10 Smart and Unusual Goal-setting Tips to Make This Your Best Year Ever! - International Coaching Federation
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10 Smart and Unusual Goal-setting Tips to Make This Your Best Year Ever!

Posted by Emma-Louise Elsey (Canada) | January 8, 2016 | Comments (8)

1) See procrastination as a gift.

What if you saw your procrastination as a gift? After all, we always procrastinate for very good reasons! Maybe you’re tired, lacking information, frustrated, or an action is way outside your comfort zone. Instead of judging yourself, discover what’s underneath your procrastination—and take care of it. Then you will move forward freely.

2) Understanding why is more important than being SMART.

Your goal can be as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic and Time-bound) as you like, but that doesn’t make it inspiring! For every important goal, identify the outcomes you’re looking for. Ask, “Why bother?” “What are the benefits to you?” “How will my life be different when this is complete?” Then, with your strong why, you’ll stay motivated when the going gets tough and do what needs to be done.

3) Start with what matters most.

It’s all too easy to fill our days with endless activities, but are you getting what you really want done? For most of us, we do everyone else’s tasks first or avoid doing what matters most because it challenges us. Instead, take a few minutes every morning to plan your priorities, then work first on what matters most. Make this a habit in the year ahead and I guarantee you will amaze yourself!

4) Go slow and achieve more.

We achieve more when we slow down! When it’s always “Go, go, go!” we get tired, lose focus and motivation, and are more likely to make mistakes. Going slow helps us enjoy our work more and conserve energy: We can keep going longer and achieve better results. So, give slow a go, and you may also find you’re more connected to yourself, can see the truth of things and feel more inspired about life!

5) Believe in you—and never give up …  

Setbacks are unavoidable. It’s your determination and perseverance that will see you through life’s inevitable obstacles and roadblocks. But to persevere we have to believe in ourselves—that our goals are achievable and that we can do it! Work on believing you can do it and learn to keep going, no matter what.

6) … But know when to let go.

While it’s essential to persevere through our challenges and roadblocks, sometimes we need to let go and come back again tomorrow, next month or next year. Pay attention to yourself. Learn when to let go and take a break or change in direction—it may be just what you need to come back refreshed and energized.

7) Time management is self-care.

Time is a precious and limited resource. With our busy lives, if we don’t learn to manage our time better we miss out—on life balance, our goals, time with those who matter most. Time management is self-care. So, make the effort to create healthy time-management habits. It’s managing your time effectively that allows you to achieve what matters to you and helps you make space to enjoy life.

8) Just get it done.

There are few shortcuts in life. And when it comes to our goals, sometimes it’s tough going. We may need to ask for help, gain some new skills or really push ourselves to break through a comfort zone. Whatever it is, do it, learn to do it, get someone else to do it. Find a way but no excuses, just get it done!

9)Always, always learn.   

When we have the attitude of always learning, it doesn’t matter whether we “achieve” our goals or not—because we’re always moving forward. Whether it’s self-knowledge, developing your skills, learning from your mistakes or gaining new information, be sure you’re always learning, and you’re guaranteed to succeed.

And finally, if you take just one thing from these tips:

10) Remember that your goals are there to inspire you, not beat yourself up with!

It’s important to take action and achieve our goals. But when you procrastinate or things don’t go according to plan, don’t beat yourself up! Instead, remember that your goals are there to inspire you—to work toward, get excited about and help you create a life you love. On the right track? Congratulations. Now keep going!

PS. If your goals don’t excite or inspire, you may want to get some new goals!

Emma Louise Elsey

Emma-Louise Elsey (Canada)

Emma-Louise Elsey has been coaching for more than 10 years and is founder of The Coaching Tools Company and Life Coach on the Go. Originally a project and relationship manager for Fortune 500 companies, she discovered coaching in 2003 and hasn't looked back.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.

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Comments (8)

  1. Cyrille says:

    Procrastination a Gift? … really?

  2. Hi Cyrille,

    Thanks for your question. This is intended as a “reframe”. We tend to judge ourselves when we procrastinate – and then feel worse. But what if we saw our procrastination as a gift?

    There is always a good reason why we’re procrastinating – fear, low energy, confused/unsure, feeling overwhelmed, embarrassment, guilt, something we don’t enjoy doing or are not very good at doing or just don’t want to (usually because of one of the reasons I just mentioned).

    So, instead of judging ourselves, we could see our procrastination as a pointer – a tool – to help us figure out why we’re feeling unmotivated and then do something about it. That could be ask for help, reassure ourselves, get an early night, say no to some things, decide not to do the task, or just do it.

    What we are unaware of, controls us. Procrastination can be the pointer that enables us to become aware of where we’re getting in our own way, and then so something about it!

    I hope that explains it.

    Warmly, Emma-Louise

  3. Great post! I love love love #7! If you think about the positive effect taking the time to set up a schedule that works for you can have on a person, it sort of is an act of self-love. I never thought of it that way before.

    • Dear Kay,

      (love the “ResponsibiliBee” by the way!)

      So glad you liked that! It was a big “Aha” moment for me – I remember feeling this flood of relief the day I had that thought. And whenever I start “disliking” time management, it’s the thought I go back to!

      Wishing you a fantastic 2016!!

      Warmly, Emma-Louise

  4. Soleh says:

    Thank you Emma for your article. This is good and i love to reply reply read it again. Wish me luck for this year and i hope you too.
    Kind regards
    Soleh

  5. Dear Soleh,

    Thanks! So glad you enjoyed the article. Best of luck in 2016!

    Warmly, Emma-Louise

    PS. If you’d like some help setting your Biz Goals for 2016, you may like this Free Teleclass I’m offering (includes great free worksheet!). Get Free Worksheet and Teleclass info here: http://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.com/free-annual-goal-setting-worksheet-holiday-gift/

    So you don’t need luck – just a plan!! 😉

  6. “Procrastination is a gift”
    Yes it can be. Sometimes “avoidance procrastination” is mistaken for “functional procrastination.” The latter may be recognized and used to one’s advantage. As a writer and public speaker, I use “functional procrastination” as a creative crockpot for my writing projects and speaking events. I used to get stressed about it thinking it was classic procrastination. I always meet deadlines so I learned to see this as my creative cycle and began to take advantage of it. It took several years to learn it and use it to my advantage.

    • Dear Tom,

      Great point. I like the term functional procrastination. I might call it conscious procrastination – but it’s the same thing I think, where we turn it to our advantage. We go “with the flow” rather than against it…

      You should write an article sharing your story, and the distinction between the two types! 🙂

      Warmly, Emma-Louise

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