7 Things to do to Achieve your Goals

In life, we know what we have to do in order to achieve what we want. If you want a healthier life you know that you have to eat healthy foods and exercise. To save money you know that you have to cut back spending. But all of these are easier said than done. We know what to do but we find it hard to do. 

Sometimes when we’re motivated, we feel easier to exercise or to choose a healthier food.

The will to do something is called willpower.

And like a muscle, our willpower can be strengthened with training. In this post, we will explore 7 things that can help you make better decisions in your life.

Whatever your goals are, whether to eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, study more, or save more money, these 7 tips will help you achieve those goals

1. Exercise

Exercise is not only good for the health but also for the mind. Scientist found out that exercising regularly helps you reduce cravings. If there is a miracle drug for enhancing self-control, this is it.

If you have exercised before, you can observe that you felt good during the days that you exercise than the days you don’t. By exercising you feel good, and when you feel good you make a better decision.

2. Meditation

Studies show that people who meditate has better self control, attention, memory and focus.  You don’t need to sit on top of the mountain for hours to reap the benefits of meditation. Just sit for 5 minutes with your eyes close. Focus on your breath, just observe how you inhale and exhale. In case your mind wanders, ( which it will does) go back your attention to the breath.

Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts. Its learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your goal is. Don’t worry if your focus isn’t perfect when meditating. Just practice coming back to the breath,again and again.

Kelly McGonigal

3. Sleep better

Do you remember the time that you were sleep deprived? Scientists found out that it just not makes you more stress but also more susceptible to cravings and temptations. 

If you had days of late to bed and early to rise, catching of on your sleep on weekends is a way to counteract the effects of sleep deprivation. Also napping.

4. Set small achievable goals

Whatever your goals are, starting with small goals is a great way to get you going. If you set big goals and you failed to achieve, you lose hope and momentum to get going. 

So instead of setting your goal to run 10km a day. Start with 1 km a day. Instead of having the goal of exercising 1 hour a day. Start with 15 mins. a day. 

When you achieve your goals, you feel good and more likely to continue doing it.

5. Enjoy the process

• 

Sometimes we get impatient when we set a goal because of the time to achieve that goal. Just like in getting fit, when you’re not yet seeing the results, you’re losing the motivation to continue. We are more fixated on achieving the goal rather than trying to enjoy the process.

So enjoy the process more rather than the goal. In the example of getting fit, you have to enjoy the lifestyle of eating healthier and doing exercises rather than dreaming of the six-pack abs or bikini body.

Trying to love the process as part of your lifestyle rather than dreaming for the end goal is the difference between those who achieve their goals and those who quit.

6. Write down your goals

• 

Writing down your goals is a simple way to remind you of what you’re aiming for. It’s simple but powerful trick to get you going. Sometimes our decisions in everyday life is on autopilot and we simply forgot our goals. 

So when you wake up, write down what your goals are.

7. Plan to fail

This seems like depressing but it’s one of the important things you have to do. Because no matter what, you’re gonna fail sometimes, you’re gonna miss a workout, you’re gonna binge and eat sweets, you’re going to procrastinate etc. 

So having a plan when you fail is good thing to do because instead on feeling down when you miss your goals, you know how to bounce back. So here’s what you have to do.

1. Acknowledge that you’re gonna fail at your goals at some point.
2. Realize that this is normal. Don’t be down and yourself. And simply continue your goal.