LIFESTYLE x INSPO || 2018 LAST QUARTER: What about those goals?

Hello Royalty.

I was speaking with a friend yesterday and I said, “It feels like I just got here thirty minutes ago. I can’t believe it’s been two hours!” Then he said, “Yeah, this week has been so fast”, and I added, “Yeah, can’t wait for December” and then he goes, “Don’t talk about December!” When I asked why, he said December is that time of the year when you have to reflect on how much you have achieved all year. That got me thinking.

Can you believe it’s almost the end of the year? Didn’t we just celebrate New Year’s a week ago? Now it’s the last quarter? Somebody pinch me. So, I know these are cliché terms, and asking you about your goals might also be a cliché question, but hey, what have you done this year?

At the beginning of this year, I bet you had a list of do’s and don’ts on what you would like to do this year and possibly, how you would like to achieve them. I did too. Now it’s the last quarter, what has happened? It is probably going to be a testimony for some, and for others, it’s more like, “Let’s just thank God for life.” But just in case you are sitting on the table of the second category, which half of my butt is on, here are a few tips I think we can use.

SIX STEPS TO GET YOUR GROOVE BACK ON

  1. Go back to the vision-board

This is a trick that always works for me, and I am so ready to work with it this October. As human beings, we tend to just through the motions, so much that we forget what it is we’re after in the place. I mean it’s like this story I have heard over and again. Two men had gone to seek help from a mutual friend. The first man got there and met his friend eating. He took a seat with his friend and started eating with him. In the process, the second man came along. When he got there, he was invited to join in the eating, but the man refused. He explained that he had come for help and that was all that mattered to him. As soon as this friend heard, he stood up to be of help to his friend. Then, the second man spoke up; “That’s why I’m here too!” Who do you think got helped? Your guess is as good as mine.

Going back to the vision-board is seeing reason to not just accept whatever comes your way, but to actually focus on your goals for the year. So, let’s do that. Let’s go back to the goals and see what we can do about them in the last quarter of the year – still a lotta time, y’know?

2. Ask questions

This should come before and after you look at your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself questions. Here are a few examples:

  • What was/were my goal(s) for the year?
  • Which one(s) have I accomplished?
  • If I did, how did I accomplish it/them?
  • If no, what was my reason?

While questioning the reason for achieving one goal or another, be honest with your answers. Try not to give excuses, and if there are excuses, realize that excuses have been stopping you and think of this next step.

3. Take action

So now you know why you have a few loopholes. It’s not for knowledge sake – do something about it! Don’t say something vague like “I’ll write everyday” (yes this is vague; I know from experience). Be more specific and intentional and say something like, “Between 4am and 6am every day of the week or every Monday, I’ll make sure I write one page” OR “I’ll read two pages of this/that book at 7pm everyday.” Another way to take action is to make use of alarms and reminders on your phone. After missing my train on a particular day due to poor time management, I “innovated” my alarm system. For instance, if it’s an 11:30am train, and I plan to have make-up on, my alarms look like this on my phone:

9:30am- Start dressing up – get clothes ready and get that bronze done, girl!

10:00am – Is that make up getting ready?

10:30am – Grab some breakfast

11:00am – Call that Uber NOW!

Guess what? I’m early and I can breathe. Now, this doesn’t always happen because I don’t always listen to my phone, but 80% of the time, I obey.

4. Prioritize

This is so important, that it is usually overlooked, especially when we are overwhelmed with trying to get our lives together. I am a fan of unwinding and prioritizing. Once I catch myself going ahead of myself and trying to do everything at the same time, so much that I am not actually doing anything, I quickly take a step back and prioritize. This is necessary. Understand what is most important, urgent and necessary. Remember, you are not indispensable, and it is always quality over quantity. If you are a creative reading this, not having some kind of sparking content at all times is fine. Don’t be strained. Prioritize and enjoy every moment.

5. Be accountable

This one can be scary, but it is one of the most efficient. No one likes to be caught under and below, and we are almost tempted to live a life filled with the impostor syndrome. Take a chill pill and be accountable. Your accountability partner may be a friend, family member, senior, or even a junior. The consciousness that you have someone to “report” to will keep you on your toes. Be honest with your accountability partners and be humble enough to take corrections at all times.

6. Look back, look within and look forward

Whether it’s the first quarter or the last quarter of the year, do not give up! Don’t catch yourself saying, “What else can be done now?” Remember this post on not getting to the end before the end? Yes, when you are caught in the middle of unaccomplished goals, look back on goals you have achieved and give yourself a tap on the back. Then, remember who did all of that by looking within. Ask yourself If I could do that, can’t I do this? Then, look forward – what’s your plan for the future? How much of that can you achieve if you don’t even do what is required of you now?

Don’t sleep on life y’all! Let’s get this last quarter popping!

Side Note: September’s Newsletter is on its way! Been a while, yeah? Subscribe if you haven’t so you can receive some royal goodness in your inbox! 

Goodbye Royalty,

With Overflowing Love,

Alexandra Zion.

About the author
Christocentric. Academic. Writer. Poet
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