Goal setting has made such a huge change in my life when it comes to accomplishing the things I want to accomplish. Having now completed two marathons and followed through in getting my licenses for insurance, I want to talk about what I’ve learned about setting goals. Though there are some goals that have fallen of the wayside I feel like I have narrowed down a few habits that have led me to succeed in the main things I have worked for. Which leads me to step number one.

• Start with the little things.

Psychologically, the hardest part of accomplishing anything is starting. Procrastination is the killer of goals and to help you beat procrastination you have to think smaller. Start with the little things. Don’t think about the big picture because if you look at the mountain of work in front of you you’ll never get started. Instead, focus on the step right in front of you. Plus, once you get started it’s easier to continue going. You’ve jumped the hurdle of procrastination not realizing all it was was a single step.

For example, have you ever had a messy room you knew you had to clean but just looking at the mountain of work is mentally exhausting to wrap your head around? Well if you are like me, looking at the giant mess doesn’t really get me motivated to start cleaning it. What we should do in that situation is decide to pick-up the smaller things, and while you’re at it, might as well pick up the dirty laundry. And while you are at it, might as well make your bed and so on and so forth. Thinking of things one task at a time is a lot more mentally doable than looking at all the tasks at the same time

• Make it easy

The best way to make something a habit is by making it easy. According to Atomic Habits, a book by James Clear, one of the sure fire methods of creating a good habit is by making the habit as close to second nature as you can.

Bad habits are formed by the simple fact that it is easy to do. For example, If the first thing you do when you wake up is get on your phone when you should really get up and do something productive is the simple fact that the phone is easily available, sitting there right on your night stand. Making it harder to do a bad habit will make it easier not to do it. With the same logic, if you were to make a productive action easier it would be easier to create a good habit. remove as many hurdles as you need to from getting in between you and doing the habit and it will get a lot easier as you go.

For example, let’s say I want to make going to the gym after work a habit. I would pack my clothes the night before and chose the gym that is on the road between my house and work, that way I would have everything ready to go as soon as I’m off and every time I pass the gym I have a visual reminder and cue to go.

• Keep the Ball Rolling.

The enemy of any successful journey is the time it takes to get from point A to point B because among that time there is opportunity to waver. There is so much unforeseen circumstance that can happen that can throw off your groove. There are so many things that can take our eyes off the prize

For instance, let’s take the example about making going to the gym a habit. what happens if one day you get into an accident and lose your transportation or what if you move and the gym you go to is no longer on the way from work? that throws a wrench into your plans and it gets easier to not go to the gym like you had been. the most important thing to do is to get the ball rolling again. Make it easy again, find another gym, start with the little things, keep getting your bag ready to go to the gym.

Things WILL come your way no doubt about that, do not be surprised when they do. The idea for this step is to prepare for it and make it a purpose to plan for an alternative to continue moving forward with the goal in mind and not lose sight of it. keep making steps even around the obstacles life throws at you.

There you have it. Three steps to reaching you goals, if you found this helpful please like it. My plan is come up with weekly content and share my insights and personal goals for the next year. hopefully we can reach those goals together! thanks for reading!