Setting Goals With a Planner

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Unlike the New Year's Day resolutioners, I am constantly trying to lose weight (hello, roller coaster), budget responsibly, and exercise regularly. 

For me, the resolution doesn't happen once a year on January 1st.

All year long, I am alone at the gym, working toward that goal.

Well, I'm virtually alone. 

There's this wonderful 20-something guy with some exceptionalities who stands behind me sometimes, clapping and cheering. "You can do it!" He makes me smile.

Sometimes, my parish priest works out at the same time that I do. That's pretty cool when I'm in yoga pants on the elliptical. That's pretty uncool when I'm hot and sweaty in a tank top and short shorts, doing thigh presses. Eek.

But let's just say that, on January 1st, while the rest of you are starving and waiting in line at the gym, I'll be grumbling about how my always spacious Barre Blend class is suddenly full 45 minutes before it starts!

SET DAILY GOALS

I do make some goals each month, though, and those daily goals are the secret to actually completing my plan to achieve my vision!

By focusing on things I can do every day, I make it more likely that I will succeed more often.

I don't succeed every day. I might only get the daily goals achieved 50% of the time.

Imagine that. 

Envision working out 15 days per month.

Discover what would happen if you were eating under calorie goals 17 days per month.

What if you clean off the island in the kitchen for all but 6 days in a single month?

I listed my goals on the image above. (See gray box.)

For example, the first, meds, is about me taking my midday meds every day. (See gray arrow.) I also set an alarm on my phone to help me remember with lunch. 

Notice that my goals deal with living in an ordered home, self-care, and blogging.

Pick your big, visionary goals. Then add daily steps that will help ensure that you achieve them.  

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

I simply draw an X each day when I meet my daily goal. Each X is on the column with the goal and the row with the date. (See orange arrow.)

Keeping a goal tracking chart on graph paper in my planner means that I can stay constantly aware of my vision and my progress.

I made my Daily Goal's chart using AT-A-GLANCE Planning Note Cards and strongly recommend them if you can order before they run out of stock, but you could Google "free printable graph paper" and make inserts in a more DIY manner. I had to hole-punch the notes. (See green arrow.)

It's really easy to see what hasn't been done yet. (See brown arrow.) I can also do blogs in advance and see that easily.

TIP: If your goals change over the year, it's easy to just change the chart for the next month.

MAKE DAILY GOALS AN ONGOING PROJECT

Read more about my project planning technique if you don't already know how I do project planning in a paper planner.

Having daily goals as an ongoing project ensures that you actively visit the Project section of your planner daily.

I label my project using the Box technique. (See purple arrow.)

I mark the project with its own tab. (See blue arrow.)

Make one of your goals this year subscribing to Giftie Etcetera via email (right sidebar) so you read it daily. Done?

Look at you - already on the way to reaching your goals for the New Year! 

Etcetera.

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Partied at: Art of Home-making Monday, Over the Moon, Monday Musings, Something to Talk About, Amaze Me Monday, What'd You Do This Weekend, Tuesdays at Our Home, Turn It Up Tuesday, Faith Filled Parenting, You're Gonna Love It Tuesday, Tuesdays With a Twist, Tutorial Tuesday, Homework, Wow Us Wednesday, Creative Muster, The Wednesday Showcase, Let's Be Friends, Wake Up Wednesday, Not Just Homemaking, Wonderful Wednesday, Fitness Friday