This Simple Hack Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

The biggest thing I’ve learned since losing 45 pounds five years ago is that slow and steady really does win the race. Since changing my own lifestyle and starting the online health and fitness community Love Sweat Fitness, I’ve realized you truly can make anything happen if you plan and prepare.

If you take a moment to examine your life, you’ll likely find that there are tons are things you want to change. Most of us have dreams and goals that we feel are unattainable, but that’s only because we get overwhelmed by change. Most of the time we don’t know where to start or what to do to make it happen. That uncertainty can be debilitating and leave you stuck where you are.

If you weren’t meant to be challenged to change and grow, you wouldn’t have those dreams in the first place. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to lose weight, switch jobs, move across the country or simply try something new your dreams are valid and you’re worth it.

The key to turning your dreams into reality is simple if you strategize correctly. And while you might not reach your aspirations overnight, with the right tools and mindset you will grow, create new habits and eventually realize your ambitions or find something better along the way that’s better suited to you.

3 Simple Steps to Reach Your Goals

Step 1: Know What You Want

Or at least know what you think you want. You might not know exactly what life will look like when you decide to take the leap, but you need to have an idea of what you want it to be. Can you picture yourself healthier? Traveling more? In that career you’ve always dreamed of? If you answered yes, then you’ve taken the first step towards making it happen. Having a clear picture of what you want will allow you to begin cultivating a plan to get there. Take the time to brainstorm, and write down all of your objectives.

Step 2: Have a Plan

OK, now that you can see it, how are you going to get there? What steps do you need to take to make it happen? It’s not enough to just say “I’m going to do ____.” You need to do your research and build a plan. What’s the best way to create a plan? Set micro goals.

Micro goals are small goals you set for yourself that help you reach your larger ones. We all want to feel good, especially when we’re making changes that can be challenging. Big goals usually leave you feeling anxious and upset because it can take a long time to see results. Micro goals allow you to get that sense of immediate gratification. You see your hard work paying off quickly, and that gives you the motivation and drive to keep going.

When setting a micro goal it’s important to keep your current lifestyle in mind. Yes we want to make changes, but if you set a goal that’s completely unrealistic, you won’t stick to it. You should set small, attainable goals that will allow you to see just how strong you truly are. Start with one thing that seems a bit easier and add on from there.

Step 3: Take Action

Now that you have the plan, it’s time to put it into action. There are two key things you must do if you want to be successful in totally crushing your goals. One, you absolutely need to track your progress. It’s important to periodically check in and hold yourself accountable. Journaling and having a support system — whether family and friends or an online community – are great ways to do that. And two, you need to treat yourself when you accomplish your goals. It’ll be different depending on your objectives, but make sure you do something to reward yourself for completing what you set out to do.

Katie Dunlop is an Instagram and YouTube fitness influencer as well as the creator of Love Sweat Fitness, a health and fitness community that inspires women around the world to live their best lives.