The last blog began to talk about the power and discipline of goal planning, now it is time to work on the actual process and start of creating goals.

Now, whether it is better to start at the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly is an individual preference and aspect that is more easily discovered working one-on-one.

Thus, for now - the daily.

As I mentioned there are six aspects I have found ought to be involved for the most success with achieving goals:

1. Some things that you can see/feel immediately each day.
2. Some things that are attainable in periods such as a week, month, 90days, a year, five years.
3. Some things that would require a bit of work and see some or full results daily, weekly, monthly, etc
4. Some things that are larger challenges that if I begin to get towards would give that sensation of accomplishment and belief/knowledge of possibility - again weekly, monthly, yearly
5. Some things that are deadline or number oriented - stuff that *must* get done at or by certain times so there is a sense of pressure
6. Some things that have general ideas of when/what will be completed so that there are things to be relaxed about

For Daily we deal with 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 - and as I have mentioned it is the interplay of each that grants the ability to grow with faith, trust, belief, knowledge, and action towards achieving the life you want.

#1 - Goals you can easily obtain and see come through today
Some of the examples of this may sound silly but at the end of the day knowing you have accomplished and done these things does tell your mind and body that you can definitely reach your goals.
Setting aspects such as: waking up, eating, getting dressed, going to sleep  --- now you can add others to this, the idea is things that you know you can and will do. If you know that you are going to the beach today add that in, if you know a friend is coming over add that. Accomplishing tasks that you know can and will happen begins the self-efficacy; knowledge, sense, etc of control in your day.

#3 - Some things that require a bit of work
This is still going to be aspects that are familiar to you, things that you still know you can do but not necessarily plan to do with complete assurity that you will.
Examples can be that you will read more of a book that you are already reading, will check e-mail and respond, exercise, ensure that what you eat is good & right for you, that when you do what your supposed to do you will add or remember to increase it.
The idea here is that your having to do a bit more to accomplish these tasks but they are still familiar to you, they are things that you can do that day without a lot of work or effort apart from the action. Accomplishing this increases the self-efficacy with a focus on the role of control and ability.

#4 - Challenging goals that just starting will be an accomplishment.
These are the larger goals that often incorporate adding something new to your day or something that you might only do once in a great great while but want to do that day. These are the goals that daily tie more into weekly, monthly, and yearly planning.
This can be adding in a new exercise regime & doing it, changing food habbits and doing it, reading a new book, starting/working on a project, getting together with people, etc.
The trick here is even if you do not complete this goal today that by beginning it you acknowledge that those things you aren't doing all the time are possible, that you can actually start moving forward towards the greater goals, etc.

#5 Deadline oriented
Make sure that there are some goals you have for the day of whatever of the above categories that must be done by a certain time or be a specific number - a defined goal.
Perhaps you will be sure to eat lunch by 2pm, you will send out 10comments on myspace, you will spend 30minutes meditating, at 4pm you will have finished watching the tv shows you saved.
Having deadlines and meeting them gives a great sense of accomplishment it lets you know that you can reach the goals you have in a set time. This also helps increase your knowledge of the time and effort it takes to get to your goals allowing for revisions in the goal planning.

#6 - Open deadline goals
Stress can be a motivator but also you need to have some goals that don't require them to be done by a certain time. Simply stating that you will work on reading a book but not giving a time period or number of pages allows a freedom of the experience. Let yourself have activities that are not bound by restrictions, things that focus on enjoying life, being in the flow, and letting go.
The first part of this goal is the idea of knowing you are not simply in a state of demands and requirements, you have freedoms that you allow yourself and that the world is giving you. The second part is that as you get to the end of the day and these things have been done or started there is a level of pleasure and gratitude in knowing that you have 'time to enjoy life'.

When to make a daily plan?

Where you start with this is individual preference and sometimes best discovered with trial and error and the help of someone working with you.

Generally though my suggestion is that you start your daily plans in a few ways.
1. ideally as you create weekly and similar plans you will find what needs to be done daily.... but we are starting with daily so...
2. The night before  - before you go to sleep at night along with your gratitude assignment (will talk about that in another blog) spend about 5-10 minutes lightly sketching out your goals. This can be a bulleted list, written parragraphs, pictures, anything.... include as one of the first goals: To Wake Up
3. In the morning take that list, paragraph, etc and put a check or star next to "waking up" *YAY* goal one accomplished and if you added a time to do this buy maybe two checks. Next write a more detailed plan and list for the day.
4. At lunch check in on that list and add your check marks or stars to what you have done - notes perhaps on how you did (you can use a rating scale if you want) and check in on and/or revise the goals and plans for the rest of the day
5. after dinner and/or before bed take an assessment of the day and how you did, emphasize what you accomplished

Now then...

Everything in Moderation including Moderation!!

This is not meant to be a stressful activity or something that if you forget to make plans for a day or check in on that somehow this will not work or that you are failing at it.
Not everyday ought to be planned with lots of goals or great details - the ability for being spontaneous is important, being able to have a day that is unplanned is important.

Take this process slowly or quickly, be very dedicated or partially dedicated to it - you may know where you are in the needs to do detailed daily plans or perhaps your not totally sure - test it out, check it out, play with these activities.

If this is very stressing to you send me an e-mail we can talk things out or I can help you find others that may be able to work better with you.

REWARDS!!

Yep, they are important.

And.. yes... the greatest rewards are knowing that you have reached and accomplished some of or evena all of your daily plans and goals.

And.. yes... there ought to be something that you reward yourself with daily, weekly, etc based on your sucesses here. For daily often it could be something like a small piece of chocolate or desert, a check mark on the route to spending money or time doing something you really have wanted to and love, a bit of time spent doing something fun and enjoyable (this should actually be part of daily goals but can also be a reward aspect... be careful with limiting yourself)

Punishments??
Yikes, I never did like that concept.

Does it have a role though -- yes and no.

First it is the step one of the goal planning - doing things you know you can and will do with complete ease - that is designed so you do not punish yourself at the end of the day.

Next, not getting a reward is in a sense a way of promoting a motivation and inspiration to do more the next day.

Third, DO NOT BE VERY HARD ON YOURSELF!!

Fourth... yes you may put in some forms of discipline... if you do not reach certain goals then you will have to do something or not do something... ie if at the end of the day you didnt get the chores done then the next day you limit your time on say a computer game.... be very careful of this though, punishment can be beneficial and needed at times for appreciation, inspiration, and motivation but yeah be careful here.

*smiles*
Give it a try doing daily plans, if you need more guidance on putting the plan together let me know.... little aspects that will help with daily planning and goals as well as improving the quality of life will be forthcoming.

Much Love
~Namaste,
Debra J Macking, LMT & Life Guide
813-486-0240
www.achievinglife.com