I don’t know about you, but my life can get pretty busy at times. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in my job, that I sometimes forget about myself. By the time the weekend comes, I turn into my worst enemy– a couch potato! I know, I know. We are allowed some down time, but personally, I can’t sit still for too long and still feel good about myself.
I have hobbies that are relaxing, while also making me feel productive. And while those of you who truly know me would consider cleaning and laundry some of my hobbies, I can promise you I’m a little bit cooler than that (but not much, ha!)
My point is that while chilling on the couch can feel good when I’m tired, I hate the feeling on Sunday night that I didn’t accomplish anything for myself. If you follow this blog, you probably already realized that I’m a bit of a planner and goal-setter. In fact, I have a list of 30 things I want to accomplish before I turn 30, which is a little over a year away.
So, I started to think of things that help make goal setting more manageable and realistic. Because, honestly, I can sit here and think of 50 to 100 more things to add to my 30 before 30 list. But they aren’t really realistic or manageable. I realize that my list of 30 might be a bit of a stretch, but the point of a goal is to challenge myself, at least a little bit. Press my comfort zone, discover new things, meet new people, and so on. At the end of the day, though, there’s definitely a delicate balance between pushing yourself forward and setting yourself up for complete failure.
Therefore, I compiled some tips that I used in coming up with my list of goals, and I’m hoping these might help you in your planning, too.
- Think of things you already love. For me, writing has always, always, always been a passion of mine. I’m lucky to have found a career where I can write, at least some of the time. But writing for work is different than writing for pleasure. So, several of my bucket list items have to do with writing– for me.
- Push the limits on things you do everyday. I’m a fitness instructor. I work out most days of the week. Yet, I can definitely improve my fitness routine. So, training for a half marathon seemed like a challenge, but still doable. Think of things that will push what you’re already doing to the next level. If you’re an artist, try a different medium or enter an art show. If you’re a hiker, find a higher mountain. You get the gist.
- Do something that will make the world a better place. I stated that I want to volunteer more. I made it super general, for now, because I’m still trying to figure out where I want to donate my time and resources. I believe that finding a cause that you’re passionate about will make you happier, while also improving the lives of others. Are you great with animals? Volunteer at a shelter or become a foster home. Are you passionate about education or feeding the hungry? Find a charity that can use your talents. Working with nonprofits can range from fundraising, to planning events, to helping out in an office, to building homes or cleaning up parks. Think of causes that matter to you and make the world a better place.
- Imagine where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. Do you see yourself settling down? Or are you moving abroad? Think of things that will help you get to those further away goals. Will learning a new language help you move to another country? Will investing help you save for that vacation home? There are no wrong answers to your long-term dreams, but now is the time to set yourself up for future success. Just like in your career where you challenge yourself with new projects, you can determine which short-term goals will help you down the road.
- Remember what you set out to do in the past and haven’t accomplished yet. I thought I would travel more in my college and post-grad years. I was really pumped to get out and see the world. But I was broke and wanted to start my career. So, I did the logical thing and moved home and found work in my field and saved my money to buy a condo. Now, I sometimes wish I had been more frivolous while I was living at home and took more advantage of traveling. Instead of having regrets, though, I’ve decided to make travel a priority in the next year. Better late than never, right?
- Determine what improvements you want to make. Whether it’s self-improvement or home improvement, think of things that will make your quality of life better. For me, I want to cook more. Not only because I love to cook, but because I think it’s healthier for me when I control what goes into my food. I also hope to make improvements around my house. I’m definitely not living in a dilapidated shed, but I see things around my house that could be fixed up and that would make me happy. Even small changes can have a big impact on your outlook.
- Involve people you love. Making time for friends and family is super important to me. When I was brainstorming my list of goals, I definitely had my close confidantes in mind. There are things on my list that will include other people (like travel and cooking), and in bringing myself closer to my loved ones, I know I’ll be happier in the long run. While goals are mostly for ourselves, we’re not lone islands. We have people in our life who want to see us succeed and want to be with us throughout our journey. Never forget to share the love.
- Take time to consider the investment of your goals. There might be a lot that goes into one goal– money, time, patience, etc. If you want to accomplish things that are completely out of your budget or require more free time than you have available, you may feel disappointed when you don’t accomplish those goals. If your goals do require a lot of time or money, make sure it’s within reason. I know that travel will require both time and money, but I’m prepared to take the time and make a budget. Just keep in mind what’s required to accomplish each goal and have a plan in place to make it happen.
There’s a lot involved when you sit down to plan goals, but I think it’s totally worth it. I’m the type of person who needs to write a list and check off each accomplishment. If you work in a similar way, I definitely recommend jotting down a list of goals and giving yourself a timeline to reach them. It can be one or two things, or thirty, like me. Whatever your heart desires, as long as your goals will make you happier at the end.
These tips are a great starting point for brainstorming a reasonable bucket list, and I hope they’ll help you when planning out your goals for the next months or years. What tips do you have when goal planning? I’d love to hear how you plan ahead in the comments below.