5 Ways to Support Your Dream

What are simple ways to support your dream?

1. Set a goal

You need to create a plan. How do you do that? Begin with writing out everything you want to do even if it sounds crazy. After you’ve written everything out, put it into categories for different aspects of your life. What are things that can be done quickly? What are the things that need to be done over time?

Make sure your goals are SMART S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, T-time sensitive. You’ll notice some goals will be straight forward like reading- (finishing a number of books within a time), getting fit– (exercising three times a week). Goals like these are easy to divide into your schedule. For larger goals like starting a business, you may first need to figure out what is required to make that goal a possibility. Do you need to take a class, be mentored, or do some type of internship? Are some of your goals for now or years from now? Once you have everything written out according to categories and timelines you’re ready for the next step.

2. Get Organized

Try to break down each goal into action steps that you can spread over your week or several months. The temptation is to create these huge moments to make unrealistic progress toward your goals, but I don’t think that works. The key is to do a little bit consistently. If you break it down into something small, you will slowly get there rather than trying to accomplish these great feats of work that you will eventually abandon because it was so unrealistic in the first place. Look for ways you can break down achieving your goal either into 20-30 min a day or 1 hour a week. If you are more ambitious or want to achieve it faster you can even block out days to work on several specific tasks but remember you still need to be consistent.

Where will you find the time? Staying focused and minimizing distractions is key. I personally try to block out full days for myself to rest or get my personal work done. The way I do that is by doubling up tasks and errands on other days. So if I’m working I might go grocery shopping or see a friend on that day. I try to never grocery shop on the weekends. There are fewer lines mid-week. I try to do all my food preparation early and once for a week or two. I don’t get to do this all the time but it is very helpful when I know that I’m going to have another busy stint. I keep my hair generally in the same style all week so I don’t have to worry about it. Think about a few little things you can do to help free up more blocks of time that you need.

Using your mornings to do some routine tasks like planning, reading or exercise is also very helpful.

3. Surround yourself with like-minded people that will support you

Trying to get to a dream or goal can sometimes be a lonely process. You may have friends that understand and some that don’t. Find a few people that are on a similar path to their dream. Connect with them, encourage each other, and share ideas. This has been so helpful in my life. Sometimes you need friends that are as focused as you to tell you when it’s time to stop and take a rest. (I won’t just listen to anybody about this!) You can challenge each other and hold each other accountable to your goals. It’s been such a pleasure to support others and also feel supported.

4. Take care of your health

There are levels of getting healthy and staying healthy. Strive to go further than where you are currently. Manage your stress, get lots of sleep, and make nutrition a priority. Your body is your first vehicle through this world and to get to any dream you will need its co-operation. I know first hand how discouraging it can be when your body is holding you back from things that you desire to do. I try to take my health as seriously as I can without becoming obsessed with it. I want to make sure that I will have the energy and strength to accomplish future goals.

5. Stop procrastinating

I know I’m not the only one who procrastinates! Luckily for you, my friend Nadalie Bardo has just written a great book on this topic –Conquer Procrastination.

I’m so excited about this book I decided to give a copy away for free!

To win this book all you need to do is comment on this blog with your plan to conquer procrastination or support your dream and I will choose a winner.