Specifics of Goal Setting

Happy Thursday, everyone!


At the beginning of 2019, I put together a list of themes I'd like to address each month this year. The topic of this month's blog post is Goal Setting.


I once read a quote that posed the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer was simply one bite at a time.


The same applies to the overall endeavor of setting goals. If we are to succeed at anything, we must have numerous steps in place. It is best to make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, trackable, actionable, rewarding, and realistic.


If you would like to lose weight now that it is a new year, focus on becoming healthy and strong through making it a lifestyle. Your weight will take care of itself if health becomes a priority above weight loss (otherwise it is sure to fluctuate based upon stress and circumstance). Find a form of exercise you love engaging in so it is a delight instead of a burden or chore. Instead of buying processed foods, prepare meals yourself with natural ingredients. Add organic lemon slices to water for natural flavor and to make drinking plenty bearable and even enjoyable. Stretch for ten minutes every morning and night. Take a walk for thirty minutes a day.


Whether we are seeking to heal from a past trauma, just want to make exercise a consistent part of our routine, realize we need to overcome a bad habit or sin, or want to get our homes or relationships in order, it all requires a plan.


You also want to implement accountability. If someone else knows about your goals and regularly asks you about the progress you're making (and helps you think of a plan), you're more likely to accomplish what you set out to do than if you tried doing so alone.

Here are a list of categories in which you might want to set goals and some helpful ideas for each one:

1. Health

- What type of exercise? How often? Where at? What time? With whom?
- What sort of diet? When will you meal plan? When will you meal prep? How much money will you allot for restaurants? What restaurants will you stop going to altogether? How much water to drink daily? What vitamins will you take?
- How much sleep does your body need? What do you need to purchase for better sleep (i.e. light blocking curtains, a fan to drown out noise, a diffuser with essential oils for a calming atmosphere)?
- How much of your self-talk and thinking is defeating, negative, or not based on the biblical model of Philippians 4:8?
- What coping mechanisms do you have in place for life's unpredictability and myriad stressors?


2. Spiritual growth

- Do you read the Bible every day? When? Where? How much?
- Do you pray regularly? About everything?
- Have you fully surrendered your past, present, and future to God?
- Do you frequently read articles and books that enable spiritual maturity?


3. Relational harmony

- Are you humble?
- Are you teachable?
- Are you generous?
- Are you intentional about self-improvement?


4. The pursuit of knowledge

- Is gaining knowledge important to you? Do you see it as a necessity or an option?
- How can you practically live out what you learn?


5. Annual reading list

- Do you spend more time watching television, being on the Internet, or reading?
- How many books would you like to read this year? What subjects? How many chapters per day? When? Where?


6. Learning a trade or skill

- Expand your horizons
- Become useful in many fields
- Learn to contribute value
- Look for opportunities to be compensated for the help you offer


7. Time management

- Set timers for everything
- Time block
- Follow a schedule and have a routine for everything
- Block out distractions
- Schedule in breaks and times of doing nothing
- Create a daily plan
- Allot extra time to make room for the unexpected
- Arrive everywhere at least 15 minutes early


8. Life management

- Prioritize
- Write everything down
- Learn to say no
- Declutter your entire home
- Identify when you are most productive
- Find a mentor for every aspect of life
- Do not multitask (give 100% to each task instead of a small percentage to several tasks at once)
- Be proactive
- Get Life Insurance for the sake of anyone who is dependent upon your income in the case of your untimely passing


9. Stress management

- Do not bring unhealthy food into the house
- Avoid rushing at all costs
- Do not neglect your responsibilities
- Learn to set boundaries
- Do not agree to anything you don't have time, energy, or resources for
- Exercise immediately or go for a walk or drive instead of turning to media
- Have structure for every aspect of life (I cannot overemphasize how important this is!)
- Do a daily, weekly, and monthly inventory of your life to see where you are contributing stress
- Write a daily gratitude list
- Laugh often
- Identify simple stressors and attend to them as soon as possible: get a car wash or oil change, fix a broken light bulb, fill gas tank every time it hits halfway point, keep up with laundry and dishes so everything is always clean, cancel the subscriptions you aren't using, make the quick phone call or appointment you've been putting off
- Identify complex stressors and pursue biblical counsel to learn the best way to navigate them in a thorough manner


10. Money management

- Budget every dollar
- Save 10-20% percent from every form of income (including birthday and Christmas money)


Your goal should be, within a specific amount of time, to look back and say, "This is how I used to live, and this is my new reality." If you aren't setting goals regularly, do not be surprised or upset when you're living the same reality tomorrow that you have been already.