This week I spoke about , my word of the year. If you missed it, my 2018 word was simplify . More information about this can be found here. Today, I am excited to continue this conversation and share with you the process that I use to set goals for the year. I will also let you know about some tools I have found really useful.
I’m a list maker. I use old-fashioned paper and pen lists. I keep track of things in a planner on my desk, and also on a family calendar in the kitchen. Lists are made for grocery lists, family lists of things to do and personal items to remember. I think you get the point.
These lists are even more valuable when you’re a mother. These lists help me stay focused on my longer-term goals and know what to do in any given day. By getting them off my mind and onto paper, I can focus and accomplish them (Remember to simplify?).
Let’s start.
![Goal Setting for Middle Distance Runners - Complete Track and Field](https://i0.wp.com/completetrackandfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/goal.setting.05-300x279.jpg?resize=300%2C279)
The Foundation for Setting Goals that Work
First things first. Each home requires a strong foundation, correct? The same is true for goals. It’s important to do some groundwork before we discuss HOW to set goals. These are the basic principles I use to set my goals.
To-do lists are not the goals.
It’s easy to overlook, but this is important. To-do lists are not goals. Goals are the things I want to achieve over a certain period of time. To-do Lists are daily or weekly actions that I must take to achieve the goal. They are often the mundane, everyday tasks that bear fruit over time.
This was crucial for me. It was important to think through the steps necessary to achieve a goal.
To-do lists are not goals. To-do list are those everyday, mundane tasks that, when faithfully performed, yield results with time. #goals #productivity #momlife #momblogger
To-Do List:
- Identify the tasks that must be performed and their frequency.
- Calculate the time it takes for each.
- Multi-tasking or increasing efficiency is one way to improve your productivity.
- Write down a schedule based on the information you have gathered.
- Test the system and make any necessary adjustments.
Does it make sense? When you carefully plan and complete your to-do lists over time, it will help you achieve your goals.
The goals you set should be aligned with your priorities.
Priorities and values should drive our goals. We will always find a way to accomplish the things we value, even if I hate to admit it. We may not find the time right away, but if it’s important to us we will eventually do it. Priorities can include our current roles or responsibilities at any time in life. We give them weight at the moment. What’s important to you in this season right now?
When I consider my priorities for this season, they fall into four categories: my faith, family, community and work. In practice, many of these priorities overlap and that is okay. They each need different things to keep them in balance.
Priorities and responsibilities in this stage of life (my titles if you like) include:
- Christ-follower
- Wife and Mother/Homemaker
- Daughter/Sister/Neighbor/Friend
- Blogger
By keeping these priorities in mind, I am able to set goals and manage my schedule in a way which gives each priority the appropriate weight.
What You Do With Your Time Is Important
It’s a clever one, because it is so simple to do and so easy for people to forget. Like money, time is a precious resource that must be managed well. It is important to realize that every time you say “yes”, you are also saying “no”. It is crucial to achieve your goals.
Every day I have between 1.5 and 2 hours alone while Little naps. This means I need to plan my day so that I get the most out of that time. This is often the time I use to clean my house or work on my blog. If I’m not proactive and intentional, it is easy to let this time slip away. Being proactive and disciplined about this time allows me to be present when I’m with Little and Hubs.
Enjoy the Season you’re in.
It’s also important to realize that seasons are a part of life. Other seasons are filled with transitions, while others are more consistent. Your goals and ability to manage things may look different depending on what season you’re in. That’s alright. Make your lists according to the season. Even the sleepless seasons (hello, newborn phase…speaking to myself here) can be filled with joy. It’s important to embrace this. You shouldn’t resent your current season just because you are looking forward to the next. You could miss out on something great.
Setting goals that work – The Process
Let’s get into HOW I set my goals every year. This is broken down into six simple steps.
The Right Tools
When it comes to the tool I use for setting goals, I am pretty simple. A great planner is the number one thing I need. For 2018, my primary planner is Plum Planner. You can purchase Plum paper online or on Etsy. This planner has a lot of great features. You can start it at any month, add as many months as needed, and you can even customize the sections to include almost anything (meal planning or blogging). I use a year-long calendar planner and a blogging add-on so that my personal life and blogging are all in one book. Send me a message and I will send you a referral email for 10% off!
Sometimes I use a simple notebook for brainstorming, along with pens and pencils. You can use stickers, colored pencils, online apps etc. Use whatever you want.
Reflection on the Previous Year
Take some time and reflect on what you achieved in the past year. What worked for you and what did not? Spend some time identifying what you would like to change this year. Decide which items you want to move to the next year and which can be removed. Don’t waste the past year. You can always learn something new.
Brainstorm
It’s time to start planning for this year. Write down all of the things you would like to achieve. You can set personal goals or goals for your family. They could be vacations, financial goals, home projects, health goals, etc. Write down whatever you want. This is the time to be completely honest. This is a brainstorming session. It’s like creating a list of your wishes. What would you do if you could achieve everything you wanted within a year? List it.
Prioritize & Set Time Frames
Compare your list of priorities with your wishlist. Compare how closely each one aligns with your priorities. Do you have any misaligned priorities? What are the most important things? How long will this take? Sort your list according to your priorities, and then assign realistic timeframes for each of your goals.
Be realistic. You may need to remove some items from the list. Some items may be dropped from the list, while others could just need to wait. That’s alright.
Get Feedback
The next step is accountability. After you have made your list, get feedback. You can ask a trusted person, such as a spouse or close family friend to provide feedback and help you stay accountable. Hubs is that person for me. He is always there for me, and I am confident that he will be. He knows me very well and can also help me to see where I may need to make adjustments. He will also help me stay on track to achieve my goals by holding me accountable.
We also set goals together for our family, marriage and ourselves. This way we can hold each other accountable.
Share your goals and you will be more likely to achieve them. You’ll also have someone to celebrate your small victories with.
Get to Work
It’s finally time to start working. You have laid a good foundation. You’re aware of your priorities. You have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. You have set yourself deadlines and prioritized your tasks. You’ve broken down your to-do lists into small, actionable steps that will get you moving. You have shared your goals with others, and they can hold you accountable.
You just need to do it. You will. You’ll get there.
Make this the best year ever!