4 -Step Routine For Achieving Your Goals in 2024
Hey twentysomething! Let’s chat about goal setting. Is motivation enough for you to achieve your goals? According to the book Atomic Habits, there is more power in creating a plan – an intention – to actually make your goals achievable.
If you don’t, motivation will wear off and you will probably ditch your goals sooner, rather than later...
I always had motivation to better my life. I would make vision boards, follow wellness accounts, have desire for a new-and-improved morning routine – but clearly, a consistent, and specific plan is what I was missing.
To improve this issue in my life, I decided to start a monthly 4-step routine with my best friend over FaceTime (we would do it in person, but we live 3.5 hours apart from one another).
It was like killing two birds with one stone. (1) I get an accountability buddy, but also (2) we can be vulnerable with each other about our areas of improvement.
I understand the desire to make your goals appear glamorous but with someone you can trust, you can be real. Maybe your goal isn’t to have a solid morning routine but rather, quit smoking or alcohol for the month.
Here is how we set goals for the next 4 weeks, and how to support each other to make our dreams a reality.
My Monthly 4-Step Routine
Step 1: Reflecting on the Previous Month
The first part of our chat included reflection. We dissected not only our wins, but also areas of improvement for the following month.
Pivoting in life is essential for growth, yet, it takes humility. You start asking yourself, “What is no longer working for me?”, “What should I change?” and having a friend that you can trust will allow you to come to these realizations much sooner than on your own.
Questions:
What were our major accomplishments last month?
Did we achieve the goals we set for ourselves?
What unexpected challenges did we face, and how did we handle them?
Is there anything we would have done differently?
Step 2: Setting Goals + Creating a Plan for the Month:
After ripping the bandaid off for our monthly reflections, let’s dive into goals.
Whenever I have a hard time deciding on what goals to set, I always fall back to the wheel of life exercise to gain more clarity on your current situation.
For the lowest rated area of life, ask yourself – ”What am I needing more of in this area of my life?”. Base your goals off those answers. The other important part in this section includes setting a plan in place to support this goal with actions.
Example
Goal: Get outside more
Action: Go for a morning walk
Plan: After I finish eating breakfast I will go for a walk around my street for at least 10 mins.
Questions:
What is your main goal for the month?
Are there any specific actions we can outline to achieve these goals?
Are our goals realistic and achievable within the given timeframe? Meaning, can you do any habits right now to support it?
Step 3: Intentions and mindset
Having the right mindset is just as important as the plan. This month, I've decided to try out Dry January, and let me just say, it hasn’t been easy.
My most challenging moments were when I attended a Travis Scott concert, went on a dinner date with my boyfriend, and had a tequila & tacos night with my friends. How did I stick to it? My mindset.
If I approached this month with the mindset of missing out on life, I would have failed already. Instead of adopting a scarcity mindset toward this goal, I cultivated an abundant mindset.
By affirming statements such as “I don’t need alcohol to have fun,” “I am supporting a healthy immune system with this goal,” and “I feel more healthy and energized every day”, I was able to stay committed.
Note: only expose yourself to these environments for a short period because unconscious behaviour can overpower your resilience.
One of the habits supporting this goal for me was incorporating more mocktails. I learned that sometimes it isn’t about the buzz that makes an event fun; it’s about the cute beverage!
Questions:
Are there any specific intentions we want to set for ourselves (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness, positivity)?
How can we support each other in maintaining a positive mindset throughout the month?
Step 4: Celebrating Successes
Bianca’s Vision Board for 2024
Last stop—celebrating victories. You've got to treat yourself, my friend. No matter how tiny the win, in order for this healthy (and new) habit to stick, you need to reward yourself it’s working!
To help your accountability buddy, ask them what you can do as a friend to encourage them.
Example
Goal: Get outside more
Action: Go for a morning walk
Plan: After I finish eating breakfast I will go for a walk around my street for at least 10 mins.
Reward: Make a coffee (or beverage of your choice)
Questions:
How do we plan to celebrate our achievements, no matter how small?
In what ways can we acknowledge and appreciate each other's efforts?
So, there you have it—my 4-step routine for sticking to my goals 2024. Goals are cool, but they need a wingman called action. This routine? It's my trusty sidekick in the quest for a kick-ass year. Jump aboard and let's crush those goals together!
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Photo Bianca Venchiarutti, the writer of The Twenties Detox
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