Somehow, we’re already six months into 2022 and have six months more to go!
With that, I keep hearing my clients talk about the things they want to achieve and accomplish in the second half of the year and how they want to create a game plan around doing so.
As a Professional Organizer, people often ask me how I map out my goals and make a plan to achieve them.
Are you ready for my slightly unpopular opinion?
I don’t.
Bear with me here because this mindset can help you too whether you’re looking to get more organized or accomplish something BIG in the second half of the year.
How to reach your goals (without making a plan)
I’m a big believer in having a vision of where I want to go in my business, and what I want for my family and life. I also love holding a loose vision of what I would use a room or space for, prior to decluttering it.
That said, I don’t sit down and write out solid and specific goals.
I don’t write down the number of client leads I am shooting for in my business each month.
I don’t write down exactly how many pounds I’m trying to lose or my resolution to quit this, that, and the other thing on January 1st.
I don’t aim for a certain number of people in my group program or as coaching clients.
Instead, I imagine what I want my life to be like, and how I want to live and feel every day. I dream about the things I want to put in place, the ideas I have, and the programs I want to create, and I take small action steps every day to get there.
My approach to goals is similar to my approach to organization, I believe that chipping away with consistency is key. Seeing the entire path can be overwhelming, but taking the next right action step at any given moment is uncomplicated and easy.
Inevitably with goals, and with any all-or-nothing approach, life happens and throws us off track. When it does, it can be easy to throw in the towel and stop making progress. I see people do this time and time again when they have this mindset. But what if instead, life happened, and you picked up where you left off and kept going? How much more momentum would you have? How much more ground would you have covered?
That’s how you make MORE progress to get where you want to go.
In this blog, I’m sharing three mindset tools I love to rely on when working towards the vision I have for my life.
Create a Vision Board
Our brains love to have a place to focus. And often what we focus on is what our brains label as important. A vision board helps to give you a tangible view of your goals, desires, and dreams so that your brain can focus on them every day. What you focus on expands and grows.
Creating a vision board can also help you to weed out what you do and don’t want in your life when it comes to making decisions and taking on opportunities. It helps keep you in alignment with what’s important to you and the direction you want to go.
I create a digital vision board to help me stay on track and stay inspired in my path every time I see it on my phone screen.
This is my current vision board that I created in Canva.
Focus on Everyday Habits
The way to reach any goal is to focus on the small steps that get you there. I always emphasize the importance of daily habits and action steps. If you want to have an organized home that’s free of clutter, start with one small step of cleaning out your junk drawer. If you want a calendar that allows you more time with your family and fewer hours on Zoom, start by saying no to the next meeting that could just as easily be figured out via email or text message. If you want to grow your business to six figures and need more visibility to do so, start by reaching out to one person for a speaking opportunity and getting in front of their audience.
Some people find it easier to make a list of each step they need to take so they can make strides each and every day by working off a list. However you choose to do it, don’t let yourself get bogged down in the big picture or mired in the details.
Just take the next right step.
Celebrate Your Progress
Completing tasks and achieving goals feels great, doesn’t it? Crossing the finish line of a milestone is like completing a race. At the same time, while you’re striving, don’t forget to enjoy the journey and celebrate your progress every step of the way.
I’ve heard of people keeping celebration journals in which they write down everything they’re celebrating as it happens, even the small stuff!
You can also do this with your organization tasks. Celebrate just getting started! Celebrate purging your computer of duplicate photos! Celebrate cleaning out your kid’s closet!
Express gratitude towards yourself for the action and progress you’ve made. And know at the end of the day, if you just took ONE step towards your dream, you’ve been productive and done enough.
We often equate productivity with completion. If you’re only grateful and happy when you complete things and reach an endpoint, you’re only going to be grateful and happy for a small fraction of the journey.
Be happy now by celebrating where you are and how far you’ve come.
Want a little extra accountability as you work on your goals and organization aims?
Still not sure where to get started? Join me in my monthly low-cost membership where we focus on YOU living more simply through tangible, practical action steps.
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