Staying On Track

When women join us in the School of Self-Image, one of the first things they do is set an extraordinary goal. Because our heads tend to immediately get busy with the how of it all, staying on track is something many women automatically begin to wonder about. 

The purpose of setting an extraordinary goal is to grow you and transform how you see yourself. Therefore, I always ask women to select a dream that will challenge them - one that even scares them a little. 

We do this because I can't think of a better way to create a great mindset.

So, what is an extraordinary goal anyway? 

I define an extraordinary goal as remarkable, out of the ordinary, or unusual. It's a goal that will grow you and challenge how you see yourself. 

It's also a goal that will transform your self-image just because you tried, even if that particular goal remains unachieved. 

Extraordinary goals may feel impossible. Nevertheless, I can promise you that they are always doable if you adjust your mindset, take it one measured step at a time, and stay on track. When you do you’ll achieve the little things that will add up to the big, extraordinary success you are after. 

What Does It Mean to Stay on Track?

You can achieve your goals by setting mile markers. Accomplishing smaller tasks will motivate you to complete your journey as you see how far you're getting each day. 

Big audacious goals will seem far less intimidating when broken down into smaller stepping stones. 

Achieving the "little things" will help you stay on track to achieve your big spectacular goals.

The following  are five the things you can do to stay on track. 

Make It Fun

Regardless of your goal, the single most essential strategy you can engage in is to make it fun.  After all, if it's not fun, then why are we doing it? 

Perhaps your goal is around weight loss. 

Going on a strict diet and counting calories or starving yourself is not fun - it's also not sustainable. Likewise, suiting up to show up at the gym where you feel conspicuous or on display (not in a good way) usually feels stressful and uncomfortable. Finally, engaging in punishing workouts that leave you feeling exhausted and bored is usually an excellent way to waste money but doesn't generally meet sustainable weight loss goals.

Instead, try creating new, delightful, healthy recipes and doing activities that light you up-- these things will make lifestyle changes that will feel natural, easy, and fun. 

You could try challenging yourself to come up with easy, wholesome meals that don't leave you feeling stretched for time or deprived. 

You might get moving by dancing, doing yoga, hiking, or playing outdoors with the littles in your life. 

Injecting fun into your daily activity - no matter what it is - leads to success!

Make It SMART 

If you’ve heard this before, I don’t mean to bore you - but SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.

Suppose you're dreaming of creating a successful business. You wouldn't start by hiring a massive sales team. Doing so might be specific and achievable – But timely? Measurable? Realistic? 

Even if you have the most wonderful product or service imaginable, what would your sales team sell if no one knew about it? 

Hiring a sales team first would render your goal unrealistic, untimely, and unmeasurable. 

With every tiny step that leads to your extraordinary goal, ask yourself: Is this a SMART approach? 

Celebrate Your Wins

Taking note of how far you've come can be a significant motivator toward whatever you're aiming to accomplish as you stay on track toward your goals. 

Therefore, an essential element to staying on track is having a sense of accomplishment and celebration. 

Once you start building your success chain, don't neglect to celebrate - each step that you accomplish towards your vision deserves recognition and celebration. 

And, it's so much more than that. 

It's also about hacking your brain's reward system. The regions of your brain that make up the "reward system" use the neurotransmitter dopamine to communicate reward signals. Dopamine-producing neurons feel good, thus motivating us to keep going to obtain the goals we've set for ourselves. 

Most women don't count the little things - we save our celebrations for when we meet that end goal. However, being more productive requires feeling more effective - when we take time every day to celebrate how far we've come, we get filled afresh with motivational enthusiasm. 

Create a Reward System

I love rewards - who doesn't? 

Rewards for staying on track can be minor or significant. 

That sparkling light shower your iWatch performs when you close an exercise ring each day is a little reward that encourages you to keep going. Likewise, crossing items off your list can feel incredibly rewarding despite how minor the act is.

Sending yourself flowers, enjoying a celebratory dinner, or buying yourself something nice for a week well done are a few great ways to create a more robust and impactful feeling of reward. 

These rewards will keep you going because they remind you how fun it is to stay on track and make you want to keep going. 

Stay Accountable

Whether you join a membership program like the School of Self-Image, hire a one-on-one life or business coach, or make an accountability buddy agreement with your sister or BFF, staying accountable is a great way to stay on track. 

Sometimes, self-motivation can only get you so far. Inviting someone else into the process can help you keep track of your accomplishments and hold you accountable when you blow off your commitments to yourself. 

When you stay accountable to someone else (a group or one person), you'll be less likely to make excuses that can derail your progress. 

Staying on Track Will Get You Where You Want to Be 

Staying on track toward reaching your goals can be tricky, but it can be made more accessible by incorporating a few simple tools and strategies. 

Find which one works best for you and your goals, and see where it takes you. Then, you may find that your dreams start taking care of themselves!