We hear a lot about people setting up goals at the beginning of the year. More than 80% of people fall out of it by mid-February. Setting a goal is not difficult, and anyone can do it. Anyone out there can set goals like building muscles, losing weight, or getting a better job, but we fail to address issues like; What if we hit a plateau? Is your lifestyle getting disrupted due to external circumstances? What if there are unforeseeable financial hardships?
Staying consistent and committed to your goals is a significant challenge. This is where the majority of us fall out. Let’s figure out ways in which we are not just reaching the end of the path, but also stay positive and work through, in the face of adversity.
1. Re-calibrate your goals
You must be reading this and wondering that you are here to learn ways to tackle oppressive challenges that stand in between you and “your goals”. But sometimes you need to look at it broadly and evaluate your standing from your goal. Unfortunately, it is not possible to achieve what you are aiming for in one go. That being said, it doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve it in any way. You can work towards making real progress in the right direction.
For example, if you have just begun playing chess and you straight away set goals to become an international grandmaster. Achieving this right away may be far fetched, and could be disheartening as you fail to get your first norm. It is better you re-calibrate your goals, you may aim to win regional chess tournaments and gain a decent rating in chess, instead.
2. Take a break
Contrary to popular belief, taking a break is not all bad. If you have legitimate reasons, have clear intentions, and hold the right attitude, it is fine. People tend to fail while achieving their goals; when they do, they start feeling horrible.
However, if you are facing legitimate adversity that is holding you back, it is not at all shameful to walk away from your goals for some time. You should focus that time to conserve energy and plan to hit your goal back in a better way.
If possible, try and set fixed date and time when you will return to your goal, or promise yourself to return once things get normal.
3. Take up good habits
We can not always be happy, but we can always pick up habits that make us happy. It is rightly said that your progress with goals is always a byproduct of your good habits. If you are always crushed with work and have major trouble taking out time for your academics, you can always make getting up early in the morning, a habit. This can help you squeeze your academics before you get into the hassle of your work.
4. Keep your goals in sight
Never forget what your goal is. It is always a good idea if you have it written or inscribed on something which you see regularly. It prevents you from being distracted with counter-productive activities and enables you to stay motivated throughout.
You may also write your goals on an index card and place it somewhere you can frequently see throughout the day.
5. Get social support
It is always a good idea to garner good social support. It is no brainer that if you have quit smoking and you tell it to your close friends and family, and then you try to light a cigarette in front of them, they will be there to remind you of your goals.
However, social support is way more than that. Regardless of how much difficult circumstances you are going through. It is good to know that there are people who have got your back in all your endeavors. They are the same people who will keep reminding you of your vision and give you constant and more importantly, honest feedback.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, just remember that hard times make the victory’s taste much sweeter. You will always find some kind of hardship or adversity in the way of your path. These could be financial, mental, physical, or emotional hurdles. All of these don’t have to bring your progress towards your goal to a halt. Always remember to take calculated actions to keep yourself motivated and committed to your goals.