Breaking Down Your Goals Into Baby Steps

We’ve already discussed why it’s important that your goals and resolutions be challenging, but not too overwhelming. Something what is easy to accomplish may not seem worth doing and you might think that it won’t make much of an impact on your life. On the other hand, if it seems impossible, you might not even want to try to accomplish it. But when we are looking at how to accomplish those goals it can seem overwhelming to get from where you are now to where you want to be.  So what do you do?  You want to be successful at keeping your resolutions and reaching your goals.  The answer to making it as simple as possible without getting overwhelmed, is to break your goals down into bite sized manageable steps. 

Define It

First, you’ll want to be sure you have a well-defined goal. It should have all the SMART components we’ve mentioned before. When you follow these guidelines, you’ll have a target that’s actionable and can be broken down into manageable pieces. You’ll have a task ahead of you that can be measured and that has an end point. 

Break It Down

You gain control by breaking it down. If you want to write a book, you probably don’t want to just start typing and hope for the best. Instead, figure out the steps that will get it done. Go as small or micro as you need to in order to feel comfortable. If it all seems like just too much, try to come up with the smallest baby steps possible to you can start working on it.  Maybe the first step is research for your book and you do a  google search or a trip to the library or interviewing people as a starting point.  Or asking family or friends for resources or information.  Then maybe the second step is to organize the information into categories.  Determine what you need to accomplish the goal and break it down into the steps you need to take to make it happen.  

Map It Out

Next, you’ll want to set timelines for when you’ll complete each of the steps you outlined. This will not only keep you moving forward and on track to reaching your goal, but it’s also a great way to train your brain to focus on your plan.. You’ll be able to check off each step as it’s completed and see the light at the end of the tunnel. That’s very powerful when it comes to managing overwhelm and being successful. Consider going even further by coming up with one baby step you can take each day towards your goals. This way you’ll always be moving ahead.

Mini actions with timelines are far less intimidating than large complicated plans. You’ll find it much easier to be successful by breaking it down.