A few weeks back, I mentioned that I enjoy setting Mini Goals each week. I received lots of comments about this so I thought I would share Why and How To Set Mini Goals.
Why and How To Set Mini Goals
It’s fantastic to set big, huge scary goals at the start of the year or anytime really. However, once you set that bit, scary goal it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So maybe you want to run a marathon or get 8 hours of sleep a night or eat more meatless meals. How do those goals translate into your life each week or each day?
Breaking down these bigger goals into small, manageable weekly goals can be so empowering. Set yourself up to succeed by devising smaller, mini goals that you can achieve to ultimately get you towards your bigger goals.
So how do you set Mini Goals?
Each week I take a realistic look at my schedule to help me come up with my mini goals. I figure out how and where I can fit in the desired activity and feel like I accomplished something. I then make sure I have the tools to achieve it.
For example, my big goal could be something like “I want to eat more meatless meals by the end of the year”. An ambitious and very broad goal. Looking at my week, I feel like setting a goal to eat 4 meatless meals this week is achievable. I then would save 4 recipes and make sure that I had all the ingredients on hand.
Often I hear my friends say they need to get more sleep “next week” but it never seems to happen. Why? Mini goals don’t just happen without planning. Take a look at your schedule and see which nights look like good possibilities. Set a reminder or alarm on your phone for those nights that it’s time to go to bed. Start small-these are mini goals. Maybe set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than you normally go to bed. Write it down in your planner and check it off when you do it. Achieving that goal twice in one week will feel fantastic!
My mini goals for this week:
-Bike outside 2 times (weather dependent)
-swim once this week
-make it to yoga 2 times
Setting mini goals each week keeps me motivated towards reaching my bigger goals. It’s also a great way to give myself a little pat on the back for what I did achieve instead of focusing on how far I might have to go. Tell me do you set mini goals? How does it work for you?
Linking up with
Coach Debbie, Running on Happy and crazy running girl
I love this! I try to set little goals as well, though I hadn’t really thought of them as such, it really helps me stay on top of things day to day.
It really does!
Great tips! I frequently tell people to set smaller goals within their big goals to make it more achievable. Now I can also share the “how-to!”
Thanks! I find it really helpful
I love this! I bought a goals notepad after my surgery to help get me back on track – I set mini goals for the week and then smaller ones for each day – it’s really helped me to get stuff done!
It really does! Glad it is working for you. You seem to be getting back to yourself and healing up quickly
I guess I do set mini-goals all the time and I didn’t even realize it! Even heading out for a run, I tell myself my mileage and how I’m going to accomplish that. Run/walk intervals? Time for the intervals?
Great food for thought!
Thanks Wendy! I do find it really helpful for me as well
Setting mini goals is great, I agree! That way people don’t get overwhelmed and feel as though they cannot accomplish what they’ve set out to do!
yes exactly!
I love setting up mini-goals. That’s really help me celebrate small victories instead of focusing on how far I have to go to reach my bigger goals.
Yes me too!
Breaking down goals to bite size pieces makes them less overwhelming. Love your suggestions and tips
Thanks so much
Love these tips for setting goals! So important to make realistic achievable goals.
Thanks I find it really helpful as well
This is great! I usually set big goals for the year but it is harder to keep them in mind and keep up with them. That makes sense to set little goals throughout the year to take the steps to get to the big goals.
Yes exactly! Hope it helps for you as well
I love setting mini goals! Usually mine are monthly goals, but sometimes I make weekly or even daily goals when I want to achieve small things…like stretching after running, eating more fruits/veggies, etc.
Yes exactly those are the types of goals I find helpful to set as well
OMG…I LOVE mini-goals too! I think setting big goals can be daunting at times and overwhelming and if you don’t reach them, they can leave you feeling disappointed. Mini-goals are the way to go!
Thanks I agree!
I enjoy setting mini goals but tend to do it on a monthly basis. For example one of my big goals for the year is to try out new recipes so I’ll research and choose one or two to try during the month. Then I’ll look at my planner’s month view to decide what days would be best based on what’s happening.
That is a great idea as well!
Each month, I find a different set of mini goals to focus on…whether it’s more planking, adding burpees to my life, daily push-ups (more than usual), etc. Sometimes the monthly goals are a bit aggressive, but knowing they’re only for one month keeps me disciplined to finish them. I agree….it’s much easier to achieve many mini goals than to focus on one big year-long goal (at least it is for me).
Yes I agree! You are do disciplined about those monthly challenges too
Great post, mini goals are so important. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the big goals we set for ourselves, mini goals are what help us get to those big goals. Good luck with your mini goals this week!
Thanks right back at you
Great idea! I was reading this book about setting goals and it’s just something that does not come second nature to me. Never thought of doing mini ones! Love it!
I find them much less daunting. Hope it helps you out
Any good animal trainer knows that breaking things down into tiny steps is important. And if the animal isn’t getting it, no doubt you haven’t broken it down enough.
Humans are animals too. 🙂
ha ha yes I guess we are!
My mini goals happen monthly. Right now my goal is to build up mileage to get me ready for a half marathon coming up. I love that it gives me something to accomplish while I’m working for something bigger so that I don’t get discouraged.
Yes exactly! I enjoy the weekly motivation for sure
Love these tips for goal setting! I try to set mini goals at the beginning of each week to strive towards my longer term goals. It always helps to have an action plan!
action plans are always good
YES! This is such a great post! I always try to break big goals into smaller, more achievable parts.
Thanks I find them really helpful for motiation
YES! I definitely do this. I have to take things week by week. I do have “general” goals each month but then I have to PLAN to make sure I achieve these things. It’s so important. I mentioned on one of my blog posts recently that I use my bullet journal for this and so far it works for me. Goals big or small don’t just happen – you HAVE to plan for them!
yes exactly! I am glad that they work for you as well
You’re so right: Breaking down anything into smaller chunks helps make the process more manageable.
definitely does!
I live by mini goals. Especially as a mom with two toddlers. I’d go crazy if I only focused on the big goals I have for myself. Some weeks, just physically getting to the gym is the goal and the workout is just gravy. But I know this is just the season of life I’m in and down the road I’ll be able to focus more on the workouts.
Yes it is the season of the life you are in! It gets so much easier -promise 🙂
Mini goals are a great way to stay motivated! Seeing those little steps toward the ultimate goal is so rewarding! Great post!
Thanks! The little goals really help me
Mini goals are a great idea!
Thanks so much!
I love this notion! Those small wins are huge motivators!
they really do help me a lot to stay on track
Great tips! I don’t think I’ve consciously thought about this, but I do set mini goals all the time. It’s my little scratchpad of things to do each week….not big overwhelming things, but just little items that need to get done.
Yes it’s really helpful to me and keeps me motivated
I’m definitely a mini goals person. It is what has helped me stay consistent with a step goal that evolved into running goals. It also helps to see big picture in that losing one day doesn’t mean the long term goal is impossible. Love your idea about the action steps, such as recipes, toward the mini goals
Thanks so much and glad that this strategy works for you too! Have a great week