• HOME
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • SERVICES
  • CONTACT

Audrey JoAnn | Content and Copy Writer

Compelling Copy for Female Founders

HOW TO SET SMALL GOALS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

August 23, 2018

Is it just me, or can setting ambitious goals feel unattainable or unrealistic at times? Especially those big-picture, long-term goals. Sure, yeah, in 10 years I’d love to own a house in the country and have a couple books published and have a few more figures in the bank and maybe have a mountain home for long weekends and holidays. That’s easy to visualize and dream about all day long, but how in the world do you actually get there?

I believe the key is starting small — like minuscule, the teeniest of tiny — and then building and stacking from there. This realization came to me as all the best ones do: accidentally. It started with flossing.

I’m not kidding you. I had accumulated about eight of those little floss packs from dentist visits that I would use occasionally, but not often enough to get rid of any by the time my next teeth cleaning came around. For the sake of avoiding guilt over throwing away all of those little blue boxes that I do use, sometimes, and that were FREE, I made a choice. I decided I would floss every morning before brushing my teeth until I used up all of my floss packs.

Real earth-shattering, mind-expanding goal setting over here in the Swanson-Skelton household, let me tell you. Truly, have you ever heard of a stupid easier goal than taking a minute to floss? But seriously, it was a new effort for me, since I probably only flossed one or two times a week (or every other week…) before that.

Expending just the extra minute every morning was something. It wasn’t something outrageous, but it was an additional daily effort that I hadn’t been doing before. I’ve been keeping up with this little goal for about three months, and guess what? I still have, like, a million floss packs. But, also! My teeth are whiter, they feel less grimy throughout the day, and I feel a bit better about myself by starting the morning with this refreshing sip of productivity every day.

Most importantly, I can’t imagine NOT flossing my teeth every morning now. I began thinking about why this goal, of all the goals I’ve set for myself in my life, has stuck so solidly, and I found that there are three components in this bitesized objective that I could probably apply to other areas of my life. It’s regular, it’s reachable, and, as I’ve mentioned once or twice, it’s SMALL.

I decided to search for other parts of my day that I could stick in these types of goals. Where could I add something on a regular basis, that didn’t feel like an everyday Everest (reachable), and that didn’t take an hour, or even 30 minutes, of my time…small?

If you’re anything like me, if a new thing takes too much time, it probably won’t be sticking around for long. I like my free time, and I like my routines, and shaking them up with discomfort or a new project is often a difficult mental hurdle to get over every single day. At least for me.

Shockingly (read: not shockingly), however, there were plenty of areas throughout my day to stick in these Post-It-sized goals.

In the mornings, I’ve committed to reading one chapter of a personal development book every day before sitting down at my desk to work. Right now, I’m reading Brene Brown’s “Braving the Wilderness.” To be completely honest, I’ve been reading it for the last seven months. I hadn’t read it in the last five because “I don’t have time” or “There are more important things to do than read during the day.”

Truth is, if I leave reading — especially books that expand my mindset and push me to pursue more in life, but are also a little more abstract and slow-going than, say, murder mysteries — until nighttime, I read two paragraphs and pass the heck out, absorbing almost none of the goodness among those pages. Ask John. I read thrillers at night, and even those can’t keep me up longer than a page or two.

Reading ONE CHAPTER in the mornings takes 10 to 15 minutes of my time. Time that would probably be spent on Instagram as I drink my coffee, if I’m still being totally honest. This little goal has really become quite a precious buddy of mine.

Another one that John and I are committing to is both sharing three things that are exclusive to each day that we are thankful for. So, we can’t say “health, family, and shelter” every day, and we’re forced to think of three items special to every particular day, which poses us in a place of gratitude at the end of even our worst days with a less-than-5-minute-long exercise.

Between that and all this reading and flossing going on, it’s like, who do I think I am? Miss America? It’s good stuff, y’all.

Maybe you have even less bandwidth or tolerance than I do for new, daily goals that could expand your health, mind, or worldview. Sorry, but I’m still going to challenge you to find something — anything (remember how mine started with stinking flossing?!) — and roll with it. But, make me a promise, only start with one thing.

