How to Achieve Goals for Life Change

Last Updated on June 25, 2022 by Tracey McGrath

Habits are Critical for Achieving Goals for Life

Learning how to achieve goals for life change can be as simple as these 5 simple steps. Knowing that you need to change your behavior in order to achieve your goals is priceless. Have you ever wanted to change an old habit and you try and try, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO STICK?  You know it isn’t healthy for you.  You want to change…but for some reason, you don’t. Why?  Why do we want things that sometimes it seems like we don’t actually want?

First of all, let’s celebrate the awareness that you have right now to even know there is something you want to change.  The fact that you’re aware is HUGE!  And on top of that, you know whatever you want to change is not healthy for you.  That means you’ve done a little research on the topic.  Kudos to you!  

How Does Your Brain Play a Part?

Our brains are wired for survival.  So, if something is not killing us right this minute then the brain doesn’t really interpret that as a major issue.  However, we also know that lots of things may be harming us in the long term. And those habits can cause major issues if we don’t change our behavior. 

For example, not getting adequate sleep can increase your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and heart attacks.  Our brains are aware of this “danger”.  But if the issue doesn’t seem over the top, in your face causing immediate danger then it’s not at the top of the to-do list. Right now, the brain thinks, you need food. Or you need to be on time to work. Or you need to figure out how to stop that screaming child!

When you’re faced with even a minor health crisis you may notice you have a newfound determination to make changes. You want to change your behaviors so that you can feel better.  Unfortunately, once you feel better the motivation often vanishes.  Have you ever gotten a cold or the flu and thought, “I’ll sleep more once I’m better, I promise” or “I’ll take better care of myself if I can just feel better”?  We often make these promises because we know those behaviors would have helped our bodies to stay healthy.   But oftentimes once we feel better we forget about those helpful behaviors we so wished we had done. 

Why?  Because the immediate danger is gone. Your brain goes back to worrying about your next meal or remembering to take your jacket. So, what are we to do? How can you implement change that sticks?

5 Simple Steps to Create Goals for Life Change

Here are 5 simple steps that you can begin to implement today to create real change in your life. All goals must be created and then acted upon to be achieved. You can’t get to where you want to be just by thinking about it. You must take action! Any fear you have around making these changes will magically vanish once you take the first step.

Step #1: Admit that change can be hard.  

Knowing that you’re facing a difficult challenge but still wanting the results can be a great way to remind yourself of the journey you’re embarking on.  There will be hills and valleys...times when you want to quit but the knowledge that it was always going to be a difficult road can remind you that you want the end result more than you’re scared of the difficulties.      

Step #2: Educate yourself.

I believe one of the best ways to “trick” your brain into thinking the change in behavior is absolutely necessary is to inundate it with information so that it believes in the necessity of change.  This creates more motivation to implement and stick with the behavior change.

Step #3: Choose achievable goals.

I’m sure you’ve heard of SMART goals…Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and anchored within a Time frame.  The best way to succeed is to create goals that you can actually achieve!  And that doesn’t mean you’re taking the easy way out or avoiding the problem…it means you’re getting started.  It means you’re taking baby steps toward where you want to be. 

To paraphrase the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, every journey begins with a single step.  A 1000-page book doesn’t get read all at once…it’s one page at a time.

Choose your new habit and the goal you wish to achieve with this new habit.  Write it down.

For example, for someone who doesn’t normally eat a lot of vegetables and wants to increase their intake. 

New habit: I eat 2 servings of vegetables every day.  Time frame: for 30 days   

Step #4: Track your goals

Find a method that works for you but find one and use it.  This helps to create accountability and also helps you to celebrate your wins.  A sheet of paper, a dry erase board, or a calendar are all great ways to track your habits.  There are also lots of habit-tracking journals you can buy but don’t let needing a fancy notebook be the thing that stops your progress. 

I highly recommend James Clear’s book, “Atomic Habits” or reading his articles on this topic. He also has a great habit tracker for free.  

Step #5: Celebrate your wins.

When you achieve your goals, this can be daily or weekly or hourly even, CELEBRATE! Give yourself that high five in the mirror. Check out Mel Robbin’s new book, “The High Five Habit” for more on this way to encourage yourself. YOU DESERVE IT! Don’t let your brain tell you that now you’ve achieved it, that it wasn’t that big of a deal. Remind yourself that you put in the effort. And you did what you set out to do no matter how small it may seem.  

Check out my article Celebrate the Little Wins for more info on how you can acknowledge your achievements! 

And always know that you can readjust if needed. If you notice, you’re not achieving your goals in your set time frame then maybe you need to readjust the steps you’re taking to get you there. 

That’s ok! That’s how we learn and grow. Just adjust and extend yourself the same grace you’d extend to your best friend if she was trying something new and difficult. 

You can do this! Every step of change is beautiful. It’s a process and it can be scary. But I believe in you and I know that you can do hard things.