Whenever I come out of a season of life, such as postpartum or moving into a new house, I always need to set goals to give myself some structure. If I don’t, I feel like I’m floundering as a mom and wife. I begin to think and feel negatively, and end up watching unhealthy amounts of reality television.
I just came out of a season of pregnancy and early stage of postpartum. So I’m currently feeling the urge to set some goals for the next few months. What better time for goal setting than just before the fall season rolls in? You can make all kinds of goals. Mine are typically in the realm of personal, family, and relationship.
Here are some points to think about when setting goals for yourself.
Why should you set goals?
Setting goals helps give you direction to know what you’re working towards. For example, maybe your goal is to read more. Maybe you don’t feel like you have enough time to read, or don’t feel motivated. That’s OK. Just set your goal to read more books, and keep coming back to it, even when life gets crazy.
How do you set goals?
If you have a lifetime goal, first think of the big picture. For instance, retiring to Hawaii is a big lifetime goal.
Next, break your big goal down into smaller goals. The best way to do this is to think backward, starting at your end goal and working yourself to where you are right now.
How do you know you achieved your goal?
Make your goals measurable. Your goals should either have an end date or a number; something to make it clear that you have achieved your goal. For example, I want to read three books by the end of September. I included a set amount of books and a deadline to clarify whether or not I achieved my goal once October rolls around.
Make your goals relevant.
Make goals that you can achieve and that are relevant to your season of life. A goal to get eight hours of sleep every night isn’t a feasible goal for me right now. I have two little kids so eight hours of sleep isn’t always attainable. Therefore, that’s not a goal I would set for myself.
Pick a reward for yourself.
If the fact that you achieved your goal and checked it off your list isn’t motivating enough, reward yourself. Throw a party! Or, if you don’t want to be around others, choose something you want, like a purse or a vacation. The reward will also help motivate you to keep working towards your big picture!
Find an accountability partner.
Find someone who can hold you accountable for your goals. It’s always nice if the relationship isn’t one-sided, so see if there is something you can keep them accountable to as well. Always be kind when you’re an accountability partner, but be firm. Allow for grace when it’s warranted, and encourage your partner to keep moving forward.
How many goals should you have?
The answer to that question is easy! As many as you want! You can choose how many or how few goals you have. It’s fun being an adult, sometimes.
What happens if you don’t meet your goals?
To be quite honest, there are times when I change my goals shortly after creating them because I realize later on how lofty they were. And you know what? That’s okay. No one sounded an alarm. And if I still didn’t meet my goal, I kept on working and maybe adjusted my goals for the next season and evaluated my priorities.
To give you some ideas for goals, here are a few of mine for the fall.
- Go to the library with my girls three times a month.
- Go to a pumpkin patch.
- Spend at least five minutes of individual time with each girl before bedtime.
- Try three new recipes a month.
- Find two new ways to encourage my husband before winter.
- Workout at least three times a week.
- Schedule a massage for me before winter.
