Rock Your Goals with These 6 Tips

The end of 2017 is fast approaching! Have you reached your goals for this year yet?

If not, there's still time, and it’s never too early to begin thinking about your 2018 goals.

One of my favorite tools for setting and achieving goals is a planner. In fact, I love planners so much that I've created my own! You can learn more about that here.

Over time I've learned that there are more effective and less effective ways to use a planner. Here are some of my tips and tricks for getting the most out of your planner so you can rock your goals.

Tip #1: Choose the right planner 

This one is huge! A planner that suits you can make a huge difference. For years, I struggled to find the perfect planner for me, which is why I created my own!

When you're looking for your planner soulmate, ask yourself these questions:

• What features do you need?
• Do you want something really simple or something that will cover all areas of your life?
• Do you want something that allows you to schedule on the half hour, or something that's a little more open?

I prefer planners that allow me to cover all aspects of my life. That way everything is all in one place! My life isn't divided up into neat little boxes, so a planner that can do it all works best for me. I like having room to write down my goals and brainstorm action steps and also express gratitude for how far I've come.

Tip #2: Have a quick planning session at the beginning of the week 

I like to do this on Sunday afternoon or evening. Some people do it at the end of the week on Friday afternoon and others do it bright and early on Monday morning. This allows you to see your whole week at once and get an idea of what your time flow is going to look like. It also helps you spot potential problems or conflicts so you can adjust them ahead of time! Make time early in the week to pencil in meetings, appointments, and other events that have a specific time.   

Tip #3: Set goals and write them down 

What are the big things you want to accomplish this week? What can you do this week that will move your long-term goals forward? Figure this out and write those babies down!  

Tip #4: Create action steps for your goals 

Take a look at the goals you wrote down and start breaking them into small steps. That way, you have actual tasks that you can schedule in a planner instead of a nebulous goal that's so big, you aren't sure where to start!

Tip #5: Schedule time for the important stuff 

Now that you've got your action steps laid out, start penciling them in! Carving out time for those steps ensures that they'll actually be completed. We both know that all the good intentions in the world don't help without a plan of action! Make sure that you also leave space for self-care, relationships, and anything else that's important to you.

Tip #6: Be flexible

I like to create a loose plan for my week so I can see everything all at once, but I say a loose plan because hey, life happens. Stuff comes up, so I don't usually schedule every fifteen minute block in my entire week. I make sure I have time carved out for the important stuff, but I leave enough white space to stay flexible. Flexibility also helps you get stuff done because if (or when) something throws your schedule off a little bit, you aren't booked so solid that you can't get back on track! Always allow a little extra time in your day as a buffer.

There you have it! If you've struggled with planners in the past, I hope this helps you take actions that allow you to unlock the incredible goal-crushing power you have inside of you!

If you're still shopping around for the perfect planner, sign up to get a first look at my new planner as it progresses!