Do you remember the start of the year when we were all talking about our goals for the year ahead? Well it’s time for a review. So here we are …its June! Yes June is here already! Not so long ago we were contemplating the new year and planning how awesome it was going to be; many of us who know that mere ‘resolutions’ no longer cut it, as they are now deemed passé and restrictive, went about setting ourselves some GOALS. Some of us made ‘vision boards’ to help us to visualise our goals.

Goals sound sexy don’t they? It’s one syllable that just roles off the tongue; and not only that , we can have different types of goals; short term, medium term, long term, stretch goals, life goals, performance goals, business goals etc….the possibilities are endless….we can set them for every aspect of our lives.

The great thing about goals is that they can be given a time frame, and the great thing about that is that you have the ability to review and re align them. So for example if your goal is to read one book per month, if you have a week where you don’t do any reading your goal is still attainable, if you manage to read more in the following 3 weeks. Equally if your goal is to start making time for mindfulness in your life, you won’t feel like a failure if you don’t manage it for a couple of days. Generally well structured, flexible goals are more forgiving, they allow us to be human and we are less likely to beat ourselves up or give up on them.

So …where are you now with the goals that you set at the start of the year? Today, this minute? This is the time to be honest with yourself. Question: How many of your goals are still in existence and more importantly, how often have you sat down to review them and monitor your progress? If all is well and you and your goals are still on friendly terms, AND you are achieving them, then read no further.

BUT if there is any doubt ….here are some reminders [these are for my benefit as well as yours, as some of my goals are in danger of stretching into next year 😱)

💜W-R-I-T-E them down! There is nothing as empowering as putting your goals on paper, seeing them on paper gives them a life of their own..it makes them real. If you are a visual person, make a vision board of your goals: so if it’s more fun or fitness that you’re after, put pictures of you having a good time or working out on your board.

💜 Once you’ve documented your goals put them in places where you’ll be able to revisit them regularly eg. Your closet door, on your phone, desk drawer, tablet, purse, wallet…basically anywhere that you look at regularly.

💜Once they are written, think about them in terms of SMART: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound . it’s important that they can fit in with your life, as there’s no point in setting goals that you can only dream about but can’t action.
Now this may seem obvious, but make sure that these are your heartfelt goals and not the goals that you think you should have….ultimately for goal setting to really work, we have to own our goals, thoroughly and completely for them to come to life.

💜Focus on the HOW! How am I going to make these goals happen? Make a plan. So if it’s reading one book a month…when will you read? Morning upon waking, lunchtime or before bed? What will make it easier? A kindle ? carrying a book in your bag, car? Whatever your goals are, you need a plan to support them.

💜If some of your goals are business or health goals, and you are not completely sure how to achieve them, seek help; This help could be in the form of a coach or mentor, or even a friend or colleague with expertise in your area of need.

At the end of the day our goals should be a positive part of our lives that enhance our experiences and contribute to our growth. So what are you waiting for? Go and get cosy with your goals