Setting goals can be scary.

After all, setting a goal requires admitting what we really want…often out loud…in front of others.

Setting goals means coming face to face with our wildest, scariest dreams.

I’ve found that the key to achieving a challenging, hard-to-grasp goal is to do two things:

1. Create a list of every single thing that needs to be done to achieve the goal. Every single thing.

2. Break that list down into several smaller, manageable tasks with deadlines and reverse the list backwards all the way from achieving the goal to what you need to do TODAY to start getting there.

After all, the goal is the BIG picture. That’s why goals seem so scary. They are often huge and we know there’s a lot of work required to make them happen. Instead of feeling motivated, we just feel overwhelmed and often give up right then and there.

The goal is what you want to happen after all the work is complete. Doing the work is what will get you there, so we need to work BACKWARDS to create a plan.

By working backwards, you start with the achieved goal and then brainstorm a list of every single task you might need to complete in order to get there. We’ll call those mini-goals. From there, put deadlines on each of those mini-goals to ensure you meet your goal AND to make the entire process way less scary and more satisfying.

Because I’m working toward a big goal right now (becoming a yoga teacher!), let’s use me teaching my first yoga class as an example here (mostly because I actually need to sit down and go through this exercise for myself).

Here’s how you can make your goals a reality.

Step 1: Create a list of every single thing that needs to be done to achieve the goal

The first thing I need to do here is simply brain-dump a complete list of random tasks/things that need to get done to reach my goal. The list does not need to be in any kind of order- just write down anything that comes to mind. 

To prepare to reach my goal (teaching my first yoga class), here are the things I need to do:

-Build class playlist
-Write out all cues in my approved flow
-Practice full flow myself
-Record full flow using iPhone audio recorder (x2)
-Listen to full flow and practice along with it
-Memorize flow
-Schedule practice sessions with friends
-Teach first class!
-Figure out class theme/quote
-Assist two classes

Step 2: Break that list down into several smaller, manageable tasks with deadlines

The final step is to take the list of tasks above and work backwards from the goal to break the goal down into mini-goals and create a plan that makes sense. 

June 7: Teach first yoga class! (GOAL DAY, GOAL DAY!)

June 1: Assist second class

By May 31: Memorize flow

Week of May 25-May 31: Practice flow along with recording/listen to recording while driving, etc.

By May 24: Record myself teaching the full flow again (now that I’ve hopefully gotten more comfortable with the flow and the cues I want to say during class)

By May 22: Figure out class theme/quote

By May 19: Write out all cues in my approved flow

May 18: Assist first class

Week of May 18-24: Practice flow along with recording/listen to recording while driving, etc.

By May 17: Practice full flow myself and record myself teaching it

May 13: Schedule additional practice sessions with friends (a couple of sessions are already on my calendar)

May 11: Practice teach full class flow for the first time (My gem of a friend Elise is meeting me at the studio at 5 a.m. to go through my entire flow)

May 10: Build class playlist

See what I did here? I made this uber-scary goal of teaching my first yoga class a little more manageable by breaking down the big goal into smaller, more achievable goals.

Can you try this too? This exercise feels really good, I promise. If you give it a try, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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