Change is hard. When I use “change” here, I speak of a positive, intentional change that produces desired results. We all know people who start a new diet or workout routine and fail within the first few weeks. Why is it so difficult to change our lives? The answer lies in two critical concepts: goals and measurement.
Here, we will explore how these two concepts can work magic in your life to help you set goals and achieve lasting change.
Goals are the first step to turning your life around. With goals, you will have a clear direction and focus. Goals give you something to strive for and help keep you motivated.
How do goals work magic in your life? Goals give you a clear direction, help keep you motivated, and hold you accountable when you set definitive, attainable goals (attainable does not mean easy and is defined differently by each person. For instance, I believe every goal is attainable. The question is, are you prepared to go the distance required to attain them?), you are more likely to achieve lasting change in your life.
For example, if you plan to lose weight, you are more likely to stick with your diet and workout routine if you have a goal of losing a certain amount of weight by a specific date. The designated goal eliminates the ability to waiver and push workouts back or ignore nutritional guidelines.
It’s best to set SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and Timely. For example, rather than setting a goal to “work out more,” set a goal to “work out for 30 minutes, three times per week.”
Setting small, achievable goals builds momentum and boosts your confidence to attain more challenging goals. Best-selling author James Clear says, “The most effective way to achieve long-term goals is to break them down into small, manageable steps that you can complete today.”
So, instead of focusing on how massive your long-term goals are, set small attainable goals for the short term and build up from there.
To change your life around, it’s essential to measure your progress to help you stay on track and make adjustments as needed. When you can see the progress you are making, it helps to keep you motivated.
Some benefits of setting measurable goals:
How often should you measure your progress? It is essential to measure your progress regularly, but your goals will depend on how often you do so. For example, if you plan to lose weight, weigh yourself once a week.
However, if your goal is to save money, track your progress monthly. The most important thing is to stay consistent with your measurements.
Achievement feels good, regardless of size. When we celebrate our accomplishments, it reaffirms our decision to change and encourages us to continue. It also helps to boost our confidence and self-esteem. Lastly, celebrating small wins is a great way to stay motivated to achieve our big goals.
So, celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and keep moving towards your goals!
Ideas for celebrating your small wins:
Whatever you do, make sure you celebrate your accomplishments- big and small! When you do, it will help keep you stay motivated and on track to change your life for the better.
Goals are essential because they help us focus our efforts, stay on track, and make progress. Measuring our progress is critical to achieving long-term goals. The key is being accountable to our desires and needs. Setting measurable goals is one of the ways we hold ourselves accountable.
When you set attainable goals and measure your progress, staying motivated and making necessary adjustments is easier.
Small goals lead to big wins over time. Celebrate incremental progress to stay motivated and measure progress to ensure you are on track!
When we break it down, turning any situation in your life around is attainable as long as you have a plan and stick to it. Set goals, measure progress, and celebrate your accomplishments- big or small. With consistency and dedication, you can achieve anything!