Written by: Gina Martin, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Most of us have a habit of setting New Year's resolutions; we start the year with great intentions to finally go after our dreams. Perhaps, you want this to be the year you feel at your best by adapting to new eating and exercising habits. Maybe, you want to start dating and find that significant other you have been searching for or work up the courage to ask for a job promotion.
The challenge is that life gets in the way, and by the time February rolls around, you are back to your old habits and routines, and your New Year's resolutions are quickly forgotten or taken a back seat due to your obligations.
From my own experience, that of my clients, close friends, and family, I've found that we don't stick to our goals because we fail to follow a proper goal-setting process. It is not just a systematic process or SMART action plan but involves a little more in-depth review of your life, dreams, and the "why" these goals are essential to you.
Below, you will find my complete guide to setting goals that stick! So you can feel energized and ready to crush your goals!
Complete a life review - First, you will reflect on eight critical areas of your life and rank them based on your level of satisfaction with each. Take time to reflect, celebrate the areas you are most satisfied with, then pick four areas of focus to increase your overall life satisfaction.
Understand the motivation behind your goal - Have you ever started a New Year's resolution only to give up by mid-February? I get it; we have all been there! We start the new year energized and excited to make things happen, and then the motivation disappears. Eventually, life gets in the way, and we give up. Think of a time when you achieved a goal you wanted; how did you accomplish it? Chances are, you can probably specify what motivated you to achieve it. However, understanding the meaning of your goal and its motivation is essential to help you stay focused and consistent.
The right type of motivation - Listen to the language you use when describing a goal: I should, I need, or I have to are derived from external influence. Your motivation for these goals probably came from someone else's idea, peer influence, or perhaps your inner critic. "I should lose weight" or "I have to get better at managing my time" are examples of goals driven by guilt, shame, or fear of missing out and aren't genuinely sustainable. On the other hand, "I want to," "I would love to," or "I choose to" come from a more accurate and robust place. You are more likely to stay focused and motivated to achieve these goals because you are fully committed to them. "I would love to feel healthier, and I can do that by changing my eating habits" or "I want to manage my time more efficiently to make room for dance classes" are great examples of goals driven by internal motivation.
Break your goals down into small milestones and set deadlines - It will be easier to achieve some of your bigger goals by breaking them down into small actionable steps; this way, you'll be more likely to stay on track. Then make sure that each of those steps has concrete deadlines that are reasonable enough so you don't feel overwhelmed or give up once you miss a stage of the process.
Dedicate a set time of the week to review your goals and plan your time intentionally - Most of the high performers and motivational leaders I know swear by this practice. Set a specific time of the week to plan your week and schedule the times you will commit to working on your goals. Please don't feel like you have to be good at planning (I know some people might not enjoy it); see it as a way to be intentional about how you spend your precious time.
Use a tracker to follow up on your progress - Follow-up is the key to success; make it a habit to track your progress while planning your week. Use the worksheets included with this workbook to help you. Don't forget to take time to celebrate your progress as well!
Get accountability and support - A sound support system could include your friends, family, a mentor, or a coach. Sharing your goals is a great way to hold yourself accountable and motivate, as people who care about you will cheer you on as you go! Don't be too hard on yourself when things don't go as planned or when you fail to execute. Take time to review your plan, check if you are being realistic with timelines and expectations of yourself, and re-work your plan as necessary. Then, keep going; you've got this!
Part of the work I do as a Coach is to provide my client's structure, support, and accountability to help them achieve their goals and design a lifestyle they've always dreamed of.
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Gina Martin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gina Martin is a Self-Leadership expert, Life and Leadership Coach, Entrepreneur, Mother, and Breast Cancer survivor. Gina’s Self-Leadership journey started when she became a single mother and immigrated to the US before turning 18. As an entrepreneur, she built two direct sales businesses where she drove record personal and team sales and received national recognition and multiple awards. Her passion for sales, love for people, and personal development led her to start her Retail Leadership journey. She trained, promoted, and impacted hundreds of individuals over a twenty-year career. She has led cross-functional teams of up to 600 people for prestigious brands such as Victoria’s Secret, GUESS, Inc., and Gap, Inc. She is the founder of Gina Martin Coaching. As a Coach, she utilizes all of her life and career experiences to help her clients discover and develop their self-leadership skills, unlock what’s keeping them from achieving the success they deserve and inspire them to take massive action to create the life of their dreams.
