Accomplishing your goals is like learning to ride a bike. You move forward creating success, then you fall off, regroup, and jump back on the back. Over and over and over.
(Find this perspective interesting? Share!!!)
Does this mean you are “bad” at creating goals? Or, you “aren’t good enough” to create and sustain focused action?
No, it means you are human! Making some progress today, then reverting to “old habits” is normal. So normal, in fact, that it has a name, “backsliding”.
One way to reduce the amount of backsliding that occurs as you strive to accomplish a goal is to use some support. You could team up with someone to help keep you on track.
You can create a daily checklist to keep you moving forward.
You can use a system to assist you in remaining focused.
Once strategy I like to use to help me stay the course is to concentrate on the 3 stages of A.W.E.
90 Day Accountability Journal
The following is an excerpt from Create A.W.E. Inspired Change – A 90 Day Accountability Journal
A – Awareness
Where are you and where do you want to be? Sometimes we can jump in trying to solve a symptom of the problem, not the actual problem. We are looking for the “quick fix”, the “magic formula”, the “save 10 minutes a day” approach. When in actuality, by not addressing the actual problem we can solve a symptom and a new one will pop right up.
For example, one strategy to reduce lateness is to set the clocks ahead 10 minutes in the house, the car, and the office. However, the REASON you may be late is because your schedule is jam packed filled to the gills full. It doesn’t matter how much you set your clocks ahead if you have too much to do each day.Spend some time thinking about these questions . . .
• What do you want to change?
• What have you tried before?
• What is standing in your way?
• What are you willing to do?
• What are you willing to give-up?
• What resources do you need?
• What is working in your life?
• What isn’t working?
• If you could have anything – what do you want?
• If you could do anything – what would it be?
W – Work with Focused Action and Accountability
Action steps – create a plan! What will you do today to start you on the path of making this change? A goal without a plan is just a dream. To move forward and create change we actually need to work. I don’t advocate working HARD, I advocate working DILIGENTLY. Master your schedule – learn time saving techniques and strategies. Create a solid and do-able plan with daily action steps.
• What are the absolute smallest steps you can take each day?
• Delegate?• Delete activities?
• Create a power hour?
• Network?
• Turn off the TV?
• Practice self-care?
• Meditate?
• Exercise?
• Contact a coach?
E- Evaluation
Examine your plan – and your steps to completion. This is the time to really fine-tune your processes and procedures. Maybe you need to adjust your goal. Maybe you need to adjust your action steps. The greatest learning is in “the debrief”.
• What worked?
• What didn’t?
• What can you adjust?
• How will you need to fine tune your plan?
What do you use to keep you on track when you are working diligently to accomplish a big goal? Post your comment below!
Are you interested in learning more about how the structure of the Create A.W.E. Inspired Change – A 90 Day Accountability Journal can help keep you on track? Click here!
Very useful and helpful blog post. Accomplishing goals gives you a sense of pride because you followed through. Thanks for this great post.
Renee-
Welcome and thanks for your comment! Absolutely – and who couldn’t use a sense of pride due to accomplishment, right?!
Lisa
Learning how to make and achieve goals was the best thing that I have ever done. I am more productive and successful when I make goals with action steps. It is easier and you may get less backsliding if the goals and actions steps are small and attainable. I love that you mention having someone to support you. Accountability is key, and anything is possible with help, support and someone on your team!
Jodene
Exactly! Small steps – and support! Two keys to successful goal achievement. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Lisa
Never heard about backsliding, but it makes sense… It happens more often then I thought. Thanks for this post, is useful and encouraging and Reminds me to focus more on evaluation.
Clara –
Thanks for stopping by! I agree completely – we can reduce the amount of times we backslide (or the length of time we SPEND backsliding) when we take the time to evaluate what is working, what isn’t, and how we got to where we are!
Lisa
Goals for me are prioritized on my list. I have always worked hard to accomplish them. However, sometimes a few goals take more time than others. Thank you for this tips I will take them in consideration.
Remy
Thanks for the comment. I’d love to hear about your progress – please stop back and fill us in!
Lisa
I love Zig Ziglar’s quote. I used to stress a lot about not accomplishing a goal but I’m doing great now by understanding it’s a process: you fall, you get up, you fall again, you get up.
This is what I tell my daughters too and should be a system taught in school also ;)
Thanks for bringing awareness, Lisa!
Delia –
I’m trying to embrace the journey as well as the destination as I strive to accomplish my goals. I find, as you stated, it helps to reduce the stress. Thanks for your comment!
Lisa
Great advice to work through Lisa. We can get wound up by failing to meet a goal, but if you pull it apart and look at the process then you can achieve at each step.
Love the quote also.
Lorelle –
Agreed! It’s all about the journey!
Lisa
I like to use a to list, but rather than cross off the things I’ve done, instead I highlight them with a highlighter so that I can see what I’ve achieved.
Carol –
Ohhhhh – I love the idea of using a highlighter!! I’m going to try that out!
Lisa