How I Set My Goals

It’s still early enough in the year that you might still be working on or thinking about goals. Setting goals can sound cliché but they are very important. Goals give you direction in life.

The definition of goal is ‘the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result;’ We’re all putting effort into something and everything that we devote time to deserves a road map.

I love doing and sharing how I set my goals but more importantly, how I look at the systems in place for achieving each goal. This year I got started a little later than usual (last week in January) but it’s never too late and let’s face it, our objectives and goals can change based on unexpected detours in life.

Here is my process. I have a page for each of the (5) categories below:

  1. Health
  2. Relationships
  3. Finances
  4. Business
  5. Personal Development

I take one category at a time and write my goals as of the last day of the year (December 31st). Write them as if they have already happened. Below is an example of my December 31, 2023 goals in the Health category. I want to maintain a certain scale weight, eat at least 6 cups of fruits/vegetables per day, add in a weight training program at the gym twice a week and add a new Pilates class to my week. Here’s what I wrote:

“It is December 31st and I feel strong, flexible, and healthier than ever! I crushed my goal of eating 6 cups of fruits/vegetables regularly; I love the addition of Pilates to my exercise routine; my strength training has been easier to work in than I thought it would be and I know I’m keeping my bones and muscle mass healthy. I’m thrilled to have added these habits to my health goals this year.”

This statement doubles as an intention and an affirmation. We are affirming how we feel after following through on our goals.  Now we need to figure out what our system is to achieve them.

James Clear, author of ‘Atomic Habits’, talks about the importance of the systems behind new habits and actions. I encourage you to read it. Our system is our plan. What is the plan going to be each quarter, month, week and even day? Here is what I do next:

  1. Health (where do I want to be and how do I want to feel on December 31st of this year)
    • Monthly (what do I need to do monthly to reach my end of year goals)
      • Weekly (what do I need to do weekly to meet my monthly goals)
        • Daily (what do I need to do daily to meet my weekly goals)

Not everyone wants to break them all the way down to daily actions, but I encourage you to do at least the monthly and weekly. Doing so will help with clarity and focus.

Habit formation can be a struggle. I speak about why in my book, The Corporate Maniac (available for preorder at www.tamipritchard.com). A very broad explanation is that our brains run on autopilot the bulk of any given day. This autopilot is the subconscious. To change or adopt a new habit, we have to engage a different area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is responsible for new thoughts and idea processing. The PFC requires a decent amount of energy and effort. If we are having a bad day, sleep poorly or do not eat well, we won’t have the needed energy to sustain our action and will quickly find we have lost our motivation. When this happens, our brains have downshifted to our old familiar habits which require less energy. The problem is, if nothing changes, then nothing changes. We must stay motivated. I find having an accountability partner helps.  

This is where I come in. I have my own Coach and without her, I doubt I would have become a Coach myself nor written my book.

Contact me at tami@tamipritchard.com or visit my website at www.tamipritchard.com to get started on your own goal exercise. Together, we’ll make them happen!

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