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We all have goals in life. But a goal without a plan is just a wish.
Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, put up a business, double or triple your income, buy a bigger house, or travel the world – you don’t get to achieve your goals if you don’t create a plan.
Planning gives you a clearer picture of how you can make those dreams a reality. Fortunately, creating a plan to achieve your goals is easier than you think. It only takes a few steps. Here they are:
A well-designed action plan can make it easier for you to track and realize your goals. Here are some tips to get you started!Click To TweetSet goals that are specific
Every plan starts with goal setting.
Be specific about what you want to achieve. For example, if you aim to lose weight, how much weight do you want to put off? 15 pounds? 30? 90?
When will that happen? In the next six months? Maybe after a year?
You’ve probably heard this advice from time management/leadership experts – your goals should be SMART.
Meaning they should be specific, measurable, attainable, and time-bound.
Another important thing is they have to be relevant to you. You must find them valuable to feel motivated to pursue those goals, no matter how hard things can get.
Write an action plan for your goals
After determining the “what” and the “why,” it’s time to pick the “how.”
The tasks you need to do to achieve your goals can be complicated, with so many sub-tasks under each bullet. But that’s okay. The more specific you are about your plan, the more likely you will succeed.
Grab a pen and paper. Don’t just think about what you have to do. If it helps to do some sketching, go for it. Whatever enables you to create a detailed action plan.
A fun and stylish way to write down your goals is to use Wishbeads.
Wishbeads Intention Setting Jewelry
Wishbeads offers you a stylish and easy way to keep your wishes close by and always on your mind with their bracelets and necklaces.
These pieces of jewelry each feature a brass cylinder with a screw cap and five wishpapers.
The idea here is to write down your wishes, roll them up, and tuck them inside your beautiful piece of jewelry. Then, every time you look at your bracelet or necklace you’ll be reminded to take action on your goals.
It’s pretty ingenious.
We also love that their intention necklaces and bracelets feature gemstones with unique properties.
For example, we received a matte black onyx shine bracelet. Black onyx guards you against negative energy and gives your strength during hard times — something everyone needs every now and then.
Wishbeads offers a variety of color choices as well as other bead types to suit anyone’s style.
If you need a little help putting your dreams into action, Wishwork: A 21-Day Journal, can help with that.
Wishwork A 21 Day Journal by Alexa Fischer
This book guides you from the beginning to the end of the wish-making process. From visualizing your wishes to making them a reality, Wishwork inspires you each day to complete a small step towards your ultimate goal.
Her words not only help you to follow through with your dreams but also help you build confidence and be more positive. It’s truly an uplifting experience!
Order your tasks according to priority
Like most people, you probably have several goals. Or, you could be confronted with many roles and responsibilities that get in the way of achieving your goals.
Once you grasp all the tasks you need to do; the next step is to identify which is important and urgent. Important tasks are those that bring you closer to your goals.
Urgent tasks are those that need to be completed quickly. They can be important or unimportant. Many urgent tasks aren’t important. So be careful when dealing with them.
If you ever want to allocate your energy, time, and resources, make sure they go to tasks that will help you achieve your goals.
Your action plan should include a timeline
A goal without a date is a dream. Setting a deadline for your goal is a must. Otherwise, you could be delaying it.
However, be careful not to set an unrealistic timeline. Losing 10 pounds in a week is just not realistic and could cause you more harm than good.
Don’t forget to assign deadlines for each task you’ve written. For example, if you plan to incorporate plyometrics, HIIT, and circuit training in your workout routine but you’re just a beginner, think about how you can do it.
Perhaps you can start with low-impact HIIT in the first week, then add circuit training in the next week. Create a timeline. It sure helps you reach your target.
Stay on track with healthy habits to achieve your ambitions and goals
Whatever goal you’ve set – whether it’s about finances, relationships, or personal development, it’s hard to stay on track when you aren’t feeling good physically and mentally.
Part of your action plan to achieve your goals should be staying fit and healthy. Getting enough rest, eating a balanced diet, and increasing your physical activities are the best things you can do to become healthier.
Achieving goals is easier with the right motivation
Small or big motivations can help you stay on track towards your goals. For example, one way to motivate yourself to go to the gym regularly is to look stylish. When you look good, you feel good. And that makes you want to work harder.
Goals, big or small, are achievable when you work hard for them. Creating a plan is your starting point to making those dreams a reality.
