5 Ways to Build Momentum as you Strive to Reach your Goals!
Getting started is often the hardest part about accomplishing a goal. We know what we want but the task seems like a huge undertaking and daunting. We start doubting ourselves and our capacity to take on the challenge and another day slips by with our dream of becoming a new person! I’ve been there and so I wanted to share a few steps you might consider taking to make your next goal a reality!
#1 - Act right away!
Take one small action immediately after you set a goal. Example. I’m going to pay my house off by 2025 is a huge goal! Its great to have that on our vision board, read it out loud daily but if we stop there chances of paying off that bad boy is slim to none! One action step that could be taken right away would be to cancel your weekly cleaning services and have the $125/week come out of your chequing and go directly on to the principle of your mortgage. Now you’ve taken action on that big goal with a small task that will reap huge rewards!
#2 - Set milestones!
Set milestones and celebrate achievements as you reach them! For example, if you want to lose 25lbs, don’t wait until you’ve reached your goal completely to honour the progress. At the 5lb mark treat yourself to a new set of weights. At the 10lb mark order a new pair of jeans and so on. Make sure that you take the time to reflect and reward yourself for your commitment.
#3 - Track your progress!
Journal your progress. We often lose sight of how far we’ve come and keeping a journal can help us reflect on our accomplishments. To look back and see the inches or jean size you were four weeks ago compared to today, along with the workout routines journaled alongside your health journey will motivate you to keep the momentum going!
#4 - Set new targets!
Set a new target! Often high-achievers can find themselves in a slump if they have a big goal that they never thought they would reach. They reach it and wonder, “now what?” Get ahead of that mindset and always set new goals to stretch, grow and get outside of your comfort zone. I know this to be true in my own health journey. I had a goal of running a 5km with a girlfriend for an event in June. I trained all winter and when the event was cancelled, I fell off the wagon and stopped running! I was so disappointed in myself. Now I have moving targets for my best time to work towards and my running has become a more habitual part of my identify for the long term.
#5 - Set up accountability partnerships
Having an accountability partner is one of the surest ways to keep on track. When people publicly know your commitment to something and will hold your feet to the fire, we are motivated to avoid embarrassment and that keeps us on track and committed. I have an accountability partner for my workouts. We’ve texted one another every day (except for one rest day a week) for several months. There’s no WAY I’m skipping my workout when I know she’s going to ask and send her progress pic for the day. So chose someone who will keep you accountable and celebrate you along the way!
Setting goals is a great way to reenergize yourself, especially if you’re in a funk. Turn those vision board goals into a reality by taking action, having accountability and tracking and measuring your progress so you can celebrate your wins along the way!
As always, we would welcome any ideas you have on this topic and any hacks for keeping your spirits and momentum high when you’re striving towards your goals!
