Breaking Down Long-Term Goals

So we've all done it right... it's the new year and you're ambitious. You've set your goals or your resolutions and you're ready to be your best self. Yet, come the end of the year (or end of September) you've gone off track and you feel like it's too late now.

A lot can happen in a year, let's be honest! And time flies!

Realistically, there is so much more involved than just writing down your goals in your journal, planner or diary in order to achieve them. Breaking down your goals is like creating a personal road map to success for yourself. Over on the EO Edits Instagram page, we've talked a lot recently about goals and setting a crystal clear direction and intention with them in order to attract what it is that you want. Most of us have heard the term S.M.A.R.T. goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Based goals - but do you really know what that means and how to apply it?

Let's talk through a few ways we can break down our big goals into small, achievable goals we can tackle on a daily basis.

STEP 1: START BIG

You have to start somewhere and it's totally okay at the beginning to start with the big goal. The overarching, umbrella idea that we want for ourselves. Sit down and write them all out. It may even help to break them out into categories like personal, career, financial, wellness, relationships, etc. OR better yet, think of who the best version of yourself is and what you need to achieve to become that.

Examples:

Be healthier
Have a healthy work-life balance
Get promoted
Save Money

STEP 2: BREAK IT DOWN

Now, for each of the long-term goals, you listed start breaking those down into steps. Get specific here. It sounds so simple but this is where the magic happens. It's so important to make sure your goals are specific and realistic. It's at this point we want them to go from being vague to being achievable.

Keep in mind, achieving goals can be a tricky process. It's not always smooth sailing. Identify any potential areas that could cause you to get stuck along the way and what you could do to overcome this for each goal.

For example, if you want to be a healthier person, identify what this means to you. It could look something like this:

YEARLY GOAL: Be healthier

Potential Issues: not enough time, lack of funds, no motivation

DAILY HABITS

Achieve 10k steps daily (this can be done for no $$ and walking has so many health benefits!)
Mediate or Journal every morning
Habit stack / Multitask - Listen to a podcast or book while you walk/run/workout or go on a walk while you make phone calls for work or to connect with others. I find I'm the most creative while I'm walking/working out so I use the time to brainstorm ideas and record notes with the notes app or voice memo app on my phone.
Eat a plant-based whole foods diet every day for the year
Book a pilates class with a friend once a week
Workout in the morning so I can have the energy to focus on work for the rest of the day

STEP 3: WRITE IT DOWN

Once you have a clear understanding and vision of how to achieve your goals, transfer your daily habits into your planner's weekly or daily planner spreads. With habits you can track and check off you'll be reminded of your goals every time you go to use your planner for something. If you write it down, you're so much more likely to see your goals through.