How to Set Goals That Matter
Tarah Avery
Do you ever feel like your life doesn’t have purpose? Do you ever wonder why your life is a mess, while everyone else seems to have it all together? Does your life resemble a treadmill – you’re working really hard, but you’re not going anywhere?
Girl, I get it. It’s these questions that got me thinking about one of the most impactful traditions in my life – going on a Goal’s Getaway.
Our first Goals Getaway together was right after Christmas. We booked a weekend at this little BnB on the Oregon coast. It was such a romantic, cozy place; close by the beach with a wood-burning fireplace, and the most adorable rooms. We sat by the fire every day, with a freshly made latte, and just talked and dreamed about our life. We had never felt more connected and excited for all that God would do through us in the coming year! It was a time of refreshment, clarity, and joy. We have kept this tradition every year and it just keeps getting better and better!
My husband started this tradition on his own years before we were together and introduced it to me when we started dating. Up until that point I had never done anything like this. Sure, I would make New Years resolutions; which were usually small, meaningless things that never impacted my life much. Often it was a list of something crazy, like “30 Resolutions,” that I would barely touch all year. Can you relate? So as I began learning about this event (called a Goals Getaway) that my husband had been doing yearly, I began to realize that resolutions are not really the same as goals. Resolutions are unfocused, usually random, wishes. Goals are intentional plans of action.
And those plans of action, if done right, will actually get you to where you want to go in life! Rather than wandering around being blown by the wind left & right, you can set a path to where you want to go. Cool, right!?
Now we can make our plans but we know that God is in control. So this path we make isn’t rigid and unmoving, we make our plans but then hold them with open hands – that’s intentionality done well.
OK, so here’s our formula to great Goal Setting done well:
Book a week getaway at a BnB.
If you can book it during the week that’s usually cheaper – but seriously, not everyone can create their own schedule or get the time off – so no worries if you can only do a weekend thing.
Keep in mind that this isn’t meant to be a relaxing trip however, you can fit some of those aspects in it! Most days you will be grinding all day long – but we’ve figured out a way to get everything done while still fitting some relax time in. We usually wake up at 8 or 9 and then make sure we’re finished with the day by 5 or 6. Don’t make it a workday – sleep in a little and make sure you finish at a decent enough time where you can have some chill time in the evening.
Create a schedule for the weekend and then stick to it as best as you can
You’re going to be looking at 4 different areas of your life,
1) Relationships – this includes marriage, family, & friends;
2) Career / Work,
3) Health – this includes mental, physical, emotional & “Spiritual”; and lastly
4) Wealth – which includes giving, debt, savings & retirement.
Usually, we tackle 2 topics per day and we block out time for each session. And if you don’t get finished in the time allotted, that’s OK. Move on and come back to it later. You want to try to get it a discussion for each subject.
Next, pick 2-3 goals for the coming year for each section.
They should total just about 10 goals for the New Year), 2 for each is best but sometimes you just need a third!
And there you go! You have your goals picked out and ready to accomplish for the coming year (woohoo! You did it!).
I don’t know about you, but I want to do life on purpose. I want it all to count. And lovely, I believe you can experience that same thing. And you know what? You can! All it takes is a little intentionality.
My hope is that this guide will bring clarity and direction to your life, and fill you with excitement and motivation as you head into the New Year!
All my love,
