Goals Change Lives

Set Some Goals!

Just do it. Goal setting doesn’t have to be stressful. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. The only way to go wrong is to not do it at all. Goals give us something to look forward to, something to aim for, and a way to focus efforts in our day to day lives.

Ideas

Stumped? Here are a few common goal categories followed by a couple goal ideas, free for the adopting!

But First, What to Avoid

Generally speaking, goals to quit doing something, stop consuming something, or otherwise withholding something do not have long term success. It is easier to reach toward something, to learn to adopt a habit rather than to withhold a habit. Think of a dog being told to sit and wait while a treat is 4 feet in front of them. Even if they are able to wait, all they are thinking about is that treat. Then think of that same dog who sees the treat on the ground but is working on rolling over or fetching a ball. The treat is still there, but rather than simply working on not taking it, the dog is working on something that involves a new action and fulfillment, and is no longer or minimally aware of the tempting treat.

Ideas for Goals

Work Life

New job (if you do this one, be specific and set mini-goals within this big goal such as “fill out application,” and “write new resume”)

Get to know a new person you work with

Arrive to work 5 minutes earlier each day.

Recreation

Start a new hobby (ideas include sports, crafts, collecting, and more)

Exercise at least 20 minutes 5 days a week

Spend 1 hour less each day watching television (first figure out about how much you view daily)

Education

What major educational step would be next for you? Set a goal.

If you are in an educational institution already, how can you improve? Should you work on being organized? If so, set an actionable goal such as getting a new binder and setting it up with classes, tabs, and so forth.

Increase self-advocacy

Improve attendance

Work on homework for ______minutes each night before doing fun activities

Social Life

Talk to one new person each day, even if it means just asking how their day is going

Join one new online social media forum (twitter is my big goal!)

Develop one friendship more deeply (take an existing friend/acquaintance and think about how to get to know them better)

Ask an elderly neighbor if they need help with anything such as yard work or walking a dog

Interact with neighbors (take them a treat, say hi before going inside, etc.)

Focus on one social skill you’d like to improve. For example, one of mine (I have many) is not interrupting the person I’m talking to. Others might include remembering to ask others questions rather than only talking about yourself, listening more intently so you remember what someone said, or omitting unnecessary details from stories.

Self Care

Make that dentist or doctor appointment you’ve been putting off

Get a haircut

Floss twice a day. Ok, maybe at least once if you’re not doing it at all yet (let’s be realistic)

Eat a vegetable at every meal

If you have junk food habits, choose one to improve but be precise for yourself

Home and Daily Living

Develop a new cleaning routine for your living quarters

Clean out cupboards

Create a budget (and stick to it)

Wash carpets (or) curtains (or) blinds

Organize clothes, donate any you haven’t worn in a year that aren’t special

Purge items you do not need - donate, donate, donate. Throw away unusable items.

Yard work - if you don’t have a yard, maybe help a parent or grandparent

Final Note

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I can honestly say goals saved me from myself in early adulthood. If I didn’t have a goal of becoming a teacher I have no idea where I would be. It made me make healthier choices in order to get to classes, develop social skills required to speak to instructors when needed, organize my life in order to get to work and classes while managing homework, and so much more. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do with your life, but thinking hard about some things you want either long and/or short term will change your trajectory if you focus on what you want. You are in control of your future and you get to make choices to get out of or into positions you desire.
Start as big or small as you want. Just don’t make the mistake of never starting.

Take risks, live your life, ask questions, and find your fun!

Travel Planning

Taking a little road trip a couple hours away, or flying across the globe, preparing for a vacation can be fun and rewarding. For the free spirit or extreme procedural thinker, there are benefits to planning ahead.

If traveling to Kauai and interested in the bucket list of activities scroll on down to the “Sample Plan” below the bucket list image.

