What does it really take to achieve your goals?

We know one thing, reaching your goals takes a lot of hard work. To achieve them, you have to take a good look at how you’re going to accomplish them.

It’s not as simple as saying “I want to lose weight”. To be successful, a real commitment with a plan has to be made.

What does reaching your goal look like on a daily basis? Picture yourself doing those things.

Be Mentally Prepared

If you make yourself aware of what needs to be done, you’ll take actions to reach your goals.

Let’s look at this statement: “I want to be able to do a handstand”. It’s a simple statement. But that’s it, it’s just a thought about what you want.

It doesn’t show how you will learn to do a handstand. You haven’t thought about what you will do to accomplish it.

You may have seen someone doing a handstand and thought “I’ve always wanted to be able to do a handstand.”

Have you thought about making time to achieve your goals? Maybe you thought to yourself, “I will practice against the wall everyday.” But this may not be enough.

Explore it More

Now, let’s take a deeper look into what you would have to do to accomplish this goal.

What is involved in doing a handstand?

• Safety first. You’ll want to make sure you don’t injure yourself.
• It takes strength in your arms and abs to balance and hold yourself up.
• To achieve holding a handstand, you could start with small steps, like using a wall and holding for 20 seconds or doing arm exercises to build strength.
• Getting over the fear of falling.
• At some point it will be time to advance to the next step so you should avoid using crutches (like the wall) for too long.
• It requires repetition so being tired shouldn’t be an excuse (in most cases).
• You’ll be sore but will need to push forward.

These are some of the things you will have to think through.

When you look at it in more detail, you start to see what it takes. 

Then, you can make a decision on whether you are up for the challenge.

By putting more thought into the goal you have set, you will be mentally prepared to take it on.

Create Your Plan

Continuing with the handstand example… if you decide to go for this goal, you can create a plan for accomplishing it.

There are many guides online to help you. You can even find a handstand challenge to join in on.

Your plan should be broken down into smaller parts to make achieving your goals easier. 

Here’s a partial plan of the handstand goal:

• Day 0: Research safety and guides
• 1st Week: Push-ups and sit-ups to build core
• 2nd Week: Wall planks to help get used to being upside down
• 3rd Week: Wall handstands…

There will be days you don’t want to do the work but it’s important to push through, if possible. I know there are certain circumstances that may get in the way.

So yes, a plan is necessary… and then you need a back-up plan!

For example, you’ve set a goal to workout at least 3 times per week. What happens if you start thinking, I don’t want to go to the gym.

Without a plan, you might just stay in bed or go home and sit on the couch contemplating on whether you want to go.

But if you’ve prepared beforehand, you’ve probably figured out what it to do if this happens:

• Tell people, ahead of time, that you’re going to workout 3 times this week.
• Each day, prepare your workout gear!
  • Pack gloves, towels, water, and headphones.
  • Pick out what you are going to wear.
• Plan what workout you will do each day. Create a printout or type up a document to view on your phone

You know yourself.

Maybe, getting dressed in your workout clothes as soon as you wake up or get home from work, will shift your thinking to “Just Do It” — even when you don’t feel like it.

Take it From Habit to Lifestyle

Soooo, it will be frustrating and you will most likely slip up. But you can get right back into it.

You’ll have to give yourself tough love and take the steps. Even when your brain finds reasons not to.

One day you will be fired up and ready to achieve your goals. Other days, yea not so much.

BUT… because you have a plan you are going to make the better choice each day; “No” excuses!

You’ve heard the saying “It takes 21 days to create a habit.” Whether it’s really 21 days is up for debate but the key takeaway is that it takes consistency.

So keep at it until it becomes a habit.

Because once you create those habits, you’re that much closer to creating the lifestyle you want.

I’m guessing you aren’t going for a goal to just throw it out after you’ve completed it. Remember achieving your goals is for the long run.

They are commitments you are making and you want to enjoy the benefits of all the hard work for many years to come.

Of course, you will adjust the plan accordingly, since priorities change. Nothing’s set in stone, but your choices will take you in a similar direction.

Create a Foundation for Your Goals

It’s a good idea to have a foundation for goal setting.

Whether you are setting an exercise goal, a health goal, a goal to declutter and stay organized, etc., you should explore the following for each of them:

• Focus on why.
  • Why do you want to complete your goals? Is it to be in shape? Get healthy? Feel good?
• Create a routine and plan of action.
  • Start with a routine that promotes productivity.
  • Come up with a process for how you will complete your goals.
  • Figure out how to stop procrastination in its tracks (once you realize, do something, anything towards your goal) – to be productive
• Don’t try to skip ahead.
  • Don’t expect to see progress too early.
• Start small.
  • Don’t be too ambitious. (I’ve made this mistake)
• Make realistic goals.
  • When you set goals, make them based on what you would actually do.
  • Make sure they are achievable within the time frame you set.
• Avoid getting stuck in limbo.
  • Don’t over plan, just be there (at the gym, writing, doing the work). Don’t take too long figuring out how you will do it. Adjust as you go. But you must start.
• Make it a priority.

Think About Ways to Achieve Your Goals

Do you set achievable goals?

A place to start is to figure out what makes you feel motivated.

Is it a speech that you can listen to on YouTube? Looking at others achievements on social media like Instagram or Facebook? Is it looking at the state you are in and how you feel now?

Here are some ways to achieve your goals:

• Make yourself accountable by making your goals known.
  • Post on social media regularly
  • Post in a group chat
  • Write on a calendar or in a journal
• Prepare beforehand.
  • Have workout clothes ready
• Put it in your schedule.
  • Be sure to make time somehow whether it’s working on your goal for  5 min or 1 hour. Just try to make it a habit.
• Use a chart to visually see your progress.
  • Mark it with a tick or place a sticker on it each time you complete a goal. Then when you look at it later, you see your accomplishments.
• Listen to motivational talks each morning.
  • Podcasts
  • YouTube
  • Audio-books
• Put up reminders.
  • Sticky notes

Believe in Yourself

Believe that you can accomplish your goals. It’s mind over matter! Have confidence in yourself and really commit to the plan you have set.

Remember to focus on getting better each day and try not to compare yourself to others. Everyone is at different stages in their lives.

Work with what you have and continue to strive for new goals as your complete your old ones.

I believe everyone has something to contribute to life in some way.

When we achieve our personal goals, we become happier. When we are happy, we are able to contribute positively.

And the world wants to see what you have to contribute!