Here we are, in the middle of March, and one day closer to wrapping up the first quarter of 2018. Already? Yes! But remember those New Year’s resolutions that you made back in January? Now would be a good time to reflect and refocus. Some goals on that list of yours may take a few weeks, months, or even the entire rest of the year, but whatever it is, be sure to be proactive and consistent as often as possible. How can we make sure we meet and even surpass the goals we make? Plan everything out. We must make our goals visible, be specific when declaring, and check in with ourselves, or in other words, self-reflect.
Make it Visible:
Thinking about positive changes you want to make in your life and career is great, but keeping those thoughts in your head is exactly where those goals will stay. Physically writing goals out on paper allows you to envision what you want for your future. After doing a little digging, I found that Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University, did a study on goal setting. From the diverse group of 267 people, Matthews found that those who wrote down their goals and dreams on a regular basis achieved those wants and wishes at a much higher rate than those who did not. As a result, she found that you become 42% more likely to accomplish your goals simply by writing them down on a regular basis.
Be Specific:
Whether those goals are about working to better yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, or in your career, be specific. The more detailed you are with what you want in your life, the more likely you are to see them come to life. Don’t just write down the end goal, consider the steps it will take to get there too.
Reflect Daily:
There are 168 hours in a week. We spend about 40 hours at work, and about another 40 sleeping. This leaves us with plenty of time to take a moment out of each day to self-reflect. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, take 20 minutes out of your day to think about where you are in life and what you would like for “future you.” Use steps one and two and apply it here to see yourself grow!
Are you more visual? Consider creating a vision board to illustrate your goals.
