A little at a time still gets you there
I hate goal-setting. It feels inauthentic to me most of the time.
I set up plans based around a goal I may or may not care about in 6 months, let alone (potentially) a whole 5 years later.
It feels forced most of the time. Like, oh, you’re “supposed” to do this thing (goal-setting). Otherwise, you’re never going to reach… well, anything.
But, that’s rarely true. For anyone.
On the flip side, I’ve found planning and goal-setting to be the torch lighting my way toward progress.
Maybe that’s not the same for you, though. Perhaps you prefer to or function better “flying by the seat of your pants,” so to speak. Goal-setting, for you, is a drag—an utter waste of time.
But you could be somewhere in the middle. Life hasn’t been consistent or kind to you on the regular. You try so hard, but rarely seem to make the strides you desire, or, specifically, when you desire them.
I’m actually in the middle, contrary to what writing about planning over the past decade might make you think.
As I wrote in a previous post, my plans seldom work out—especially not in the way I set them up to. And, sometimes, they just don’t work out at all.
Much of my life has felt like a game of Whack-A-Mole. And I’m the mole.
I’m sure many in the neurodivergent, disability, chronic illness, and people of color communities experience this:
As soon as we make progress in a desired area of life, something comes along and knocks us back down. We pull ourselves up, and try to approach things from a different angle. We gain confidence as we spend “a moment” forging ahead, only to get knocked down again just as we started gaining traction.
I don’t remember the plans when I look back at my life. I don’t remember the goals. I see the good times and the bad. I remember the act of planning and how much enjoyment and peace it brings me.
I remember the smiles on my kids faces when I give up trying to work for the afternoon, and spend time with them instead.
I remember the dates with my husband—even the time spent simply sitting side by side in front of the TV together, watching a series or a movie. Maybe one of us farts, and we stink out the other person, who then whines through laughter and smiles. And probably some tears.
It doesn’t matter if you reach all your goals, or if you don’t reach any of them.
It doesn’t even matter if you don’t set any, either.
I believe the collective moments in life is what truly matters.
When you’re chronically ill, that’s what you’ve got: Great moments to latch onto. And the people who love you and who you love, of course.
We can plan every day down to the second, and we can be kick-ass creators, but “at the end,” what do you think will actually matter to you?
I figured after the whoppers on planning this month+ that I’d leave this post short.
Thank you for reading my series on end-of-the-year and beginning-of-the-year planning.
I’ll share more on planning and organization as time goes on, but I hope you’ll intentionally take time to enjoy the people and the experiences in your life. I hope you take notice of the simple things that make life so lovely, even when things get rough.
To me, that’s the stuff that really matters.
My best,
Sara
I know, I know. You still need to get work and such done. So, if you missed the series, here it is in order:
My Year-End Planning Routine. Learn about my method to set myself up for (my version of) success each year. Plus, free worksheets and real-life examples.
Values vs. Goals. A simple concept to bolster the plans you make and the goals you set.
Energy-Level Thinking & Planning. This is the “sleeper” one that had surprising email responses! I received so many positive messages about it—thank you, too! This method definitely changed my life, so check it out if you haven’t already.
Preview Planning: How I Set Myself Up 6 Months in Advance.This one is robust. It breaks down an easy, one-page-per-month pre-planning strategy. (Also includes free worksheets.)
A Simple, Daily Practice (to Help You Progress). Including plenty of photos, real-life examples and suggestions, this post covers my basic morning routine; and how you can create your own habit-centric practice to support your goals on the daily.
Enjoy! And I’ll see you next week with a note on authenticity and more.
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