One of the biggest things that leads to people not accomplishing their goals is that they seem to want to jump right from the point at which they are barely getting started right to the end result. Not that doing it this way is entirely impossible! In fact, some of the time this way works very well. But the problem that a lot of people may run into is that they lack an actual strategy on how to fully achieve their goals, and so they simply do not have what it takes to achieve the results that they are looking for (this is actually the reason why many people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions).
The secret to achieving success in just about any goal you are after? Just start moving towards it! Then take baby steps until you reach the result that you are after. After all, life is a marathon, not a sprint… right?
The trick is not to get scared to start moving. It doesn’t actual matter how intimidating, overwhelming or unachievable our dreams and goals may seem. Going at them from a different angle, using a different strategy or trying new tactics may be just the thing you need to help you start making progress on them again.
Keep it simple, silly!
Learning to take baby steps toward our goals may actually be the simplest, yet most effective strategy that we can use in going after goal achievement, as doing it this way helps you build on the small successes that you will be likely to be able to create each and every day instead of having to wait for those bigger landmarks if you aim too high right from the get go. Some of the most successful people on the planet will tell you that they made their biggest breakthroughs by using a series of smaller steps and by making one positive choice after another… small ones, but done consistently, this is the true secret to success.
How do we do this though? Setting smaller goals or planning out a series of baby steps may seem difficult to someone who has never tried it before, but it’s actually easier than you think!
Let’s look at health goals as an example. Bettering one’s health or wellness is an extremely common goal for many people, especially at the start of the new year when the time to make resolutions rolls around. One very popular goal is to lose weight – there are a ton of people who aim to lose 10 pounds, 20 pounds or even more around that time of year. Part of the reason why so many people do this at that time is because they have sort of a network of supporters behind them – if everyone is trying to lose weight at that time, then the hope is that we can all lean on and support each other in our efforts.
The trouble is that these resolutions are rarely backed up by an actual game plan or strategy of how to achieve them! This is why so many fail. Try it this way next time instead and see if it makes a difference:
- Losing weight is one of the most difficult things that anyone can try to do. But setting a mini-goal of losing 5 pounds every month instead of saying that you want to lose 50 pounds over the course of the year makes it a lot more attainable
- Trying to completely eliminate sugar from your diet without any support is likely going to be overwhelming and near impossible. Instead, figure out easy ways that you can set yourself up for success:
- Switch one unhealthy snack for something healthier or eat one vegetarian meal every week
- Try to replace that cappuccino or soda pop with a glass of water instead
- Make healthy snack and meal options easier to grab and closer at hand than their unhealthy counterparts
- The most effective way to improve your health is to increase your activity level, but this is another thing that works better if you take it slowly:
- Improving your fitness is much easier and safer if you start at the beginning – start out by lifting some lighter weights a few times each week, then start adding weight and repetitions as your muscles start getting used to it
- Instead of attempting to run a half-marathon right away, start with a 5K, then work up to a 10K, then go from there
This strategy of figuring out baby steps can be applied to just about any area of your life: work, school, relationships… it’s all easier and better if you break it down into a series of steps that you can actually manage.
My challenge for you for the month of March is to try setting baby steps for one or two of your goals instead of diving right into the deep end and see if it makes a difference!