The new year is in full swing. I’m working on the goals I’ve implemented for myself this year. I’m creating and improving routines so that I can make this year better for myself overall. However, I am changing my approach this year as opposed to in years past.

Normally, I set myself up for failure by implementing large goals. The last time I did a bullet journal, I wanted to make an improvement to my blog every month. While that worked for some things, I did not prioritize the time it would take to make those changes. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that I did not achieve that goal. And that’s just one example I can give of many!

I’m taking a different approach this year. I am making bite-sized goals that will set me up for more success in the future. In other words, I’m taking small steps to make big changes.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. In past years, I’ve set the generic goal of “be healthy” or “get in shape”. Not only are those goals vague, but they’re also large goals. Getting in shape sounds like a lot of work. There’s a lot of effort to be put in for that to occur. Instead, this year my goal is to lose 25 pounds. I’ve been unhappy with the way my body looks for a bit, so I want to make changes. I don’t feel that 25 pounds is all that much. There are 52 weeks in the year. Dividing it down, it works out to about half a pound lost each week. That is about the smallest amount a person can lose each week. Most dietitians, nutritionists, coaches, and trainers would recommend weight loss of between a half-pound up to 2 pounds per week. By focusing on pounds rather than “being healthy”, I can track the progress I’m making. And then in the process, I will get healthier and be in better shape.

I have other goals as well that are focused on my health (I mentioned them in my first post of this year: Here). By chunking out goals to work on my health in more specific ways, I can make small steps for change. That’s why I have multiple goals this year that focus on my mental, physical, emotional, and relational health. In fact, I think every goal I have set for myself this year relates to my health in some way.

I’m excited about the steps I’m taking. It’s a brand new approach to a similar end goal. I have seen good results so far, and I am hopeful that will continue. By taking slow, small, and consistent steps, I can set myself up for large measures of success.

I think this is a more holistic way to approach goals. By doing smaller things, I can build up my confidence in myself. Then, looking back at what I’ve accomplished, I can see the whole journey. There is the joke of “How do you eat an elephant?” with the punchline being “One bite at a time.” It’s the same way with goals. They may look daunting at first, but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll be able to do a lot of things. You run a marathon one step at a time. It’s one day of training at a time. Most people don’t go from sitting on a couch to running marathons in a day. So it is with any goal. If you hate reading, you’re probably not going to be on my level where I’m reading thirty or more books in a year. If that’s something you want to work on, then take it slow. Read 10 pages a day. Work on finishing one book in the year. Then the next year do 2 books. Take time. Start small. Forward progress still counts regardless of speed.

This principle applies even to things that aren’t necessarily goals. One new thing I’m trying that I’m not tracking is trying to lay out my clothes the night before I go to work. I actually forgot to do this Sunday night this week at first. I actually ended up getting out of bed and figuring out what I wanted to wear. This small step is making my mornings easier. Then hopefully as I get better at this habit and waking up on time, then I can start incorporating more things consistently into a morning routine. Right now, I’m focusing on just that beginning step of laying out my clothes each night.

It is a lot of work. I’m impatient, so I already want to have accomplished these goals. But a big lesson I’ve learned and continue to learn is that I need to slow down. I am doing my best to slow down, enjoy the process, and take it one step at a time. It’s a process, and I’m a process. It is a lot to regulate. I don’t have it all figured it out. But I’m learning along the way and trying to be transparent about my processes.

Whatever you’re doing this year, I hope that you’re able to take small steps to make big changes. I’m proud of you, I’m rooting for you, and I believe in you. You got this. Reach out if you need help or someone to keep you accountable. Make the steps as little as you need. Progress is progress, regardless of speed.