This year would be Adeola’s year! She has set some goals for herself, along with a solid plan on how she would go about them. She would self-invest, expand her income streams and give more time to voluntary work. Last year was a drag! Had there been any lesson learned, it would be that that life is unpredictable and too short for anyone not to be intentional about purposeful living.
However, as she takes stock of her activities, this first quarter, she finds she has not done too well. Some of us are in the same situation as Adeola. We establish objectives for ourselves at the start of a new year but fail at execution. It is a common saying that plans without actions are mere desires.
So here are three simple ways to help us stay focused on our goals.
Include Your Why and Track Your Progress:
One way a person can keep their enthusiasm is not only writing the goals. Find out why these goals are important to you, write them down, and you won’t easily lose sight of them. This helps to create an intrinsic sense of motivation. Also, break the big goals into small everyday tasks so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Ensure to track your progress ritually too. You will know what’s working and what’s not and be able to identify your habits and patterns. Use a journal, goal-setting apps, or join an accountability group. Tracking may be difficult at first, but it gets better with consistency.
Focus on What’s Within Your Control:
When things do not go planned, we allow disappointment to becloud our judgment and keep us from moving further. It’s OK to feel the emotions, but we do not have to be bound by them. Maybe it’s time to reflect and ask some questions. What went wrong? How did my actions contribute to this setback? What else can I do? Identify and separate what’s within your control and direct your efforts towards them. Expect to encounter frustrations. It is normal, and that’s fine too. However, you can control how you perceive, react, and respond to unfortunate situations.
Pursue Wellness:
Your overall health- physically, mentally, and emotionally plays a huge role in your ability to achieve set goals. Practice healthy eating by fuelling your body with meals. Practice mindfulness. You will learn to appreciate being present. Get rest. It improves your ability to be alert and concentrate. Ensure to stay socially connected with people around whom you thrive with. Ask for help when you need it. No man is an island. You need a community of like-minded people to stay on course.
Many people give too much attention to the outcomes that they forget the process is a part of the journey towards goal setting and achievement. Enjoy the process. Follow up with your plans. Do not forget your why. Aim to work with what you can control. Consider your general wellbeing and do not neglect rewarding yourself for every milestone you have achieved.
I hope the second quarter of the year will bring to us squashed goals and good tidings.
Osayi Alile is the founder and CEO of Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, a grant- making non-profit organization based in Nigeria that provides funding to social sector organizations focused in the areas of Health, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Leadership.
She is a 2007 “Young Global Leader” (YGL) by the World Economic Forum and a Fellow of the African Leadership Network.
Osayi is also the founding curator, Global Shapers Forum Nigeria.