How do you plan to achieve your ambitions and goals in life?
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
2021 Dads and Grads Gift Guide
This is a very helpful post! I have been trying to be more organized and goal oriented! I think its great to lead by example for your kids as well. Thanks for the tips, as always!
Having a plan and goals helps keep me sane. I need a schedule to stay on task.
The steps I take to achieve my goals start out with first what the project is and then get a time frame to achieve this goal. Then make a step by step chart on how to achieve the goal in the time frame chosen and any items I need to purchase .
Sounds like you are a planner and can get things done!
It helps to have specific goals broken down into smaller chunks. Then having a scheduled plan to work on it certain days and for a certain time. It also helps to keep track of your progress to see what’s working and when you’re getting off the path.
Yes, all very good tips for achieving your goals and making them happen!
I’m a list maker. I usually write a step by step list and follow it one step at a time.
That’s great – making lists can def help you achieve your goals
To achieve my goals I first write them down. The second step is to continue growing and learning through the process and avoid becoming too content and/or complacent.
Writing down your goals def has you on your way to making them a reality
I write out a list of things I want to accomplish. After I complete them, they get crossed out.
I also find checklists very helpful in fulfilling goals!
writing my goals down helps me to focus on what i want to accomplish
reading stories of other who have accomplished what i want to do gives me motivation
I love the idea of reading motivational stories to help you read your goals! Inspiration never hurts
to achieve my goals I make a plan and write it down. When you see it in writing it is more likely to come true
Very true – writing out your goals makes them seem more concrete!
Write down my plan and the steps on how to complete them.
Do you think that helps you make your goals come true?
I like to write my goals down because doing so makes them more concrete and prominent in my thought process. I also like to align my goals with my values, and prioritize them according to those values.
That’s great – goals def need to be prioritized!
I would love to open my own doggie training day care grooming salon. It is on my wish list/bucket list for over 10 years.
Wanting to start a doggie daycare/grooming is a great goal to have! What’s keeping you from it?
Breaking down a goal into smaller steps helps me – for example when I first started running, it was “make it to the end of the road”, then making it there quicker, then trying a little further. I literally put the goals on a paper calendar
I think physically writing things on paper helps people achieve goals better too!
Journal and WALKING.
Distract and Delay.
Deep breathing.
That’s great that walking helps you achieve your goals!
I try to keep a planner with my goals in them! It helps me visualize and build steps toward them.
Using a planner is a great way to stay on top of your goals!
I have a daily planner and I carry it everywhere and use it every single day!!
Carrying a planner around with you everywhere is a great way to keep your goals in check
I like to breakdown the main goal into ‘baby steps’. It keeps me focused and encourages me to the next step in obtaining my goal.
I like to break down goals as well. It gives you mini accomplishments along the way
I really love this idea for helping to achieve goals.It is also nice for kids to help them.
It’s a great way to make their goals accountable
Every Sunday, I start a new goal and then I develop a checklist for that goal, so I can check it off during the week. For example, last Sunday, I started a walking checklist and I’m planning to increase my walking time a minute each week. That may seem very slow, but I’m disabled.
It sounds like you are super organized. I have no doubt you’ll achieve your walking goals
I make small but achievable lists, that way its easy to manage. Plus it is SO satisfying crossing things off the list!
I enjoy checking things off lists too
i reach all my goals by doing lots of research of how to achieve them and also lots of lists making and updating that list and research as often as need be.
Those are all great ways to make sure you reach your goals
This is a very helpful post! I have been trying to be more organized and goal oriented! I think its great to lead by example for your kids as well. Thanks for the tips, as always!
Being organized is def a work in progress. There’s always something more you could do to stay on top of it all. The trick is following through to reach your goals. So many just quit.
Thanks I will be wrighting things down to help me get my house in order
Writing down a plan to help you with your house is a great idea!!
I’ve been trying to get healthier so I have a goal of losing 30-40 pounds in 3 months. I’ve been planning out my exercises as well as my meals for the week. Meal prepping makes it easier to have healthy options ready to go.
That’s a very ambitious goal!
the only work I have been doing is my Family Tree . have been working on it for a few hours a day. have made it to 15th Grandparents in a few lines so far.
Doing genealogy can be hard work and needs a lot of goals
Sometimes I write down what needs to done and then start doing it and marking it off of the list as I get it done
Writing things down and making a list is a great way to get your goals on the right track