Benefits of Planning Ahead For a Getaway:

Saves the time and hassle of looking up “things to do” or “places to eat near me” while on your vacation

Saves money

You leave vacation feeling like you’ve done what you wanted to do

Increases opportunities. A) some activities require reservations so getting in early improves chances of getting to do what you want when you want to do it and B) if places are closed certain days of the week it’s helpful to know this ahead of time

“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets. ”

— Oscar Wilde

Get Ready, Get Set To Go

Growing up, my mom was always the one who planned out all of our vacations. She would read books for weeks ahead of time, map out where every place was located and how long each adventure would take in order to maximize our time. We gave her a hard time but now that I’m the one planning, I totally get it! Ok, it’s not my personality nor do I have the focus to put the effort into a vacation that my mom did but I certainly enjoy looking ahead and making lists of what I want to do on vacation. When I am traveling to a place I’ve been before my bucket list is usually more specific and often includes dining experiences. When I’m traveling somewhere new I try to chat with people who are familiar with the destination and record their suggestions. My planning is far less extensive than my mom’s ever was (and still is, she’s traveling more now than ever) but it serves the purpose of making sure I cover the places and experiences I want while visiting new or familiar places.
In trying to take risks, I include at least one “to do” on vacation that stretches my comfort zone. I have never regretted doing something new!

Sample Plan: Kauai

Wailua River Kayaking is definitely out of my comfort zone, mainly because I’ll have my 3 kids with me and am going to have to put full faith in the guides. Not only will we be kayaking a long way in new territory, there’s a hike and picnic included. It sounds absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and adventurous. At the same time there are many, many opportunities for disaster (ok, not in reality but in my worst case scenario thinking perhaps). Choosing adventure over fear of the unlikely on this one!

Puka Dog - it’s in a cute little Hawaiian shopping center, and the deliciousness of this hot dog is impossible to explain. Kids can share, they’re huge. Make sure to allow enough time to choose from the extensive sauces!

Waimea canyon trail is self-explanatory. A great way to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii, get some exercise, and take some amazing pictures.

Princeville Botanical Garden is a place I would go back to every day if I could. The tour has a very up close and personal style. There’s cacao education and tasting too, can’t beat that.

We heard about Spouting Horn Park last time we visited Kauai. We didn’t have time to go, so I knew this had to be on the list for this time.

Mermaid Cafe is an example of a place we probably wouldn’t have notice or chosen had we not put out a request for suggestions from friends who had visited Kauai before. So glad we did! Their burritos are as unexplainable as the Puka Dog, and the feel is very “local Hawaiian.” It’s a walk-up-and-order sidewalk cafe and there’s something for every type of eater.

Anini Beach is a place we fell in love with on our last visit. We didn’t realize bonfires were allowed until our last day there so we hope to light one up this time! This beach was a reminder why it's beneficial to simply explore once in a while. We never would have found it in an internet search, yet it stole our hearts (and almost one of our kids’ permanent teeth in a body surfing fail).

Luau…because, well, Hawaii! This one we’re going to hold off on choosing and see what pops up when we get there. So we're not sure the specifics, but it’s on my list so I can plan accordingly when packing and managing time.

Preparation

Once you have an idea of what you want to do on your vacation, you can pack accordingly. While leaving room for spontaneity (living in the moment or doing something unplanned) is fun, when you plan ahead you can be prepared. For example, knowing I want to go on a kayaking tours means I head to Hawaii prepared with my athletic water shoes. Since I try to pack as little as possible on vacation due to my minimalist tendencies it’s nice to be able to pack precisely if I know what I’ll be doing, such as knowing I only need one dress for a luau. For tips on luggage allowances, check out any airline website. There are also packing ideas galore on Pinterest.

Start Planning

Where do you want to go? If you already have a trip planned, make a bucket list if you don’t have something planned, think of where you want to go and start saving and planning!

Choose a place

Find a place to stay and book

Figure out transportation and lock it in

Bucket List! Including links to the places you find is really helpful later.

Take risks, live your life, ask questions, and find your fun!