5 Tips for Mindful Goal Setting
Mindful goal setting allows you to be intentional about what you want to accomplish and why you even care to accomplish it. When you're pursuing goals with purpose in mind, it helps you find value in your day-to-day work, reduce stress and emotionally connect with the effort it takes to succeed in life. Use these 5 mindful goal setting tips to create clarity, prevent burnout and help identify the motivation behind your life’s work.
Write down your goals - Take a moment, and write down your newly discovered ambitions. Not type them, physically write them down. It’s a good idea to keep them in a safe place, such as, a designated journal or notebook. If you’re looking for a space to jot down your daily goals, my Mindful Goal Setting Workbook is the perfect place. It gives you a well-designed area to write down one meaningful goal a day. Beneath that, you’ll write why you care to accomplish it and before you’re done, you’ll take a moment to recite your motivational affirmation, to help you power through your day.
- Make sure your goals are specific - When setting meaningful goals they need to be specific to you and and to your wants. For example, saying, “I want to land the perfect job”, isn’t as specific as saying, “I want to land a job as a Project Manager this year.” The second goal is specific and gives you a deadline to work towards. It also helps you maintain clarity throughout the process.
Think, “Why do I care?” - This is where the art of being mindful comes in. Why do you even want to accomplish the goals you have listed? What’s the driving force behind pursuing this goal and once accomplished, what’s the personal reward? Understanding the motivation behind the goal is key to remaining resilient during the pursuit. Take some time, dig deep and write down why you care about each goal.
Plan accordingly - After defining your goals and why you care to accomplish them, it’s time to plan for success. Write down 3 to 4 steps it takes to achieve each goal and a deadline for each step. The initial step is usually the hardest so it’s important to attach a prompt date to this one. Remember, these steps are essentially short term goals that should be feasible to accomplish in the next couple of days or possibly the next couple of weeks. Don't procrastinate.
Think personally and professionally - Goal setting isn’t just about professional work. It’s necessary to set goals that positively impact your personal and professional life so that you’re working towards being your all-around best self. This could mean setting new wellness goals such a daily exercise to improve fitness, or daily meditation to help cope with stress. Your personal goals can make all the difference in the quality of your work therefore, don’t hesitate to combine the two.