Refresh your goals by doing these 4 things!
Summer is a time to refresh - your wardrobe and your goals. Think about the summer as a time of great change. You refreshed your wardrobe by swapping your winter sweaters and boots for sandals and bathing suits. Now, it’s time to refresh both your personal and career goals for the season.
I am a big believer in refreshing goals, or simply adjusting them to fit your needs. Some goals you set for yourself in January are goals you have already achieved by July or quite honestly just don’t align with your values any more.
Here’s my advice for summer goal setting:
Don’t focus on negative, broad goals.
It’s super easy to set goals based on what you don’t want to be anymore. Focus on the person you want to become, not the qualities you want to leave behind.
Remember: goals without actions are just hopes and dreams. When setting a specific goal, start off with asking yourself, “who am I doing this for?” and “why am I setting this goal?”
It is less about limiting yourself to what you SHOULD not do and more about being specific about what you WANT to do to get to that outcome.
For example, if you want to stop working late, what daily actions do you need to take to ensure that does not happen?
Maybe you need better time management, to be a better planner and to structure your tasks, to ask for help, or to have better communication.
Start small and remind yourself that consistency is key! New habits take 30 days to form, so do ONE thing every day that gets you in more alignment with your goal. This will also help you feel less overwhelmed and more accomplished at the end of the day.
It’s time to head outside.
The best part about the summer is arguably the weather. Utilize the sun and warm temperatures to breathe life into your goals. If one of your goals is to read more books, set up a cozy area in your backyard and dedicate an hour each morning to reading and having a quiet coffee break.
Or, maybe you want to travel. The summer is the best time to do that! Plus you can keep your travels affordable by going on a road trip, rather than having to flee the snow to the warm temperatures overseas.
Need to feel more connected to your family? Time blocking is key to dedicating more time for specific things throughout your day. Check out my previous blog post on this by clicking here!
Set aside an hour a day to go on a walk with your partner or your kids to reconnect (and get everyone away from their screens).
Learn a new skill or hobby.
You may have become a bread making expert during the pandemic but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a new hobby this summer. Try out photography, complete a DIY project, or even take up surfing.
When it comes to your professional career, you may want to look into mastering a new skill. Some companies do pay for you to take a class or course but check with your HR partner and see what continuing education resources are available. Most people do not even know it is an option!
If it is something not yet covered by your employer, ask! But prepare a proposal on why you think this will be an effective training for you to participate in or a new skill to have to bring to your role/team dynamic. Share how this investment will benefit the company and the bottom line in the end. It really can be industry-specific, so do your internal research first and, if there are no options, make a strong case for yourself on your own. You got this!
Set boundaries.
If there was ever a time to set boundaries, now is the time! If you find yourself working until 8pm answering texts from your boss and pushing yourself to get ahead when your schedule is actually from 9-5, it’s time to set a boundary.
Worried about getting some blowback from your boss?
Be straightforward, direct, and unemotional. Many times, a boss does not know how their tone comes across or if they are violating a boundary unless you tell them. State facts and do not come from a reactive place.
If something happens that does not sit well with you or you do not like the outcome, take 24 hours and if it is still bothering you, write down what made you feel that way to come to better terms or gain a better understanding of the situation with your boss. Being passive-aggressive or holding it in will only lead to YOU blowing up in a much bigger way.
You may also want to include the reason behind why you set that boundary.
For example, "I need to leave at 5pm each day, as I have to attend a wellness class that allows me to show up more productively at work every day. By participating in this class, I feel more focused and motivated because…"
Or, you can try something like, "The weekends are time well spent with my family and I am not able to check emails until Sunday evening as needed before the start of the work week."
It’s time to take control of your summer by setting boundaries, heading outside, and refreshing your goals and skills. Get realigned with what you want to achieve.
The possibilities are endless!
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What’s the Meghan Houle method, you ask?
If you’re struggling to move forward with your goals because you are sitting in overwhelm and doubt, the Signature MH-Method is a tried and true (and savvy AF) package that can help!
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