Goal Setting for Busy Moms

Did you achieve your goals for 2019?

Being a mom is wonderful, but it's a lot. There's always something. Goal setting for busy moms can seem impossible.

The chaos of motherhood can make achieving goals seem far fetched, so a lot of times we don't set goals for ourselves... at least not officially.Even if you are not someone who establishes goals on paper or out loud, chances are you have some ideas in your head about how you want the year to go for you and your family.

It's important for busy moms to remember exactly what goal setting is about. It's not about who can change the most, be the most adventurous, or make the most money.

Goal setting for busy moms (for anyone) should be about growing as an individual, and that can mean so many different things for each person. You know yourself better than anyone, so whatever that means for you is how you should define your goals.

How do busy moms create achievable goals?

When setting goals for ourselves we are trying to avoid a few outcomes:

• just another task on our never-ending to-do list
• becoming overwhelmed
• feeling disappointed in ourselves if the goal wasn't achieved
• losing motivation to set future goals

In order to avoid these outcomes, it is crucial that we understand the process of setting achievable goals.

7 Goal Setting Tips for Busy Moms

1. Consider your time. If your goals are going to require any of your weekly time, look at your schedule first. Determine when you can complete this requirement each day/week/month. We all want to run three miles every day or volunteer at our child's school every week or something similar that requires a chunk of our time. Although it's something we want to do, we have to admit whether or not it is practical. Set yourself up for success.

2. Create categories. This is something I am adding to my goal setting for 2020, and I'm excited about it! Choose categories you want to set goals within. Some categories could be: physical, mental, professional, personal, family, etc. Once you define your categories, choose an achievable goal for each!

3. Don't be afraid to leave your goals broad. Sometimes specific goals just don't fit in with our current life. Defining how many pounds you want to lose or how many hours you want to volunteer can add stress. It can also cause disappointment a lower your confidence level if you don't achieve the goal. Instead, have a goal to make healthier food choices, to be active, to say hello to strangers, to volunteer when you have free time, etc.

3. Create a plan. If your goal requires a deadline, choose one and outline the steps you must complete to achieve it. Sometimes, no plan is needed. Other times, you may need weeks of training, organizing, or something different.

My favorite planner ever is The Happy Planner by Create 365. Here's a link to one. I order one of these planners every year. You are able to view your schedule by week and by month. There are also pocket inserts and stickers you can buy to designate appointments, etc. This planner is LIFE for a busy mom!

4. Find your motivation. It's so hard to get "extra" things done when you lack motivation. So, find your motivation. Whatever that may be. Once you find your motivation, hold on to it.

5. Allow for adjustments. Life is unpredictable, and life as a busy mom is super unpredictable. If adjustments need to be made... make them. Don't be hard on yourself. Pushing back your timeline a bit or altering your goal to better fit your lifestyle is perfectly fine. Being open to change is hard, but you would rather adjust your goal and achieve it than let it fizzle out completely.

6. Stick with it. Even if it takes longer than you wanted it to, stick with it until you complete it. Don't get discouraged, instead be encouraged by the fact that you are not giving up on your goal. You are stronger than you know!

7. Recognize yourself. When you achieve a goal, you're totally allowed to celebrate. Whether that means a silent cheer to yourself, a special dinner, telling all of your friends, or whatever... you completed your goal and that deserves recognition!

When creating your next goals...

Don't let goal setting discourage you! This year, instead of throwing out goals that sound great but probably aren't practical, take a little extra time to consider these tips. Remember: creating a goal is all about you.

While you're working on your goals for next year, consider how you've changed over the years as well. Here are 31 Life Lessons I've Learned in 31 Years.