How To Set Monthly Goals & ACHIEVE THEM!
We all know the research and amazing results from setting goals for yourself, writing them down and how your life will change miraculously. But life gets in the way.
YOU deserve to want a better, more fulfilling, positive and prospering life. This starts with the daily, weekly and monthly actions that will create the difference in your life. It will create difference between you and the person next to you.
I started writing my monthly goals down in October 2019 and I began seeing INSANE changes in my life. Things were happening that had all odds against them and I was reaching goals I never thought I’d be able to reach - they were my unrealistic goals to aspire to. Now you might say “that’s just luck” or “it’s a coincidence” and I will tell you, nothing is a coincidence and if writing goals is all I have to do to start fulfilling what I want to manifest then so be it.
Here is how I break down my monthly goal setting:
** I share my actual examples of my goals at the end :)
Set Up Your Goals & Brainstorming
Break it into categories - what are the areas in life you want to focus on?
Categories I do:
Financial
Physical
Mental
Personal
Try to set a similar number of goals for each category.
What I do: I usually do 7-10 goals per category
2. Start brainstorming. Here are my tips when thinking about goals.
Be realistic - don’t set insane goals for yourself that aren’t possible to meet in 30 days. You will become discouraged and end up hate setting goals because you’re never satisfied by not meeting them.
Set big and small goals. I always put 1 or 2 goals that I know are attainable or very close to being attainable. This gives you the small wins that you need to keep setting goals for yourself.
Push yourself - which category are you really trying to focus on in 2020? Push yourself with the goals you make for yourself in this category.
Map your month out - what does this month look like for you? In every aspect? Are you traveling a lot, if so, then maybe a 6x/week workout goal isn’t setting yourself up for success. If the holidays are coming, maybe don’t commit to a vegan diet. Be realistic and map out what you have coming up this month and align your goals to this.
3. Think big but then think small - This is key. When setting up a goal for yourself for the month it’s important to think of the smaller actions that are going to help you get there.
For example: If a goal is to workout 4x a week and you currently workout 0x/week. You may need to look at your schedule and find where these workouts are getting fit in. Maybe even plan them on your calendar. If you don’t set yourself up for success and make small actions, how can you expect to reach a goal of 16 workouts a month coming from 0?
If You Need Instant Satisfaction - Most of us do - TRY THIS!
This is a great tip that I once heard and I always share with others, especially those who can be discouraged by goal setting or need instant satisfaction and reward to keep going. You can set 7 and 14 day goals along with your monthly.
This tricks our brain because when we begin to achieve the 7-day goals we start rewarding yourself and feeling good inside. The human brain wants to feel good, not discouraged by not achieving goals. It’s a great idea to set even a 7-day goal list and monthly. After the first week you can review these goals and start checking them off your list and feel good inside. This feeling will keep you going through the month and help you stay on track.
Where to Keep Your Goals
I write my goals on my digital notes and also on a physical piece of paper. There are so many studies that prove how powerful writing your goals down can be. I write mine digitally to always be able to check back on them throughout the month for a good reminder. I then write them physically for the power you have instilling them in your mind and conscious mind.
It’s good to check back on your goals a few times or at least one time a week. It keeps you in check and allows for you to adjust, whether it’s pushing them farther or scaling back a little, for the remainder of the month.
Tip: Checkout the App “Evernote” it will automatically update when you add notes on your computer to your phone and vice versa. This is what I use to always stay up to date with my notes, to-do lists and goal adjustments.
What Goals Do For You
There is so much research that shows the power of setting goals, working towards them and achieving them. It gives you the satisfaction and power within yourself and what you’re capable of. I also think it’s important to remember that you don’t need to have these life changing goals for 30 days. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.
Example of My *Actual* Monthly Goals
Here is an example of what my actual list looks like. I only added a few to show you an example. For the goals that will take more effort to achieve I input small steps that can be followed to increase my odds of achieving them.
Financial Goals
Deposit $___ into my APY Savings Account
Income at $___ for the month
Keep credit card statement under $____
Input info into monthly tracking expenses weekly (Sundays)
Personal Goals
Do 1 thing a week that makes me uncomfortable
No phone 30 min when I wake up and before bed
Charge my phone in the bathroom away from my bed
Call every family member 1x/week
Physical Goals
Do 15 pull ups
10 minute wall sit
Rock climb 3x/week
Workout 6x/week
Mental Goals
Meditate 3x/week
Read 20 min/day
Read 2 books
Read daily affirmations every morning
My crazy manifestation story: I set a very high income goal for the month of November, it was almost unrealistic with what my current monthly income was (well over $1-2k more than what I currently made monthly). I then had some issues with my apartment complex that damaged my car, I was fighting the battle with an insurance company and it was taking months. Within the last few days of the month I received a check for the damage… this check brought me to the DOLLAR of my monthly income goal.
Now, I know this is a “lucky” or “coincidental” story and it was almost by chance that it happened. Although, I put out the thought and goal to reach an income by this specific amount and I reached it. By the crazy universe and the timing of things it came true and I reached it to the dollar I set 30 days prior.
I had SO many examples of this happening that I decided nothing is always out of luck and began setting monthly goals every month. I suggest writing some goals and see the crazy manifestations that can happen! Every month since I have set an income higher than what I make monthly and have always reached the amount due to these crazy situations, a freelance job I wasn’t planning on, a gift or check I received, etc. Just saying, give it a try for yourself!