Last Updated on March 20, 2018
As moms, it often seems like we do the same things over and over again.
We cook a meal, only to turn around and find that it’s all been eaten up before we even had time to finish the dishes! We scrub the floor, and by the afternoon, it’s hard to even notice any difference.
It’s hard to see progress amid the sea of never-ending responsibilities. We long to just actually finish something, anything.
If you’re feeling like you’re not really getting anywhere, never really finishing anything, and going to bed only to wake up and put out the same fires again the next day, may I encourage you to consider setting goals?
Most women have great ideas and huge ambitions, but very few actually turn those big ideas into tangible, realistic, bite-sized, doable goals.
You see, without goals, you tend to just flounder along amongst your overwhelming heap of responsibilities, trying to keep from drowning and focusing on whatever seems the most pressing at the time.
When you have goals, however, suddenly you have specific purpose and direction for how you are to be spending your days. When you have purpose, you have passion for life. And when you have passion for life, you have more energy and zest!
You might be thinking, “But I don’t have time to make goals or follow through with them! I barely have time to brush my teeth or think half of a sentence!”
Here’s the thing: your goals don’t have to be audacious and incredible. They could be something as simple as one of the following:
:: I’m going to exercise for 15 minutes twice this week.
:: I’m going to text my husband a flirty message at least three times this week.
:: I’m going to read to my children for 15 minutes every week day this week.
:: I’m going to take 15 minutes to read my Bible and pray every morning this week.
:: I’m going to spend 5 minutes four times this week working on cleaning out my messy closet.
:: Or, I’m going to write down at least one blessing every day.
See? It doesn’t have to be so hard. If you’ve never really set goals before, don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Instead, think of what area in your life you most want to work on right now — be it your health, your marriage, your relationship with a child, friendships, your homemaking, your relationship with the Lord, or whatever is most pressing on your heart at the moment — and then set a tangible goal to work toward this week to help you inch in the right direction.
Start somewhere, do something, and reap the fruit of making progress — even if its microscopic. And remember that moving forward — even at a microscopic rate — is still moving forward.
This is great and encouraging advice. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this encouragement, Crystal.
I’ve often been the one to say that I don’t have time to set goals, but through your encouragement on Money Saving Mom I’ve been focusing more on goal setting and it’s paying off! Accomplishing even very small goals helps motivate me to continue to be purposeful in my roles of a godly wife and mama.
Thanks again!
I am a big fan of you, Crystal. I love this post. It is so encouraging and motivating. Thank you for sharing this hope with moms…you know we need it! God bless you.
You are so right. I started with baby step goals almost two years ago, I’ve been slowly get my life together. I still have a long ways to go, but I can see how far I’ve already come. Blogging helps me stay on track. I don’t want to run into someone, and have to tell them I am failing. It’s also great to get all the encouragement from my friends. I pray this article motivates many to start working towards their goal. Thanks for challenging me.
Love this article!! Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂
This is such great advice. I have been writing down my goals weekly since the beginning of the year and it really works! There’s something about seeing your words on paper at makes it easier to even remember that ou wanted to do these things in the first place.
Yes, setting goals is so important. I know so many moms on antidepressants, and I think that for some of them the reason is they feel hopeless about their lives. Setting a few goals, even little ones, would make such a difference for them! It would give them a positive outlook, energy, direction, and accomplishments.
Great post. I hope lots of moms read it.
Such a wonderful advice. 🙂
Inspiring
I needed this today… I have three SMALL kiddos, and at most times, I feel like I’m barely making it. The “just keep swimming” comes to mind almost… and I hate that. Thanks for the encouragement to set goals, even small ones.
Thanks Crystal! This is encouraging advice!