Can
you believe we are already in July? There are so many things I set out to do
this year and I have less than six months to get it done (yikes!!!).
Looking
back on 2014 brings tears to my eyes because it was a difficult year for my
family, from job loss to losing my mother, left my family bruised but
optimistic. In 2015 the sun started shining again because I welcomed my
second child into the world.
My
goals for 2015 have not changed:
Complete and self publish my first book.
Spend
more time with my husband
Spend
time pampering myself (spa days, coffee shops etc.)
I
know about the importance of setting goals but even more important is
accomplishing those goals. Please join me as I refocus on my goals for this
year and focus on ways to get them completed. Hopefully some of the tips I learned over the years will be of benefit to you.
Below are excerpts from my soon to be release book on “Goal Setting for The 21st Century and Beyond.” It will be out later this year, to help us finish the year strong (this is my main goal for the year).
Below are excerpts from my soon to be release book on “Goal Setting for The 21st Century and Beyond.” It will be out later this year, to help us finish the year strong (this is my main goal for the year).
A recent study estimated that 75% of us, will keep New
Year’s resolutions for the first month and by July, less than half of the
population will stay focused on meeting those goals. Yearly, millions have
resolutions which include but are not limited to, losing weight, making more
money, eating better and spending time with family and friends. With the
average person making the same New Year's resolution at least 10 times (10
years in a row), 2015 needs to be different. There are many things we can
all do to accomplish our goals but the four (4) listed below I believe is the
foundation to giving us a powerful start and memorable finish in 2015 as
Christian wives and mothers.
Throughout
the Bible we read that being good stewards over our time, talents and treasures
helps in fulfilling God’s will for our lives (Luke
12:42-46, Proverbs 18:16, Ephesians 5: 15-17). This can only be done
by first having self-awareness, writing down specific goals, and optimizing our
time.
1.
Self-Awareness
(Who are you?) - Before focusing on goals this year, let us spend some
time figuring out who we really are when no one is looking. Knowing who we are will help in determining what goals to set for 2015. Here are two questions
to ask yourself.
a. What are
the patterns in my life?
Patterns
are things that happen over and over again in our lives.
For example: Every two
years, I make a significant change in my career by landing better paying
positions. Knowing this, helps me determine what goals I need to set each year
to capitalize on the patterns in my life.
b.
Who do I need to remove myself from to focus on
accomplishing dreams?
Who do you spend most of
your time with (besides yourself)? The success of that person determines how
successful you will be in accomplishing goals in 2015. At the age of 17, I made
a conscious decision to spend most of my time around individuals aiming for
greatness. I encourage you to do the same, starting today.
2.
Write It
Down! Writing down goals, will give us direction. It also helps us stay focus on what needs to be accomplished on a weekly and monthly basis.
Writing down our plans for the year is great but revisiting those goals on a
weekly basis is a must. To keep those goals in the forefront of our mind,
taping them on the bathroom mirror or computer is a great idea (this is something I do)
3. Make “S.M.A.R.T” (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time) Goals
a. Specific: Identify exactly what we want to accomplish.
General Goal: Save money this year
Specific Goal: Save
$2,000 by December
b. Measurable: This allows
us to know if we reach our goals.
Question to ask
yourself: How will I know when my dream is accomplished?
c. Actionable: Start goals
with an action verb (write, run, finish).
Example: Finish my book
proposal by April 15th.
d. Realistic: Goals should
not only be wishes but things you can feasibly attain.
Unrealistic example:
Lose 20 pounds in 1 month (this is unrealistic for most).
Realistic Example: Lose
5 pounds in 1 month and 20 pounds in four months.
e. Set a Deadline! Every goal should have a date associated
with it because it helps us stay on task.
Ineffective example:
Lose weight sometime in 2015
Effective Example: Lose
30 pounds by December 15th, 2015
4. Time
Management- Are you tired of asking yourself, where did the time go? I am! Everyone has the same amount of time in a day but only a small percentage has
mastered making the day work for them instead of letting the day determine what
will be accomplished.
Daniel Wiley said, “Too
often, we miss out on opportunities in this life because we were too busy
waiting for them to fall into our lap that we missed them tapping on our
shoulder.”
Here are a few tips to
help with managing your time.
1. Prioritize your life: Write down
the things you must accomplish for the day (pick up kids from school, meet with
new client, complete laundry). If a friend calls that just wants to talk,
ignore the phone call (yes, you read it correctly). If they are a real friend,
they will understand.
2. Say no: Stop allowing others to run your day.
After saying no, don’t feel the need to explain. Just say, “I can’t do it at
this time, but will let you know when I can.
3. Limit Technology Use. Gretchen Rubin states,
“Technology is a great servant but a terrible master.” Instead of always replying
to e-mails right away or checking social media constantly, spend more time
completing tasks that really matter.
The practice of setting
goals is a fundamental component of achieving success. With self-awareness,
writing down goals, making S.M.A.R.T. decisions and good time management, we
can all accomplish great things for Christ as wives and moms in 2015 and
beyond.
What are some of your goals for 2015?
I am linking up with http://christianmommyblogger.com along with other bloggers. You can find a full list here
References:
(2014, January 1). New Years Resolution Statistics. Retrieved from
Study Backs up Strategy
for Achieving Goals. Retrieved from http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/study-backs-up-strategies-for-achieving-goal
