I’ve talked a lot about setting goals and accomplishing them. But there are a few things I haven’t mentioned…

Now, hang on. Don’t think that I’ve been holding back from you guys. Productivity is something that I’m constantly learning about and discovering, so I’m here today with some updated information. Information that will help you set better goals, come at it with a better mindset, and accomplish more than you thought you could.

Learning how to set goals is a very important thing, but there are so many other factors that play into if you accomplish them or not. Two big things are your mindset and your environment/lifestyle. Your goal-completing success may be more in your control than you thought.

And maybe not. 😉 (You’ll see what I mean).

01. Goals can change and adapt

You want to try your best to accomplish your goals, yes, but sometimes you need a change. As you and your life change, your goals may have to change as well. Maybe you won’t get as much accomplished this month as you’d hoped, or maybe you’ll get more done. Maybe your goal will change completely. Maybe you’ll have to totally drop a goal you’d set. And that’s okay. Don’t feel bad about having to adjust your goals as life changes.

02. Setting clear goals helps you accomplish more

Casually saying “I want to finish my book this month” won’t do much in helping you accomplish that. You need to come up with a plan. With clear, achievable steps to success. You want to finish that book this month? Figure out how many scenes or words you need to write every week, and every day. Then you’re giving yourself smaller, bite-sized goals that will help you reach your final big goal.

03. Create a productive lifestyle/environment

This is SO IMPORTANT. Taking this step made it easier for me to accomplish my goals, because I was setting myself up to succeed by cultivating a productive lifestyle and mindset. Here are different ways you can do that:

• Keep your work space neat and organized.
• Create a morning routine that is energizing and focuses your mind for the day (maybe incl. journaling/Bible time, workout, drinking water, etc.).
• Create a night routine that helps you relax and get ready for the next day (i.e. reading, stretching, making a schedule for the next day, picking out your outfit, tidying your room/workspace, etc.).
• Make daily schedules and/or to-do lists. 
• Discover ways you can focus your mind to get more done during a working session (i.e. listening to music, Pomodoro technique, etc.)
• Implement healthy practices into your life to keep yourself feeling good and your mind energized (i.e. drinking plenty of water, exercising, taking breaks when you need to, eating healthy, etc.)

These are just a few ways you can create a more productive lifestyle. You’ll generally notice that business-minded people (yes, that can mean authors too!) become experts at creating productive environments to get more work done.

04. Don’t be afraid to dream big

Don’t be afraid to make crazy goals. 😉 Dreamers have big aspirations; there’s no reason why you can’t go after them. Want to write and publish two books in a year? Have at it! This doesn’t meant that you’ll always accomplish those big ones, but give yourself the freedom to dream big.

05. Pray about it

Remember when I said your goal-completing success may be more in your control than you thought?…

And maybe not?

That brings us to our fifth and final point. Praying over our goals. Wouldn’t you rather accomplish things with God’s help and support? Pray for strength to complete them (especially when things get tough), guidance on what goals to set, and wisdom to know if you should not complete this goal. God wants to be included in your creative process. Allow Him to do that by partnering with Him through prayer.

I hope these five things will help you be more productive and reach your goals! I know you all are capable of accomplishing great things; I can’t wait to see how you’ll change the world. <3

Other posts you might like:

• Get More Done With Calendar Blocking
• How to Have a Productive Writing Session Every Time
• Write Faster with These 6 Tips

Hey, real quick, I’m planning on doing a fun post related to my Embers characters in a couple weeks. I’m going to be taking personality quizzes for them! So if there’s a particular quiz you’d like to see the Embers characters take, leave the link to it in your comment. 🙂

What helps you accomplish your goals?