The Power Behind Micro Goals

Happy New Year!

There’s something undeniably refreshing about starting a new year. A chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Ditch those old dusty habits that have been weighing you down physically and emotionally for new ones with the promise of delivering life changing results.

If only it was that simple. We’ve all been there. You start off strong and by mid February, you fall back into your old ways.

Why? Because change is hard! And big goals are ridiculously impossible to achieve overnight.

This year, I’m encouraging you to try a different method. One that will yield better results and is completely doable.

Instead of creating lofty resolutions that set you up for failure and lead you down a road of self loathing, think about setting micro goals.

What’s a micro goal you ask? Totally attainable, realistic, small changes that, overtime, add up to significant results. Think of them as bite sized goals.

Behavior changes happen over time. When we make small, consistent tweaks to our diet, how we move, how we sleep, how we relieve stress, we are more likely to succeed and ultimately adopt that positive change we desire.

So, how do you start?

Simply break down your big goals into smaller, more specific, achievable goals or SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound).

For example, instead of setting a broad goal to “get in shape in 2025”, a SMART goal or micro goal would look like, “walk every morning for 30 minutes using a fitness app to track mileage”. Instead of “cutting out sugar entirely from my diet”, a micro goal might be “reducing my consumption of 5 vanilla lattes per week to 3 for the next 4 weeks”.

Doesn’t it already feel better? Breaking your big goals down into smaller goals allows you to not get overwhelmed by the fear of failing.

Take it day by day. Didn’t walk for 30 minutes one day? No biggie. Pick back up tomorrow. Little by little your goal to take a 30 minute walk will soon become a way of life that you will miss, even crave, when you don’t get one in.

And above all…give yourself some grace. Life is busy and spontaneous and sometimes we just can’t fit it all in. But that’s OK. There’s always tomorrow.

Now go grab a journal and start micro goal setting!