Try listening to a podcast on entrepreneurship or communication on your way to work, eating vegetarian one meal a day, rolling out of bed and doing 25 push-ups and crunches right there on the floor, taking your dog on a walk around the block after dinner every night, subscribing to a new uplifting newsletter that you don’t delete before reading every day, taking off your makeup every night, meditating for five minutes before driving to work — whatever it is, stick to it for a week and then see what happens. (I know what will happen.)

I’ve seen this play out for myself and it has been so transformative with how I go about my day. Start with one that takes 10 minutes or less, make it a non-negotiable part of your routine, and then eventually add another. This stacking of goals will eventually shape your days into something heartening, fulfilling, and productive for so many areas of your life. I’m not saying it’ll get you that mountain home in 10 years, but I’m also not not saying that. Give it a shot, you guys. Or a floss.

I would love more ideas for goal-stacking in my own life! Tell me all about the little goals you’ve already been accomplishing in your day-to-day, and ones you want to start pursuing, in a comment below or in an email: audreyswanson10@gmail.com.

Navy blue polka dot maxi dress: Lulus / Open-toe nude booties with fringe zipper: Lulus / Dainty triangle necklace: Tribe Alive

This post contains affiliate links.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Leave a Comment in Career, Fashion, Self Employed

« PREMARITAL THERAPY IS A CRUCIAL PART OF WEDDING PLANNING
WHY I QUIT TRAINING FOR A MARATHON »

RELATED POSTS

  • Hello
  • The Art of An Affair
  • Motion For All Bloggers To Stop Using This Phrase
  • Breaking Rules In My Birthday Suit

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome! I'm Audrey, and I adore connecting with female founders and telling their stories in a way that matters & lasts for years to come.

Search

Download my free guide! (Click below!)

Let’s keep in touch!

Catch me on social!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

audskelton

The secret to describing your coaching service, pr The secret to describing your coaching service, product, offer, course, etc. online = talking about the amazing end result your thing will provide buyers. That’s it. 

Never ever ever *lead* with:

✖️You get 50 pages of content!
✖️ There’s over 10 hours of video instruction!
✖️ A free workbook comes with!
✖️ You’ll be added to my private FB group!
✖️ 12 modules waiting for you!
✖️ ... or anything regarding the FEATURES of your product/service. 

(And especially don’t list every single feature as the full caption, please for the love of Pete. 🥱) Think of those items as the fine print. Logical buyers maaaay be interested, but most people care way more about what your offer can change or improve for them. What specific result will it give them? What will it make them feel, help them achieve, allow them to excel at??

The logistical details can go at the bottom of your sales page—and honestly, just totally remove them from your social posts and CTAs.

Trust me... *I know how valuable those detail pieces feel and SEEM from your perspective as the creator* because it shows the hard work and effort you put into your offer. But talking about how much content is inside your product doesn’t mean ANYTHING unless people understand what that content can do for them. So always, aaaalways lead with that.

*steps off soapbox* 

Side note, this picture is from forever ago and is making me majorly ready to cut my hair again. 😂 Should I go for the mom chop?! ✂️
The absolute loves of my life. 🤎 Can’t wait t The absolute loves of my life. 🤎 Can’t wait to see what these two peas in a pod get into for years and years to come.
Our little buddy turned 3 months old yesterday and Our little buddy turned 3 months old yesterday and I can hardly believe it. These few months have simultaneously flown by and felt like a year. Wallace has grown so much and even though you always hear parents say stop growing so fast, I feel almost the opposite. I feel such pride with each new roll he develops, the strength his neck is gaining, and his belly that just keeps expanding. Is this weird?! Regardless, it’s been my greatest joy to watch him grow and his personality begin to emerge. The way he smiles and chuckles when we quack or say “WHOA!” The rapid-fire kicks he does when he has room to sprawl out. His love for walks and disdain for car rides. 🥴 It’s all so fun and special and new (for all of us!), and I wouldn’t trade a moment for anything in the world. 🤎
Jesus’s return is the most precious miracle of m Jesus’s return is the most precious miracle of miracles... but the fact that we’re all facing the camera and even (kind of) smiling in this SELF-TIMER pic is a pretty close second. 😆🥲 Happy Easter and sending you so much love and joy! 🤎
Everything is temporary. It’s been my mantra thr Everything is temporary. It’s been my mantra through the hardest and sweetest moments these past few months, and even more so as I ease back into work this week.

