When setting a goal such as losing weight, it’s important to do more than just say, “I am going to lose weight”! (Though, that would be amazing if it were that simple.) We have to choose an eating regimen, determine what kind of physical activity we would actually do, set realistic benchmarks, and perhaps even get a coach or an accountability partner. All of these steps are considered “process goals”, which are essentially roadmaps to success! So if you have set some goals, be sure to study them and begin to consider how creating process goals will help you get your desired result!
Lifehack has a great definition of process goals — “A process goal is not a destination, it’s the path you plan on taking to get there. For example, if you want to become better at writing, your process goal would be to post one blog article per week and learn from the feedback you receive. The destination is a monthly goal of 12 articles.”
Creating Process Goals:
Look at Your Behavior
When creating process goals, it is really important to hyper-focus on behavior changes rather than results. For example, if your goal is to get 5 new clients in one month, celebrate the steps you take to get there such as attending networking events, getting leads, setting appointments, etc. This will help keep your morale up while simultaneously building new and important habits!
Experience is Everything — Tap into it!
If you find yourself stuck on a plateau, reflect on the past experiences that involve you being successful! Doing this can give you a little burst of confidence that will help you keep going!
If you want to take a deeper look at this concept, we suggest reading the book “Can’t Hurt Me” by Paul Goggins! He calls this concept, “reaching into your cookie jar”!
Clearly Define Your “Why”
If your goal is to lose weight, but your actual hope is to have toned arms, then it might be better to focus on exercise rather than simply cutting calories! So, sit down, and list out all of the reasons you “want to reach a goal”, and you may discover that you actually need to set a different objective to reach your desired results.
Get Specific
Saying things like, “I want to be healthy”, will mean different things to different people. So, it is really important to get very specific when setting goals! Doing so will help you stay on track and ultimately keep you motivated!
Be Realistic
It’s difficult for a single individual to turn their “side hustle” into a full-blown, multi-million dollar company in one year! (Sure, it’s technically possible but really difficult to do). Setting a goal like this can really knock the wind out of your sails! So, set a more realistic goal and get there by creating process goals!
Stay Positive
Okay, this is definitely easier said than done! BUT, simply changing vocabulary from “I have to go to this meeting” to “I get to go to this meeting” can make a major impact on your overall moral! That said, when it comes to your goals, always try to look at the world from a glass half full perspective.
How to Implement Process Goals
Combining Process Goals is Key
The sum of many process goals will add up to a desired outcome! So, combine them! This will help you move towards your end goal while being able to handle the fine details.
One Bite at a Time
You know that (somewhat horrible) saying, “How do you eat an elephant? By taking one bite at a time!” Sure, it’s gross, but the concept is true! Every single bite is another action that takes you towards your next goal.
Measure Your Headway!
Doing this is a simple way to keep motivation up! That said, make a giant check list, and cross off the many “bite-sized” process goals you complete!
Demolish Obstacles
Realistically, obstacles will arise! Just know that these are not stopping points, they’re just opportunities for you to readjust, make small pivots, and keep going! Oftentimes, obstacles may feel like an asteroid just crushed your dreams, but once a shift is made, the results are better than you could have ever imagined!
You CAN Recover from a Relapse
Just because you slipped up, doesn’t mean you cannot start again! Just do as Taylor Swift says and shake it off!
Get Support!
Having the support of your family, co-workers, friends, and a coach can make all the difference in the world! So, be sure they know what you’re doing, and how they might support you!
A coach really can be life-altering! Set up your complimentary discovery call today and learn more!
Final Thoughts
By now, you likely have a good idea as to what a process goal is, and how creating process goals can make a massive impact on your overall dreams! So, do yourself a favor and start setting process goals!