#Goals — Begum's Mind

It’s National Goal Writing Day! (Was yesterday, dec 27th) This would make the second year that this has been happening and I think all of us should participate!

For many, the coming of new year opens up a door to try to set new goals and become a better self. It’s just the feeling of starting over fresh that going into a new year can bring. To help get you started on the journey to “New Year, New Me” I’ve decided to talk about a few goal setting tips for you to try to remember and incorporate when you make your list this go round.

A Little Hindsight

This morning I woke up to a few texts from my line sisters and it was based on writing out 8 things that happened in 2017, good or bad. It put a lot into perspective for me to try to really reach for some things I did this year. It’s not that I was unsuccessful or that I hadn’t really had any trials and tribulations - I did. It was just that I don’t keep track of it all sometimes. It was a great exercise to do to also get to see what I may have missed in my line sisters’ lives, as well as for them to see what details they may have missed in my life while they were handling their own.

I shared this to challenge you to also get with your friends and have them reflect on a few things that they may be proud of this year for overcoming before starting anew with a fresh goal list. Once you’ve shared and realized how powerful you really are, create a list of goals that will push you to shine further in 2018.

Creating Your Goal List

I usually use the S.M.A.R.T. Goal method that basically ensures that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. What does all of this mean? It means that you’re not just making loose goals and huge goals that are not tangible for you in the near future or not within a proper timeframe. If you fail to have structure with your goals it’ll make for a very rough journey to get them accomplished. The idea is to make sure you make clear plans and deadlines for goals that way you know if you’re making the proper steps to get to your overarching goal and actually cross things off the list.

I know a big goal people usually make for new years is focused around weight loss. It’s easy to just blurt out “I want to lose weight in 2018”. But if we just say that, 9 times out of 10 you’re not going to commit. A better goal would be: I want to lose 1 pound a week for the next 6 months OR I want to lose 10 pounds by May 2018. With these two goals you have a time frame, you have a specific number of pounds, and you can now make a plan from that goal to create a guide to follow to know HOW you will actually get to your end goal. Under your goals you should describe HOW you plan to achieve them. You want to lose 1 pound a week by doing what? How will you lose 10 pounds by May? Get it?

Goals Change

So, go ahead and make a goal list, but then hone in on your initial list and see how you can better specify what each goal really is. Remember that sometimes we have to modify a goal as we go, and that’s OKAY. Don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t going as planned. Restructure and regroup. Remember to also praise yourself for the small goals you accomplish to get to your big goal. That exercise I told you about with writing out 8 things from 2017 can be used as a checkpoint for self-praise and appreciation every few months.

The idea of goals is to keep you focused and to add worth to your days as you go by. They don’t have to be extreme and no goal is stupid! It’s YOUR goal and it’s YOUR life. Make the best of it!

Now, in the goal-setting spirit, since it’s National Goal Writing Day I have to also share with you my own list of goals for 2018:

1. Adopt and enforce the motto of Positive Vibes Only each day

2. Journal/Reflect once a week to decompress

3. Make a bigger push to move towards a plant-based diet for my health starting with smaller meat portions and more veggies and fruits on my plate

4. Forgive more and forget less

5. Continue to use my blog to motivate others and express my thoughts by creating 1 post a month TOPS

6. Do 1 volunteer service project every month at different hospitals and food pantries

7. Publish my new podcast with my two friends that’s focused on three strong-willed women pushing through life’s fumbles and mistakes

8. Find a method that works to keep my anxiety and depression low without using narcotics

9. Gym 3 times a week

10. More self-love and less self-bashing

Your Turn.

What are YOUR goals moving into 2018? Grab the new year with gusto and flare! Be your best self and live your best f-in life! I wish everyone a Cardi B kind of year for 2018. Whether that be you finally get the ring, sis, or it means you glow tf up in your best way yet. Just boss tf up in 2018!

Want to participate in National Goal Writing Day?

- Begum, Over and Out! ;)

(I don't own any copyrights to any photos/graphics used in this post)

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