Studies have shown that up to 70% of people fail to take action towards their goals. If you're unsure of where to start when it comes to building a life that you love, know that you are not alone. This post outlines 7 steps to help you work towards creating a fulfilled and happy life.
(Sometimes it feels extremely hard but this post will make easier, we promise)
01: Chase your interests
If you’re chasing a goal that you have no interest in, it is only natural that you’re going to lack curiosity, passion and purpose - the 3 key components of drive.
To work out what you're interested in:
- Write down a list of what brings you job
- Look for intersections or overlaps between 2 or 3 of them
02: Set your direction
You have your interests, now you need to set a direction - you need goals related to your interests. You need something tangible to achieve, an endpoint to be heading towards.
Make sure your goal is:
- Big (don't shy away from outlining exactly what you want - this is your life and people just like you achieve incredible things, there is absolutely no reason that you can't, too)
- Specific
- Has a deadline
03: Create your map
You know which mountain to climb, now you need a map to follow - it is time for a plan! This is exactly why your goal needs to be specific and with a deadline.
To make your plan:
- Turn your goal into a set of goals, working backwards
- Break that goal down into monthly, weekly and (most importantly) daily tasks
04: Befriend your brain
Your brain is hardwired for you to want to achieve goals and be fulfilled thanks to dopamine. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it’s often being hi-hacked by sources like social media.
Learn how to befriend your dopamine, be kind to yourself and aware of what you're spending your energy on:
- Have daily goals
- Spend less time on things that don't make you feel good
- Set rewards for yourself after each work block (a walk with fresh air, a coffee from your local coffee shop, a phone call with a friend, a flick through your favourite book, listening to your favourite song)
05: Start small
The hardest part of anything is starting. But... it’s also the easiest part - you just never realise it until you’ve started.
To start small:
- Ensure your plan has daily tasks
- Opt for ways you can feel you're winning the morning
- Lean into any resistance you feel and do the task anyway, reminding yourself of the long term rewards and using the immediate rewards as treats to make you feel good as you complete tasks you weren't looking forward to
06: Streamline the process
If we have tasks that we need to do every day, or at least most days, we may as well streamline them.
Start to build habits and routines out of frequent tasks:
- Start small
- Optimise your habit over time
An example of this could be batch creating content for your social media, replying to emails at set times only, scheduling calls for mornings or afternoons only so you're not distracted at random intervals throughout every day and can get into a state of flow more easily
07: Build momentum
We want to get this snowball rolling. The more momentum we can build the easier every single part of taking action will be.
To build momentum:
- Start your day as you mean to go on, remembering the importance of a morning win for your mindset
- Stack small wins
- Remind yourself of your ideal big wins with mood boards, changing your phone lock screen to something which helps you visualise where you want to go and talking to your loved ones regularly about your goals so they can get excited with you
No goal is too big, you are capable of achieving what you set your mind to and work towards. Consistency is key and celebrating each small step is where joy can be found in the every day.