off track or your progress is slowing down. If you can see your end result, you’re definitely more likely to give it that extra push.
If a vision board isn’t your thing, make a list. Just write your goals down, or print a picture of your goal and have it visible. Stick it to the fridge, stand it up on your desk, or pin it to the back of the bathroom door. It doesn’t matter where you put it as long as it’s visible. Don’t just put the list in a drawer or hide it away and forget about it.
Goals are more likely to be achieved if they’re visible.
Get Someone/Something that motivates you
This could be a friend/partner who’s there at 6am making sure you get up for your run when your alarm goes off, or it could be the picture of your dream house pinned to your mirror, reminding you of why you got out of bed today. Or that dress hanging on the inside of your wardrobe door, reminding you that you’re going to get into it by your friend’s wedding in the summer.
If something or someone is there to remind you of why you started, you’re less likely to give up and more likely to achieve your goals.
Track Your Progress
Tracking progress can be a huge motivator and also a reality check. If you’re on track, celebrating your progress can motivate you to not only reach your goals, but smash them instead… but on the flip side, if you’re not making the progress you thought it can be the huge push you need to get you back on track.
And who’s going to say no to a celebratory progress drink as a well done?! Erm, not me!
If things aren’t working out as well as you had planned, stop and reassess your goals - there’s nothing wrong with changing a few things if your original goals won’t happen.
So those were 5 tips to help make your goals happen in 2020. If you haven’t started your goals from 1st January - it doesn’t matter… if you’re 4 weeks into lockdown and haven’t started anything yet - it doesn’t matter. There’s no better time to start than now. Put your mind to it and make your goals happen.
