12 Mini Goals Challenge

When I want a change in a specific area of my life, sometimes I realize that annual goal setting is not the answer. Focusing on a mini goal or creating a habit can be a better way to succeed in the change I want to make.

I wanted to have time in the morning before my daughters got up, so three years ago I focused on making a habit of getting up early each morning. I forced myself to get up every morning before they woke up and did not get myself any wiggle room. After doing this for a few weeks, I made a habit out of it. If I stopped getting early for a few days, I had no trouble getting back into the habit. I found that focusing on daily mini goals was the way to go. (2017 was the year of getting OUT of that habit unfortunately.)

This method also worked when I was getting out of the habit of regular exercise. I challenged myself to do Burpees every day and tracked the progress. I was shocked that the simple task of setting the specific small goal and holding myself accountable by writing it down really worked.

Small daily habits or goals can make a big difference over the course of a few weeks, months, or even longer.

Small changes can have just as big of an impact as setting big goals. I don’t have big lofty goals at this point of my life. As I set goals I make sure they will fit into my life with children at home. They will only be in my home for so long! I don’t want to distract myself from my little ones. 

Here is an example: I do not set the goal of making $x per year with my blog. Yes, I have a vague idea in my head, but I’m not willing to set a number goal. What if I wasn’t close to hitting it? As the end of the year approached, I wouldn’t want to drop everything else important to me just to make sure I hit that number. If my priority is my children, I have to make sure I know where my blog fits into my life. I can always set income goals when they are all in school. :)

While I don’t focus on big lofty goals right now, I do like to push myself to get into good habits and set smaller goals that work into my life at home with kiddos. I have realized that making small daily habits or changes can make a big difference and often focus on smaller changes and new habits instead of bigger goals.

Two years ago, I did a 12 Mini-Goals/Habits challenge where I picked one small goal or habit I wanted to create each month. I enjoyed the challenge and many of my readers joined me. I am getting interest again, so I decided to run the same challenge in 2018!

In 2018, I am going to focus on a new habit or mini goal every month. Some goals will be just for a month and some will be habits I wanted to create long-term. This is how it will work each month:

• I will e-mail the challenge to my newsletter list. 
• I will share the habit or mini goal for the month. (I may give options some months in case the habit is not something you are interested in)
• I will provide a printable tracker for the month.
• I may share tips, tricks, or helpful links for the monthly habit or mini goal.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the mini goals I have in mind:

• Daily movement or exercise (January!)
• Technology breaks
• Daily gratitude lists
• Daily flossing
• Daily devotions
• Daily reading myself
• Daily reading with children (also January!) 
• Get outside each day
• Consistent sleep schedules
• Vegetables at every meal
• Evening pickup routine
• Meal Planning
• If we get to a month where the goal doesn’t fit into your life, you can always tweak it to be a mini goal that works for you.

I would love to have you join the 12 Mini Goals Challenge. Sign up for my mailing list if you want to be e-mailed the challenge each month.

If you prefer focusing on just one annual habit, get the annual habit tracker here.

Challenges from 2016:

January Mini Goals Challenge: Daily Movement or Exercise
January Resource: List of Free Online Fitness Resources
Health & Wellness Printable Planner
Free Fitness Tracker Printable
February Mini Goals Challenge: Cut Back on Evening Snacking
Over 30 Ways to Add Fitness to Your Daily Routine
March Mini Goals Challenge: Complete 30 Days of Pilates
April Mini Goals Challenge: Clear Kitchen Counters
May Mini Goals Challenge: Clean Out Clothing Closets
June Mini Goals Challenge: Reset My Mornings and Get Up Early
July Mini Goals Challenge: Drink More Water
8 Ways to Drink More Water Every Day
August Mini Goals Challenge: Track Daily Reading
September Mini Goals Challenge: Plan Morning & Evening Schedules

Originally posted 1/1/16. Updated 12/30/17.

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