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For me, the fall is a time to ‘get it together,’ and that means goal setting and formulating plans. I couldn’t say why I tend to get in the mode of beginning new projects in the fall. Perhaps it’s a throwback to getting ready for school to begin. Later, we would help our children prepare for the start of school and then, once they were out from under foot, we could start major projects. Some people spring clean, but I fall clean!

It can be an exciting time but if we don’t have a plan or know how to manage stress, it can be overwhelming. Frankly, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The first step in cutting through the overwhelm is to create specific goals. Having something to work towards, and understanding what it takes to achieve your goal will make all the difference. 

Reaching our goals is not always easy, sometimes we must ‘climb the stairs’ which means putting in the effort. I have created a handy (and free!) workbook to help you through the process. Let’s do this!

How to Create Goals in 7 Steps

There are many known benefits to setting goals, such as providing focus to drive us forward. But it can be difficult to know where to begin. As ever, darlings, I would never leave you on your own. Read on and you will learn exactly how to create goals in 7 steps. I’ve included some examples as context.

#1 When Creating Goals, Start With the Big Picture

The first thing you need to do when creating a goal is to understand what you want to accomplish. You may have a broad sense of what you want, but have you really thought about all that goes into it? Not to worry, darling, there is no need to overwhelm yourself with the enormity of it all. Relax and allow yourself to think about the big picture without dwelling on the details. 

What would you like to achieve in the most general sense? It can sometimes be fun to create a mood board on Pinterest. I like to set a timer and only allow myself 15 minutes to generate ideas and add to my mood board. This is to be sure you do not go down a rabbit hole — trust me, it is easily done. There are no rules to creating a mood board. The only ‘goal’ here is to help clarify your understanding of your desired result. 

For example, if your goal is to plan a weekend with your girlfriends, you first need to know what that means to you. Does that mean getting a hotel in town and planning a ‘staycation?’ Could it be planning to meet up at a winery for a day? Does that mean going somewhere more exotic? It could even be inviting a couple of friends to your home for the weekend. Only you can decide what your goal is.

Keep in mind this will work with any goal. Whether it be organizing your home, planning a trip, or going back to school. I’ve given examples to help you understand the method but apply it to your own goal. 

Have fun with it!

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#2 Break Down Your Goal

Once you have an idea of the desired outcome of your goal, give it a name. Naming something is paramount to manifesting it.

The next step in creating a goal is to break it down. 

What does that look like? Let’s use the example of having a planning a girls’ weekend. What would you need to decide first? Who is going on this trip with you? Would you like to stay close by? Do you want to visit warmer or cooler climbs? Once you know the bigger picture things, you can get down to the nitty gritty. 

I like to write things down at this point. Personally, I love to use a beautiful notebook or planner. You should use whatever method you prefer when writing lists and making plans. 

#3 Break Your Goal Down Into Mini Goals

 

The next step, once you’ve created your goal, is to make a plan of action. Put simply, break your plan up into mini goals. 

In keeping with the example of the goal of a girls’ weekend, let’s break down the mini-goal.

• Reach out to friends and propose several possible weekends
• Get input on itinerary (or not)
• Research possible destinations
• Send out a questionnaire to your friends to get more info
• Etc.

#4 Execute on Each Step

You’ve learned how to create goals, now it’s time to execute. Luckily, dear reader, you have a detailed road map. All you have to do is follow the route! 

#5 Make Adjustments as Needed

One thing I want you to remember is that no matter your plan, things can still change. This is to be expected and is completely okay. Depending on the enormity of the change in plan, there are a couple of ways forward. You can either replan that mini-goal or work your way back down from earlier on in the planning process. The wonderful news is, you have a process! You can do this. 

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#6 Give Yourself Grace

We all know the phrase “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” Thankfully, many of us find it easy to forgive others. Unfortunately, we are not very gentle with ourselves when things go awry. 

Even the most carefully laid out plan can have bumps in the road. The most important thing to remember is when things are out of your control, is that you cannot change them. What is always in your control is how you react to a situation. 

If things do not go as planned, this does not mean you’ve failed. It could mean that you have to take a breath and adjust. Or perhaps, it could mean that something even better is in store for you. Let go of what you cannot control or change. You will be much happier when you do.

#7 Celebrate Your Accomplishment!

 

You did it! No matter how everything turned out, you should celebrate yourself and the work that you put in. You learned how to create goals. Chances are, if you followed your steps, you took a lot of the guesswork out of making things happen. This, in itself, is an accomplishment. So break out the bubbly and celebrate yourself. You deserve it. 

You are worth it, darling. 

At times the big picture can be overwhelming. When we are overwhelmed we may simply shut down. Think of all of the wonderful things we may miss out on if we give up before we start!

I hope that you will not shy away from creating your own goals in the future. You have all of the tools you need to create the life of your dreams. Though that may sound a little grand, I believe it to be true. 

And what better time to learn to conquer your goals than the fall?Be at peace knowing you now know how to create goals. 

What is a goal that you are focused on going into this holiday season? Please share with me in the comments. I love hearing from you!

HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO REACH A GOAL? HOW DID IT GO? DID YOU HAVE A SOUND PLAN? PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY IN THE COMMENTS!

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