You're already aware that setting goals is a powerful way to make your dreams a reality.
When you set goals, you increase your chances of success because you know where you’re going and what it takes to get there.
But when you set out to achieve those goals you’re also bombarded with:

worries and fears 

failures/setbacks

lots of unknown variables

struggles with productivity and being more efficient.

.distractions from Facebook, Instagram, etc. (is it time for a social media detox?)

.so much to do!

You think to yourself, “How can I possibly reach my life goal without getting stressed out?!”

Good news, my friend -- YOU CAN! And here's how:

1. Your goal should mean something to you personally and align with your definition of success. Sometimes you may think you want something because it is what society has told you that you should want.
But it's not something that will actually make your life happier and healthier.

So, stay true to your own unique purpose. You are more likely to achieve a goal with intrinsic value than one based on external validation.

And you’ll be less stressed while trying to achieve it!

2. Learn the art of surrender. Have you ever wanted something so badly that you tried to control every aspect of it? 

(I have)

Obsessing over the details. Relentlessly working on making everything perfect. Trying to account for all the possibilities. 
I bet it didn't take long for you to get burnt out! That's what happens when you are worried about every little thing! Especially things you can't control.
Whenever you set out to reach a goal in life, remember: all you can do is your best.
Release what’s out of your control and allow things to unfold naturally.

In other words, pursue your goals in life with focus and determination but don’t become attached to any specific outcome. Because the truth is, you don’t know  what outcome is best for you. Sometimes, what seems like a devastating blow actually turns out to be a blessing in disguise. And sometimes, you have to let go of something good to make room for something great. Things have a weird way of working out for the best if you just trust that everything will happen as it should.

3. Be mindful. Anxiety tends to be a past or future based emotion. You’re either ruminating over how you could have done something differently in the past or catastrophizing about how bad things could possibly go in the future.
Allowing that cycle to continue only makes your anxiety worse. Being mindful helps you to reach your goals without getting stressed out by staying focused on the present, not the past or the future.
Mindfulness can be practiced while performing any activity – breathing, drinking tea, meditating, coloring, yoga, eating, walking outside, etc.

All you have to do is be aware of what’s happening and experience it to the fullest.
Notice any sounds, tastes, smells, textures and sensations that come with the activity.
If your mind begins to wander, simply bring your attention back to the task at hand.

With consistent practice, you will:

.“Think and respond” instead of “feel and react”

.Have better focus and work more efficiently

.Communicate more effectively.

.Be more sensitive to your needs and be more compassionate towards yourself and others

.Have more appreciation for the simple things in life.

.Become more aware of your anxious thoughts (and therefore be able to step back from them – remember, your thoughts are not facts)

.Build up strength and resilience so that you don't get overwhelmed/burnt out in the future.

4. Eliminate clutter. Research shows that mess causes stress.
I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to get stuff done when things are messy. There are just too many external stimuli and I can’t seem to relax. If you are trying to accomplish your goals for the day, but your work space is cluttered, you may find that:

.You have trouble focusing

.You are less productive

.Creativity doesn’t come as easily

.More time is spent trying to find what you need than working on what you need to get done.

Eliminate the clutter from your life so you can reach your goals without getting stressed out.
And when I say eliminate the clutter, I’m not just talking about physical items, I'm also talking about mental clutter.

5. Celebrate small wins! It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the things that you are doing and all the things that need to get done.
Take a moment to recognize and appreciate all that you’ve already  done. While pursuing your Big goal, you will achieve many smaller goals along the way. The power of small wins should not be underestimated. It’s going to take a long time to reach your goal and one of the best ways to keep yourself motivated is to celebrate your minor milestones.
By celebrating the little things that you accomplish, you are providing yourself with positive reinforcement. When things get tough, this could be just the boost you need to keep going.
When we accomplish even the smallest of goals, our brains release dopamine and other feel-good chemicals that then motivate us to perform the same behavior again in order to get the reward.
This addiction to progress will keep you motivated (and less stressed) while you are working to achieve your Big goal.

6. If you want to reach your goals without getting stressed out, you will need to master your mindset.

Pay attention to the dialogue you have with yourself. Are you harboring any limiting beliefs like, “I’ll never be rich” or “I’m not good enough”?
These fear-based beliefs not only cause lots of undue stress, but they can also prevent you from reaching your goals. Identify your unique strengths and play to them instead of focusing on the negative. 
Also, remember that working on reaching your goals is not just a means to an end. There is inherent value in both the process itself and the failures along the way. Each “failure” is a lesson that trains you for success, not a reflection of your ability.

7. Your goal should be specific and well-defined. Your resolve should be steadfast and unyielding. But you should remain flexible and be willing to adapt.

Remaining flexible allows you to see the big picture and make decisions based on what’s best for you at that time. Things are constantly changing, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Be willing to evaluate your systems and processes to see if there’s a better way of doing things.

Sticking to the old way just because it set a precedent can cause you a huge amount of unnecessary stress when trying to reach your goals. Sometimes, opportunities come along that you had not previously considered.

If your stress levels are too high, try chunking your daily tasks down even further so you can reach your goals without getting stressed out.
Perfectionists tend to have high standards of achievement and suffer from high levels of anxiety when those exacting standards are not met. They may even avoid doing something altogether if they feel they will not excel at it.
If this sounds like you, remember that it is better to aim for progress than perfection.

Realizing that failure is, to some degree, inevitable can lift a huge burden off your shoulders.

8. Work smarter, not harder. As a high-achiever, you are used to working hard for the things you get and that’s a great quality. You really need to have some grit and determination to achieve your BIG goals in life!
But sometimes we don’t realize that we’re working hard but not smart. This can really stress you out when you’re trying to reach your goal but aren’t seeing much progress. You will be much more productive if you focus on doing one thing at a time rather than trying to multitask.
Task batching is something I find incredibly helpful for getting lots done with minimal stress. To batch your tasks, set aside periods of time to complete similar types of tasks.

9. Take care of yourself. You might feel like taking care of yourself is selfish. Especially when you know you could be hustling! Or you might feel like you can take care of yourself after. After you take care of everyone or everything else. But the truth is that self-care is not selfish at all. And it definitely should not be put off. Engaging in regular self-care will help you to reach your goal without getting stressed out. You don’t have to sacrifice your health for success; the two can co-exist.
So, take time out for yourself. Do things you enjoy. Develop healthy habits. 

You’re a human being (not a robot!) and you deserve to be healthy and happy.

10. Achieving the big goals that we set in life is not easy. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Sometimes it seems like the work never ends, especially when you’re not getting the results you’d hoped for. During these stressful times, take a step back and remember your why. Remembering your purpose will help to reduce stress when you’re trying to reach your goals.

Your why will put things in perspective and remind you that this is something you want to do, that there is a compelling reason for all the work you’re putting in. Reaching a big goal is a long game. Your motivation and stress levels may fluctuate. Whenever you feel unmotivated, drained, stuck, overwhelmed, frustrated, etc., remember your why. It will get you through the difficult times and help you to reach your goals without getting stressed out.

To recap:

1. Set the right kind of goals
2. Learn the art of surrender
3. Be mindful
4. Eliminate clutter
5. Celebrate small wins
6. Master your mindset
7. Be flexible
8. Work smarter, not harder
9. Take care of yourself
10. Remember your why

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over to you - did I leave anything out? What do you find reduces stress when trying to reach your goals? Tell me in the comments!

Love to my readers❤
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