Goal setting is something we hear about throughout our lives, but many of us don’t actually have a goal setting process. Sometimes it may feel like it is impossible to find the motivation and drive to do what we need to do in order to work on our goals. Sometimes, we may not even know what our goals are, and thinking about that can cause extreme stress, but the answer is easy and SMART!
Common roadblocks to goal setting:
The major cause of these roadblocks come from feeling overwhelmed when we start to think about goal setting. This can lead to anxiety and stress, which then manifests as a lack of motivation and inability to work on figuring out and achieving our goals. The best practice is to break down the process into small manageable steps – SMART Goals! This allows us the energy to figure out what our goals are, how to reach them, and how to make time for it in our schedule without feeling overwhelmed.
How can you work through those roadblocks with goal setting?
Create motivation
Remind yourself on a daily basis why it is important for you to make personal growth a priority. Create a mantra that reminds you of your capability. Remember that avoiding working on your goals just causes more anxiety and dissatisfaction.
Identify values that are important to you
Values are ways of living; they are what you find most important in life. In order to determine what YOUR values are, ask yourself the following questions:
- What in life matters to me the most? What are my highest priorities?
- What direction do I want my life to go in?
- What do I currently have in my life that I don’t want to lose?
- What things do I value but am missing from my life at this time?
- If anything was possible, what would I do and what direction would I take my life in?
Identify small action steps toward your goal
This gives you a small, concrete way to begin achieving a goal. Think about what steps will move you closer to your goal. Break down the tasks as small as possible.
Reminder about goal setting!
Be gentle with yourself when setting goals. It’s okay if you don’t get to all of them! You’re only human and you don’t always have to be setting or accomplishing goals. Rest and self-care are important goals to think about, too!
“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins
