5 Steps To Achieving Your Goals In 2016

Steps to achieving your goals in 2016. What are goals unless you plan to work with them? Have you ever thought about wishing you could finish the project that gathers dust in your closet? What’s stopping you?

If you’re like me it’s procrastination among other things like life that gets in the way. Or is it plain laziness? Or distractions? Or family? Or illness? Some things are beyond our control but others fall under our own choices. Even though it’s February there’s still a lot of time to take steps to achieving your goals in 2016.

Step 1 – Write them down in point form

Goals must be written down and posted in front of you so you can see them every day. A verse of scripture talks about goals. I did this about a month ago and framed my most urgent goals that I needed to achieve in 2016.

Short point form words are easy to read quickly. Words will trigger you to take action and run with the plans.

            “Write the vision, make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. (Habakkuk 2:2 ESV)

Step 2 – Clear the clutter

Sometimes things just pop up in your face just at the right time. That’s what happened when I opened my inbox. An email just stared at me with the words, “Finish Your Book In 2016”, a three-part course by Jerry Jenkins. What timing? I’d just been clearing my desk of clutter and extra papers when I found my USB stick in one of the drawers. Manuscript. Chapters saved. An outline for the next chapter ready to be written.

A recent webinar by Michael Hyatt on “10 Biggest Mistakes You’re Making With Goal-Setting” inspired me with setting achievable goals. Since I’m not in the habit of making resolutions, and writing out goals has not been part of my past practice I thought I would do it for 2016. Resolutions don’t work anyways, but I’m now going to follow the advice of successful people who make goals. That should get me finishing my book this year.

Step 3 – Focus one thing at a time

What word would best fit into the new year? The only word that comes to mind right now is the word “FINISH” which of course relates to my plan for 2016. It’s not the only reason though. One of my character traits seems to be that I’m all over the place when it comes to getting things done. I start one thing, and then jump to another before finishing the first activity. After starting one job I’m already thinking about the next one. What about you?

Step 4 – Read books on topics that relate to your goals

For example if you plan to travel to China by the end of the year research it. Or if your plan is to write a book, read books about writing. 

Do you like to finish one book before starting another one? What if it’s boring? Will you finish it? I tend to pick books that I know I will read to the end. What kind of personality reads right to the end even when the story doesn’t grab you in any way? I guess I’m just a bore. Read it since I paid for it? Or finish what you start?

Step 5 – Measure your progress

How can you evaluate how much you’ve accomplished? Goals that are measurable are easy to track using log books, journals, or checklists even a calendar. Another way to measure is to have an accountability partner to share your progress.

Are you working on taking the steps on achieving your goals in 2016? Writing a few goals and making them easy to see will work wonders in achieving your goals.