If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know how much I love setting goals. Today I thought I would describe the process I take when deciding what I want to tackle each month. I hope it will be helpful, especially if you find goal setting totally overwhelming. Here we go!
Step 1: Make statements with a bigger vision in mind.
Goal-setting is only fruitful when it’s getting you closer to your ultimate objectives. This is the time to start with the big and broad statements. Here are a handful of mine:
- I want to make my house feel more like home.
- I want to be debt free.
- I want to make memories with my husband and children.
- I want to help others.
- I want to know and live my faith.
- I want to discover what I’m passionate about.
- I want to give generously.
- I want to re-visit activities/hobbies I used to enjoy.
Step 2: Ask questions relating to those statements.
Now that I’ve fleshed out my vision for the year, I start asking myself more specific questions related to the statements I made above:
- What is a recipe I’ve wanted to make?
- What home project do I want to tackle?
- What is one activity I want to do with my kids?
- What organization do I want to give money to/volunteer with?
- What is one area I can save a little money to put toward our debt?
- How can I make time in my day to read the Bible?
Step 3: Choose a handful of answers from the questions above to make your monthly goal list.
Here is where you finalize your goals for the month! I like to write it out and put the list somewhere I see it often: in my planner, on the fridge, taped to the wall in my office…anywhere I will see it on a regular basis. This helps me to stay on track. I designed this simple worksheet and you are welcome to download it too.
For January, here are the five things I hope to accomplish:
1. Complete a 2014 Blurb book of my Instagram photos.
2. Work on art for the dining room. Maybe DIY a wooden frame?
3. Celebrate Big White Farmhouse’s first birthday!
4. Start to run regularly, 3-4 times a week. Continue to strive for 10,000+ steps daily.
5. Return to regular meal planning and making healthy dinners. No eating out!
