If you’re unsure with what to do with your business or your life in general, it probably is time to embark on a goal setting or goal planning retreat. Yes, a retreat, your very own personal downtime.
New Year’s Eve is always a good time to do this especially for the year.
But I like to do it on a Saturday as you’ll hear in my video below.
As a busy mother happily carving a name for myself in the realm of digital marketing, I realized a long time ago that it is important for me to have my personal downtime. I have come to acknowledge that success doesn’t just happen. It requires a lot of hard work and goal setting. In order to become the best version myself, I allot time for planning my short term and goals.
Wanting to become the best that I can be is the reason why I always remind myself to take goal setting a notch higher – pull away from the hustle and bustle, away from the hectic daily grind to find a place where I can think, reflect, and give myself time to plan.
While others prefer having just an annual personal goal setting retreat, I try to do it more often – every month, or even every week if I get lucky.
I allow myself an hour of tranquility at home or somewhere quiet so I can get a handle of every aspect of my life and rejuvenate my purpose in life.
Even an hour of personal downtime can contribute so much to your personal and professional growth.
You will benefit greatly from having that much-needed time off if you’re still confused regarding what you want to achieve in life.
You need a downtime if your home life is so noisy and chaotic that you often have difficulty focusing and prioritizing. Why do you think successful business leaders take a retreat?
They need peace and quiet to plan, let their creative juices flowing, and be inspired in order to formulate innovative business ideas.
These are the real benefits of personal planning retreat, and all these wonderful things can be part of your truth, too.
However, personal goal setting is a process. It should be a focused activity devoid of interruptions and distractions. Here are some tips on how you can get the most out of your personal downtime.
Prepare
In order for your goal setting retreat to be successful, you need to make certain arrangements.
Attend to pressing concerns before your personal downtime so you won’t get distracted.
Find a place that’s quiet enough and bring your notebook and pens with you because you will write down your goals. You can also bring post-it notes and other supplies if you want.
Bring reading materials or make sure you have relaxing music on your phone to listen to.
Detach
This is very important.
You need to temporarily detach yourself from all distractions.
Move away from all your cares and worries and distractions like social media. Allow yourself time to focus and really get into the zone.
You don’t have to get into a full-on digital detox but at least keep your phone on silent mode or turn off the notifications.
You’re already in a quiet environment but you need to calm your mind and do away with any negative thoughts.
You can do this by engaging in a mind-clearing activity like reading a book or listening to an audiobook or any type of relaxing music.
Your goal here is to focus in the here and now.
Plan
Ok, so it is time for the actual planning. To write achievable goals, keep this in mind: your goals should be SMART – Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Realistic. Time-bound. Start by listing down all the things you want to achieve in life – career goals, business goals, personal goals, in addition to your goals for your kids, those relating to your relationship with your partner, and your goals for your family as a whole.
Break up long-term goals into achievable short-term goals. Keep your ideas flowing and don’t worry if you’re writing down so many things. Don’t limit yourself to the must-dos but include the things you want to do as well.
If you embarked on a planning retreat before, go back to your past goals and evaluate the things you managed to accomplish. If there were items in your previous lists that you weren’t able to achieve, you can re-list them or modify them to expand your current list of goals. Do what you think works best for you.
Act
What’s left for you to do is to act on your goals. Make it happen.
Gain access to resources that will help you achieve your goals. Develop good habits that will bring you closer to your goals and correct those that disrupt your focus.
Review your plans and goals from time to time and modify as needed.
Are you still unsure where your business is headed?
Do you need help with your short-term and long-term business goals?
Let’s talk about it and learn how to take your business to new heights.
Let me know what you thought of this post by leaving a comment below. Did it serve you in your business today?
I’m Hilary De Freitas
The Marketing Mom
My Mission: To Bring as Many Moms Back Home, Earning a Living Online and Living the Freedom Lifestyle!
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