Goals: Staying Focused

We all make goals we wish to achieve, while some are masters at completing them on task some of us take a scenic route and never reach our goal. I am the scenic route taker, the one who has great ideas for goals but can get unfocused and detoured into the abyss of wonderment. In fact, as I write this blog, I have gotten up three times and started something new. Staying focused is not easy but if you understand your boundaries and limits you can refocus. So here I am walking you through how to stay focused to complete a goal.

First you need to set goals that are obtainable. Such as one that allows reaching smaller goals that lead to the big goal. I found just by saying I want to lose 50lbs by summer is not achievable because I get bored or I do not see the progress I expect. So set your goal in a way you are achieving something to keep your interest so you can complete the goal. Keep that end goal of 50lbs but put one in for the week, like the goal to complete a week of your workout routine or changing your eating habits. Follow that with a monthly goal of 10lbs lost and track all of it. I am a visual person, so I need a to-do list or chart. Have fun making the list or chart to something that catches your eye or allows you to check off all your little goals.

Secondly, keep it realistic! If you cannot wake up early enough to walk or run, do not schedule that for the morning. When you drastically change your routine, you are more likely to fail at completing the goal and leaving yourself overwhelmed and defeated. I found that when I take something out of my normal routine, like scrolling through endless TikToks and replacing it with a walk or run I am not taking any additional time out of my day. I am simply reallocating the time I tend to waste. So, when you are making your goal, go through your day or week and see what and when is time you could be doing something more productive. Trust me you waste more time than you think. Now also keep in mind as you do this you may want to reevaluate your time in a month as you may want to incorporate more time to reaching your goal once you start seeing progress.

When you make goals staying focused can be the downfall to any great idea or plan. Hold yourself accountable because not all of us can rely on an accountability partner these days. I would say take it to social media but that can put added pressure to complete your goal causing you to fail. Maybe reward yourself by showing results as you complete your goals on social media. Now if you are a group setting person do a virtual goal reaching event and include friends who also have goals, they do not need to be the same goal. Compare how you stayed focused and if you completed a goal. This tends to bring more accountability for those who need a group setting but also maintains social distancing.

Start creating your goal, evaluating your day and make little goals to reach the big one. Make that chart, list or goal group and get started. Do not overthink it and try not to make the goals outlandish, remember you can always revaluate your goals once you get into the routine of completing your goal. Staying focused is not as hard as we think it is, some of us just need a little grace in understanding our abilities of focus. I believe I can stay focused and so can you!