It’s all temporary. The good, the bad, the big emotions, the tenderest moments, the hard days, the beautiful days, the teeny socks, the endless emails, the nap strikes, the stacked deadline weeks, the sweet bonding of nursing.

None of it will be around forever, and even though I probably won’t have my schedule figured out for a long, long time, that doesn’t mean these days of just getting by and praying it all works out aren’t important.

They’ll be gritty, cobbled-together, and messy. But they’re mine. I get to craft these days however I want to, with the sweetest babe on my hip and my honey in our back office chasing his own dream, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Vacations hit different with a baby, that is for s Vacations hit different with a baby, that is for sure. 🤪 The days revolve around naps and feedings, and afternoons that we once would have spent taking 4-mile hikes or sitting on a patio at a brewery are now spent reading, playing cards, and listening to Kacey Musgraves and Tom Petty in our Airbnb while Wally snoozes. It’s not worse, but it’s a different pace than I’m used to and that’s okay. In fact, it’s probably more needed than I realize as I wrap up my maternity leave and get back to work in a couple days. Grateful for these slow days and sweet memories with my loves. Now... we just have to make the 4-hour drive home tomorrow with a dog and baby who both hate the car. 🤣 (PS... I’m sharing more thoughts about how I feel heading back to work in this week’s newsletter that goes out Friday—you can sign up to get emails from me with copywriting tips, business anecdotes, and some life updates too in the link in my bio! ☺️) #babysfirstvacation #laketahoe
flannels + chunky sweaters + squishy babies + gorg flannels + chunky sweaters + squishy babies + gorgeous views = my aesthetic forever and ever. 😍
When I was little, I said I wanted 4 kids, just li When I was little, I said I wanted 4 kids, just like my own family. I wanted a girl, boy and girl twins, and a boy. (‘Cause you can totally plan those things. 🥴)

Then, my parents got divorced and in my angsty teenager-ness, I was like, “Nope, nevermind. I’m good with no kids thanks!”

I didn’t want the pressure of raising someone and somehow damaging or disappointing them. And I was skeptical that a couple could stay together and happily raise a family.

When John and I started dating, he was so confident in us and our future. I’d never met a guy who a) pursued me so openly and consistently and b) made me feel valued in every area of my life. Career, relationship, family, health, faith.

When we went on our first camping trip about a year into dating, we were having one of those deep, wine-fueled campfire chats that seem extra important and lovely. I asked him how he knew he first loved me.

He was so good at always complimenting my drive and ambition, or how I looked regardless of whether I was dressed up or grungy after a workout. I figured it would be a combination of those sorts of things, but he surprised me when he said, “Because I know you’ll be a good mom.”

Uhhhh, what? I was like, “... But you know I’m not even sure I want to be a mom. How can you see that?”

He said in the way I so deeply care for others and myself. He had this unwavering belief that we could build a family, and he wanted this girl who spent a lot of years feeling broken to lead it alongside him.

I know this doesn’t sound very “progressive,” but his faith in me being a good mom healed a part of me in so many ways.

I always knew I was driven. I knew I could build a career and life I loved. But I didn’t believe I could build a family that lasted. Or at least, I was scared to think what might happen if I tried.

Wallace is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me. He made me the mom that John believed I could be more than five years ago.

I don’t know if you ever necessarily feel “good” at being a parent, because every day is filled with mistakes & learning curves, but I will say that it’s the most immediately natural I’ve felt in any role I’ve stepped into, ever.
Would it be too much to gallery wall an entire hou Would it be too much to gallery wall an entire house? Asking for a friend.

Newborn family photos by my talented, sweet friend @jilliangoulding. She is too good! 🤍
Load More... Follow @audswan on Instagram
THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.