How To Achieve Your Goals This Year

2016 is upon us, and like most of us we have goals that we did not complete for 2015….So we’re left, STUCK, afraid, and really unmotivated to even set new ones for next year.

Well I say, forget THAT defeated mentality, and press on for the prize.  Those aren’t my own words, but a verse straight from the word of God.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Phillipians 3:13-14

Last year, I almost had the key of how to really get my goals completed, but I didn’t keep going.  What I did was make a spreadsheet (yes I’m a nerd), and I wrote out 11 goals for the year, then I broke them down monthly.  I would look at them often and I actually did well on a few because I kept looking at them.  However, I’ve recently learned that it is what we do DAILY that matters.

How do you eat an elephant?  One…bite….at…..a…..time.

 Image Credit: Amazing Artist Melissa Washburn, please visit her site at

                                     www.melissawashburn.com

So let’s get started.  Don’t wait for 2015, get started now and a year from now you’ll look back and be thankful you did!

Okay, so first thing is first, let’s pray!  Asking God, what His will is for your life is the BEST way to start goal-setting.  Take time to listen to the things He is putting in your spirit.  Jot down any things you see or hear during your prayer time.

Now take a blank piece of paper.  I got some of the categories below from Zig Ziglar’s book See You At The Top, an amazing read that will change your life.

I want to to write down these categories, then write your 1 year goals for each category.

1. Spiritual

2. Family

3. Physical

4. Financial

5. Social/Friends

6. Mental

7. Career

You should only need 7 goals for the year.  Believe me, I used to have 15, and that was way too much to focus on.  You can add a few, but try not to get carried away 🙂

So after writing your one year goals, break each one down to what you would need to do daily and weekly (in some circumstances) to achieve it. (See examples below)

1. Spiritual
Yearly – To know God more
Daily – 30 minutes of quiet time, alternating worship, study of scripture, and prayer

2. Family
Yearly – Have better relationships
Daily – Uplift others, take 15 minutes to encourage family by calling, texting, or visiting 

3. Physical
Yearly – A tone & healthy body
Daily – 15 minutes of exercise/1 sugary item each day/4 fruits/veggies a day

4. Financial
Yearly – Pay off debt, create a budget based on paycheck (once a month), I like Dave Ramsey’s method of separating cash into envelopes and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Daily –   Only use cash in envelopes

5. Social
Yearly – Be a better friend
Daily – Say no more to outside influences on your time to be able to nurture close friendships

6. Mental 
Yearly – Be at peace more with myself, write down 10 affirmations you want for your life
Daily – Repeat these every morning

7. Career
Yearly – Get the job of my dreams
Daily – Study 15 minutes to sharpen the skills needed for your future career, practice makes perfect!

Once I’m done with all of these goals, I write the long term one in my spreadsheet, hehe, and then I put them all in my Errands app on my phone.  Then I look at them daily and check them off.  I have the settings where they pop up again each day.  It even shows the date of the last time you checked off that goal to keep yourself accountable.

These are just a few examples of how to keep track of your goals, but you’ll see how this is much more practical than staring at a HUGE elephant you have to conquer.

Please leave comments if you get stuck, I’m happy to answer your questions.  Keep me posted on how your goals are coming along!

Remember, God instructs us not to worry about tomorrow, but to focus on Him and what He wants us to accomplish each and every day…

~Happy Goal Setting!