Listen Now
Many people make goals called resolutions at the beginning of the New Year. But almost as many stop working on them after a short time. Here are 7 tips on making and reaching your goals this year.
#1 Start now. Why wait? You don’t need to wait until January 1 to get started on a goal for your life. The moment you decide you’d like to do something, get started!
#2 Work on your goal in bite-sized pieces. When you have something really large to do, break it down into small steps that you can handle. Then do one step at a time.
For example, let’s say your goal is, “Get my GED.” That’s a huge and wonderful goal you can do over time. So the first step may be, “Find out where I can take classes.” Even that step can be broken down into a smaller step: “Talk to three people today about where to take classes.” Write out the bite-sized steps. You can use this worksheet on the next page to get started.
Another bite-size tidbit — 1 x 6 = 6 — This formula helped me years ago when I had a goal to write a book. I was working full-time, married with two children, and also very involved in my church. How could I write a book? 1 x 6 = 6! 1 hour a day for 6 days a week (1 x 6) is 6 hours a week. That’s quite a bit of time! That’s how I wrote my book.
#3 Celebrate! Celebrate every time you complete a small step. After all, you are one step closer to your goal! Making a list of small steps will give you the joy of crossing things off your list.
Celebrate big when you complete a major set of steps. This is called a milestone, a word that refers to a marker for each mile on a road. Pause at that marker and say, “Wow! Look how far I’ve come!” Then you will go on to the next step with new energy.
You can begin now by using the worksheet on the back side of this article.
#4 Get a support partner. Ask a friend, spouse, or anyone you respect and trust to be your partner. Share your goal and list of steps with them. On a regular basis, let them know how you’re doing. This will help keep you focused and motivated.
You may also choose to get your support partner’s help or feedback about your goal and the steps you’ve written. But it is always up to YOU what you do and which steps you take. After all, it’s your life!
#5 Ask God for help. He loves to give it!
