Sara Jane Lowry

Coaching and Consultation

4 Simple Secrets to Achieving Goals for a New Year New You!

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Picture of a cabbage cactus with the phrase Make a revolution, not a resolution. If you are hungry for change and transformation. What do you really want? Are you ready to challenge your mindset? Do you need an advocate?

Here we are in 2021, and many of us start the year with renewed, or new goals and intentions in mind. Similarly, we are feeling inspired to create a life of purpose, growth, and intention. Or, we are eager to take our work to new heights of success and accomplishment. Secrets to achieving goals and intentions mean a closer look at your habits.

Most importantly, if we know anything from 2020, we know that life throws us curveballs. We are still facing the challenges of Covid-19 and figuring out how to work past them. Unfortunately, as with every new year, motivation often fades. Before long, achieving goals and intentions begin to droop as we reach March.

Part of setting goals and intentions is making sure that you have real clarity on the goal or intention and whether it is doable. Another key task is determining how you will measure your progress in achieving goals.

So, what are the ‘secrets’ to keeping those goals and intentions alive and thriving? How do you own the mental shift you need to make? Let’s consider a few:

The first and most important secret for achieving goals: Be accountable

  • You need an accountability system. This starts with owning your actions every day and using tools that help to remind yourself of the why behind setting those goals and intentions. Consider what your carrots and your sticks are that you will use (i.e. giving money to something/someone if you don’t meet your goals.
  • Determine how you will own your time, not giving it away to that which will not help you move closer to achieving goals and intentions.
  • Stop making excuses. The fewer excuses you tolerate in yourself, the more your determination will grow. Excuses are usually related to the ego-self keeping you safe — and is simply not true. Therefore, you are not focused on what you love, but instead, on what you fear, which keeps you from achieving goals.
  • Ask yourself if this behavior reflects your values, or is in response to someone else’s agenda.
  • Do you value accountability in others? Why not be the kind of person you want others to be?
  • How to achieve goals means measuring your progress against your goals and intentions every day.

The narrative you carry that was formed at other points in your life no longer serves you. Are you only paying attention to the negative? When we embrace all of our traits, we become confident in our authentic self and do what is right regardless of the opinion of others. Here is a link to Deepak Chopra’s guidance to setting intentions.

Own who you are

Get an accountability partner

Sticky notes on mirror saying Get Shit Done, Don't give up, Don't waste your time, Be Yourself, Be Kind as a reminder to focus on goals

Get serious about achieving goals

Becoming mindful is key to transform ourselves, our work, our relationships, and our lives. Therefore, be intentional and committed to achieving your goals and intentions. Accept and embrace the actions of change that lie before you.

You may need an accountability partner (or several). An accountability partner will work if you trust them to know your goals and intentions and be both a cheerleader and a “drill sergeant who will hold you to your goals. You may want to consider a coach or you may have friends or colleagues that also have goals and intentions so you act as an accountability partner for them as well. How can I help you achieve your goals?

Achieve your goals daily with these 3 things.

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Are you achieving your goals every day? If not, then read on. The next 3 minutes will set your mind to creating a new day for yourself. If you are truly ready to attain your goals faster, by doing more in less time, then you need to plan your day and track your goals. Maybe you think you already do that? Let’s take a moment to consider:

  • are you frustrated feeling like your day controls you, instead of the other way around?
  • have “urgent” or “important” tasks pop up every day that get you off track?
  • keep putting off personal desires or time with family and friends?
  • feel sometimes like you’ll never achieve the life you dream of and long to feel more satisfied, content, and joyful about your life?

What do you need to do for daily progress?

You need more clarity than you have now, with a clear system for setting and achieving daily goals, a plan for how to get there, and daily time management to keep you on track.

achieve your goals daily by tracking your time

We are all busy, right? And busyness is the plague of our times. Consequently, busyness will never equate to the actual achievement of your goals. Sometimes, we don’t have the choice of delegating to someone, but in many cases, we are perfectionists and want it done our way. In addition, we tend to want to “control” how something is done. Do you really need to do every little thing?

Success requires discipline. Of course, it is also HARD to achieve your goals if you don’t know what to focus on, you don’t know how to hire people to assist you, and you don’t have the right systems and processes in place.

So, let’s get started on the 3 things to achieve your daily goals

  • First: Vision Statement Clarity
    • Start with a picture of your ideal life using words and images. Then, structure your goals around it so you have your vision to inspire you daily. KNOW WHAT FUELS YOU!
  • Next: Goal setting
    • We’ve all heard of SMART goals, right? Of course, you make sure they are measurable and time-bound, and actionable. For example, you could set a goal of retiring by age 55, but without making it actionable, and setting measurable achievable goals and how much you will accomplish each year, it might remain a pipe dream. So, here are some questions you might ask yourself:
      • What exactly do I want to achieve?
        How? (what will I need to make it happen?)
        By when? (and then work backward to today)
        What are the conditions and limitations?
        Why exactly do I want to reach this goal? What are the possible alternative ways of achieving the same?
Balancing your priorities to achieve your goals. Rocks on top of each other.

You may need to make some tough decisions here. It may mean traveling for work and being away part of the week or living in a smaller house so you can save. And, it may mean giving up what feels safe for something unknown.

This is where you intend to be a time master

  • Third: Daily Planning
    • Above all, this means you stop “winging your day” and make sure you carve out time (10 minutes) in each half of the day to check in with yourself to see if you’re still on track.
    • In addition, learn when your high-energy time is and don’t waste it.
    • Prioritize your to-do list. Are you focusing on the top 20% that will move you toward your goals? Are you failing to delegate? It also means deciding what’s the most important task even when everything on your list feels crucial. Decision-making skills are key to achieving your goals. Go through your list. Want to get ruthless with your list? Check out this post by Zapier!
    • Are you tracking your time in your calendar? Are you setting expectations for each hour? Or are you succumbing to the demands of others for your time?
    • Plan your work and personal tasks, self-care, gratitude, exercise, family time.
    • Be focused and disciplined. If you know you need 30 minutes to get something done, stop complaining, or procrastinating, or going for a coffee break. It means deciding not to do things you’d really like to do. Make the break your reward for your focus.

If you are struggling with this, consider getting a coach. It’s not a sign of weakness. A coach can coach help you uncover those talents and passions that will then reveal to you your true purpose in life, help you to cut through all that chaos, and zero in on what you really, truly want, get motivated, and keep you accountable. If this sounds like something you need, make an appointment today for an exploration session!

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