Sick of the 9-5 slog? Tired of feeling like you are on a hamster wheel with the same routine day-in-day-out? When you are working hard to support your family, it can be easy to feel like life is slipping away, and you are not making the most of it. You have financial obligations, family obligations and demands on your time everywhere that you turn. There often feels like there is little time to enjoy life.
How can you inject some fun back into the mundane, and reconnect with the person that you are without the stresses and strains? They are still there; they just needs waking up!
Goal setting is not exclusive to the workplace. Goals are a great way to give you direction and the feeling that you are proactively working towards something. Without a goal, you will feel like a boat on the sea without a rudder – just floating wherever the tide takes you.
So, spend some time to set yourself realistic goals. A family holiday to a long-haul destination of your dreams, lose a set weight, or maybe you want to move to a larger house within two years? Set yourself a measurable goal and work backwards from it to identify the steps that you need to take to achieve it. Here are three areas that you can set goals in.
- Work
Work takes up most of your working day, and so it is crucial that you do something that brings in the money but also makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled. When you are in the same role for some time, it can start to feel like double maths.
When was the last time that you had a serious conversation with your managers about career progression and other opportunities within the business? You need to be in control of your career path, and not just wait for prospects to find you.
If the conversation does not provide you with positive steps to take, it may be time to look for a new role with another company. A new position or job with another company will give you fresh challenges and spark your motivation.
- Education
You may have left education many moons ago, and thought that you’d seen the back of it, but learning something new is one of the best ways to transform your life. Plus, it can be an ideal opportunity to open the gateways to a new career.
There are so many subjects that are offered through online learning, that there will be something to interest you. OriGym Courses – https://origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk/course/level-3-personal-trainer for personal trainers, counselling courses, health and safety, the list is endless, but first, you need to identify what interests you.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you want to learn for fun or for work?
- How much time can you devote each week to your studies?
- Do you want to develop a specific skill?
Your answers will shape the type of course that you should choose.
- Hobbies
You may feel that there are just not enough hours in the day to commit to another demand of your time, but having a goal focused hobby can benefit all other aspects of your life.
- Hobbies boost your confidence and self-esteem. When you see how you have progressed in a hobby and can feel improvement, you start to feel good about yourself.
- Hobbies expose you to new perceptions. Typically, hobbies are social, and when you meet new people, you are open to new and differing points of view. You’ll be challenged and agreed, both of which can change your world view.
- Hobbies make you interesting! You will have something else to talk and think about other than work and home life.
- Hobbies relieve stress. If you feel like life is a rat race and overwhelming, the chances are high that you are experiencing stress. When you are taking part in a hobby, you have the chance to relax and escape responsibilities, work and chores – even for just a short while. You will find that you are better equipped to deal with challenges and obstacles if you have this time to switch off. Your brain acts like a muscle and needs downtime too.
Hobbies are a great way to challenge yourself, learn to be patient, be resilient, and above all else, achieve what you set out to do. These are experiences that enrich all aspects of life. If your current hobby doesn’t challenge you, you will not be benefitting from it, so why not try something new? Explore different hobbies and find your tribe.
Goal setting is a great way to kick-start your life and give you purpose. Don’t fall into the trap of being unrealistic – acknowledge your weaknesses and play for your strengths and enjoy achieving your goals.