Most of us know where we want to go, we sometimes just don’t know how to get there or which steps to take first. This is a common challenge many professionals face. Day-to-day tasks slowly overwhelm us, crowding out our dreams. So how do we create objectives that challenge and excite us while keeping up with our to-do lists and work toward our goals?
As a dear friend and colleague often says, routines allow us to be more creative and get more done. I find this to be true. The secret to success is to add daily activities that are key to meeting our goals in our morning routine because tasks we deem important enough to be a part of our morning routine have the highest priority for us. When I follow my routine, my days are productive, my attitude is great, and I know I am making steps toward my goals.
Focusing on achieving one daily task geared towards our goal allows us to land where we choose. Set an overall goal that challenges you – one you feel defines your success. When you achieve that goal, you may look around, enjoy the view, and then choose to set a new goal.
We can only see so far into the future because our minds can only imagine so much. This doesn’t mean that we aren’t capable of great things; it simply means we can’t always see as far as we are meant to go.
We all know SMART goals. Our goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely, but they must also excite us, challenge us, and scare us a little bit. If our goals don’t seem slightly unrealistic, we haven’t dreamed large enough. This may sound a bit contrary, but goals that are realistic keep us comfortable. And when we are comfortable we simply don’t grow.
Life runs in seasons. There are seasons of growth, seasons of stabilization, and seasons of rest. Understanding which season we are in allows us to set healthy goals and focus on our successes with the right perspective. The past two years were a season of growth for me. Life was continually moving forward. Now, I am in a season of rest – a time to get healthy and prepare for the next season of growth. I am reassessing my goals, setting new ones, and preparing daily tasks to add to my morning routine. Fully embracing the season and what it brings has allowed me to achieve my goals, live out my dreams, and maintain my health.
Once your goals are set, you have defined where you want to land. I always challenge and encourage clients to push their thoughts and dreams as much as possible, and be open to resetting goals to push their dreams even further.
Working backwards from our ultimate goal, we can define long-term goals. These are the milestones or new skills we will need to learn and master in order to achieve our ultimate goal. No goal can be achieved without an incredible amount of growth and learning.
Focusing on one new skill at a time allows us to master it more easily and achieve objectives more quickly. For example, if a needed skill is to learn graphic design, the short-term goals would be the units in the class, or mastering specific skill sets of graphic design. Focusing on smaller parts of our goals allows us to take deep breaths, relax, and stay health.
Once you know your short-term goals, you can break each one down into one or two daily action steps. To make them achievable, action steps should add no more than 30 minutes to your daily routine. Over time, completing your daily action steps will ensure, that meet your short-term goals, your long-term goals, and finally your overall goal. As frustrating as it may seem, spending 30 minutes a day working towards your goal is much more sustainable than diving in with both feet. It also means we will maintain our health – all aspects of our health – and be prepared to face what life throws at you.
Sara Orellana is an independent entrepreneur who specializes in strategic planning, leadership, and grant writing. She can be reached at sara@3raptorconsulting.com.