Summertime is a time for us to get outside, take in the vitamin D and nourish ourselves with the offerings of mother nature.  As summer rolls by, slowly or quickly, we may have discovered new hobbies, created new habits, or set new goals.  It’s typically towards the end of August when we begin to look inward and reflect on what the changing of seasons can bring. Summer is also the halfway point from when the new year started, giving us the opportunity to look back on the goals we may have created in the new year. With this in mind, we take a beat to invite you to join us in a look at how goals evolve and introduce you to the idea of reflecting, resetting, and resting to achieve your goals.  

Checking-in on your goals may be a practice some have every day, every few weeks, every year, or when it feels intuitively right.  We bring up a mid-year reflection as we work through how we set goals, and also share methods that have worked to set goals. 

Reflect – how to identify your goals

There are different types of goals, and they’re not the same for everyone. However, remembering to remain true to yourself is the most essential aspect of creating them. Quite often, we can get lost by focusing on the desires of others instead of just paying attention to ourselves and our needs. When our goals come from a place of true purpose, need, drive or value it supports us in achieving them. That is why, in order to set a goal, reflect on the aspects of your life that you want to work on.

Let’s Discuss the two types of goals

• Long-term goals – these require more time to achieve the final result. Think of them as a prolonged vision of your future, your highest dreams.
• Short-term goals – the short ones are when you wish to achieve something in a shorter period, meaning – today, this week, this month, etc.

Let’s Discuss Categories For Goals

There are different categories in your life that you might need to consider when developing goals. Whether that’s your career, lifestyle, family, or education, choosing the one – or several- that will best reflect your desires is important. Some helpful tips to keep in mind – try to not overwhelm yourself with too many goals, as that can cause stress and demotivate you. Instead, think about what you want and what you value in life. Based on this desired outcome, set a goal that will deliver the best result.

In order to achieve this, consider creating small steps into the process. A long-term goal is the sum of its parts and you build towards it with all the little steps you take to make it happen. Another supportive tip is to create realistic, achievable short-term goals that will gradually build to your visualization or bigger goal. A to-do list is another helpful tool to ensure daily progress as you work towards reaching goals.

Reset – Be Specific, Revise and Refocus

When you decide on your goals, providing as much information as possible will support its maintenance. Sometimes, life can get in the way, in which after reflecting on your goal, you may consider a reset. All the while, be sure you take a moment to celebrate any short-term goal wins. While reflection is a way to create goals, reset encourages time to check-in with yourself. It allows you to see if you need to make specific changes to accomplish your goal.

While this could be at any point of your life, we recommend a three-month check-in for long term goals, but assess what type of goal you created and in that specificity, create a check-in timeline for yourself. We tend to work better once we have a deadline. Keep in mind it’s possible to experience certain setbacks and disappointments. This is all part of the journey, and it’s normal for it to happen. This is the reason for the rest.

Rest – Keep Track of your Journey and Practice Kindness

When we say rest, we mean that many goals will take time, it will be a process of reflection, resets, celebrations and disappointments. Another supportive tip in achieving goals is to write everything down. Keeping track of your progress and acknowledging the milestones you’ve overcome could motivate you, encourage you to give yourself accolades and grace, and enjoy the present moment. Another reason we write our goals down is that it’s a powerful tool – it gives your thoughts meaning and purpose. That process is just as important as reaching goals. We can easily get preoccupied with the endpoint and dismiss the overall journey when in reality, this is where we learn and grow. It’s also important to reward yourself for every accomplished task. When you’re kind to yourself and pay attention to your self-confidence, you’ll feel more energized and determined to accomplish the goals you have set out for yourself. 

As your wellness is holistic, goals can come from all spheres of your life, from mental wellness, social, spiritual, cognitive, physical, and more, revisiting goals from time-to-time acts as a remember to both celebrate wins, and to see how things are going. Do you wish to learn more about creating and reaching goals and stay informed about your well-being and quality of life? We invite you to stay in the loop with us and join our mailing list here!