“Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.”

James Clear

My First Monthly Goal

My first 30 day goal was to drink half my body weight in water daily and start drinking a Fab 4 Smoothie for breakfast because I snacked so much when I went to work. Drinking all my water was not a real challenge for me, I already brought a water cup to work, but I needed to make sure I was drinking more.

Switching my breakfast routine, did take some refining. I heard about the Fab 4 Smoothie from Kelly LeVeque on the Rachel Hollis podcast, and I needed something in the morning that would keep me full until lunch time. I had a bad habit of eating breakfast at home, and strolling for a snack exactly one hour into my shift. I started playing with versions of the smoothie, until I got it right, and it worked for me. The Smoothie would keep me full until lunch. And now, 3 years later, I still have that smoothie for breakfast because I want to be someone that eats healthier, so my cue to start my day as that person, is to make a Fab 4 Smoothie, and fill my water container up.

Why is a 30 Day Goal Important?

We usually start a 30 day challenge or think of monthly goals because there is an end version of ourselves that we want to be. I want to feel healthier, I want to write a book, I want to run a 5K. A 30 day goal is a stepping stone to getting closer to a future version of the person we actually want to be.  

Monthly goals are great to start with because they have a short end date. When we are starting something new, we have this great idea, we’re super motivated, and then we fizzle out somewhere around 2-3 weeks in. A short end date is easy to keep our eyes on the prize. A 30 day goal also gives us just enough time to potentially make that goal a habit.

When we successfully implement a new habit, we take a step towards a bigger dream or goal. Then, we take on the identity and believe that we’ve gotten closer to who we want to be, and can now work on a new goal to continue making progress.

What is my 30 day goal that I am working on?

My ultimate goal is to write a cookbook. I am not going to manage to do that in 30 days. But what I can do is set small attainable goals for myself to lead me in that direction. I can decide ahead of time what recipes I will write, I can decide what time of day I will write them so that I am more inclined to do it daily, I can leave my work on my desk so that I see it every day. I have to leave myself cues so that it always is at top of mind, and that will lead me a better chance of doing it daily.  

I will work on my cookbook for 30 minutes every day or give myself a number, say I will write and test 5 recipes this month. I will probably choose to write in it for 30 minutes each day. That is a much more attainable goal that I can work on, and will have more likelihood to achieve. If I am writing in my cookbook for 30 minutes every day, then I am making myself believe that I am a person that writes cookbooks. Taking on the identity of being a cookbook author will help me when I get stuck with my writing, and want to quit.

Ideas of 30 days goals:

• Get started writing a book. Write for 30 minutes in a specified area at the same time each day.
• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Set your water container out on the counter. Fill it up directly after doing a habit you already do, make your coffee, make your breakfast, Unload the dishwasher, etc. I fill mine up after I make my daughters breakfast and my smoothie.
• Implement an exercise routine. Start by putting shoes by the front door, and walking outside every day for 15 minutes.
• Save a certain amount of money or pay off a debt. Make a budget. Look for areas to save and cut spending. Talk with your partner about money goals. Every time you skip a trip to the gas station or coffee shop, move that money out of your account (because you would have spent it anyway) and apply it to your goal. See how much progress you made in one month.
• Quit drinking alcohol. Tell your peers you are not drinking for a month for accountability and support. Remove it from your house. Don’t go to your usual hangouts so you are not triggered to drink. Have your friends come to your house to hang out but remind them there will be no alcohol. Take the money you would have spent on alcohol, and but yourself something you’ve been wanting.
• Start practicing gratitude daily. I make this part of my morning routine. I wake up, make coffee, sit on the couch, and start thinking of gratitude. This helps me look for moments of joy throughout the day, because I know I will have to reflect on it the next day.
• Quit Social media (or at least the notifications). This has helped me a lot! I still need to refine my social media activity, but I have definitely made more use of my morning time but leaving my phone in another room, and not carrying it with me to drink my coffee and do my gratitude.
• Start a meal plan or meal prep. Part of living a healthier lifestyle is setting yourself up to do so. Plan your foods out ahead of time. Meal plan the same day each week. Go grocery shopping the same time and day of the week. Track what meals you enjoy and repeat those to stay on track.

Work on One Goal at a Time!

Most of the 30 day goals listed above, I have done some sort of version of, so most of them are from my own experience. I don’t attempt to start all these things at once. I pick one. I have been pursuing personal growth for 3 years now, so these ideas are things I’ve already spent time learning and implementing. The first rule of Fight Club is, work on one goal at a time!!

Connect With Me!

Did you find this helpful? Please leave me a comment for feedback! Follow me on IG for daily inspiration and to connect with me directly to uphold your 30 day goal!  I would absolutely love to work on it with you. www.instagram.com/heygoalsister