09/03/2022
Before I answer, a quick confession: despite talking non-stop about goal-setting now, I was never a big goal setter in the past. Although it sounds a little bratty now, I was just happy to go with the flow because it seemed like great opportunities and experiences always fell in my lap (I promise, I’m not trying to sound snobby about it)!
What I realized is that going-with-the-flow/being open to experiences AND goal-setting are not mutually exclusive. In fact, setting goals about where you want to be but being open to the various ways to get there is IDEAL.
So, to answer the question, the first step is to take stock of past experiences to help inform you of what kind of goal you want to achieve. Follow the steps below to get you started:
1. What is one small goal that you want to achieve (choose something that can be achieved in a relatively small amount of time - like a week). If you have a bigger goal, break it down into bite-size goals. The key is to start small.
2. Make sure it is measurable - ie you will very concretely know when you have achieved it. Set a deadline for when you will achieve this goal and put a reminder in your calendar. Again, we recommend about a week out for the deadline!
3. Write it on a piece of paper or keep it on something that you will see everyday - your phone, the bathroom mirror, etc.
4. Think of all of the ways and paths you can take to achieve it (while being open to other opportunities that pop up in your life that my support that goal).
5. Finally, check in at the deadline of your goal to reevaluate. How did it go for you? Did you achieve it? If not, why? If so, how did it feel?
This small process will clue you into how the goal setting process felt for you and what worked and what didn’t!
Good luck - and from a reformed non-goal-setter, I promise you it’s worth it!
