Fridae

Wherever you are in the world, there's a lot going on - sometimes it feels as if we're drowning in uncertainty, swept up in a rising tide of rapid change.

Here's some tips on how we can all try to adapt, survive, and thrive.

Take control over what you can control

The reality of our day-to-day lives is that there are a lot of things that are totally beyond our control. That can be really overwhelming and leave you feeling like you have no agency in what's going on around you.

The first step is to focus on the things that are within your control.

What daily habits can you cultivate that are in line with your goals? What projects can you pick back up? Maybe it’s writing a book, starting a podcast or finishing your online store. All of those things are within your control.

Vision boards are also an amazing way to shift your focus onto things that you do want - it helps you focus on the steps you can take to try and build some momentum in the direction you want to take.

Goals can be set and updated at any time

We often associate goal-setting with the start of the year, something that’s limited to New Year’s Resolutions. But we don't need to be bound by milestone dates such as the new year - goal-setting is an ongoing process.

Goals and intentions are a gift that you can give to yourself at any time that is meaningful for you. It's good to set some time-parameters or deadlines around the goals that you're setting yourself, but ensure that they're timelines that make sense to you and your goals.

How to set goals

Start by making goal-setting a special occasion for yourself. Set some time aside, create a nice environment for yourself.

Next, get clear on what an exciting goal looks like for you. Not something that you think you should be wanting or something you’ve been told to dp, but something that is authentic and genuine for you.

Once you’ve gotten clear on that, spend some time mapping out these 3 things:

• Daily habits to support that goal.
• Mindset shifts that you need to make to achieve your goal.
• Support and accountability required to keep you moving forward.

Setting financial goals in an uncertain economy

An uncertain economic outlook can make it seem difficult to make financial plans or stick to your financial goals. However, goal-setting is a way to help you navigate the uncertainty.

Time passes whether you've set yourself some goals or not. Being proactive and focusing on the direction that you want to be heading can help to boost your resilience and identify useful opportunities.

Operating in an uncertain or fluid context probably means that you need to revisit, adjust and update your financial goals on a regular basis. If there's new information available, then your goals need to reflect that.

Tracking your progress

Creating some structure and discipline for yourself is a really effetctive way of ensuring that you are making progress towards achieving the goals that you've set yourself. 

Goals might start as a bit of blue-sky thinking or an aspiration day-dream, but you've got to start mapping out actions, deadlines, and measures if you want to understand the What and How that need to be tackled in order to make your goals a reality.

Celebrate success

When you achieve a goal, celebrate in a way that’s meaningful for you. It's also important to reflect on the factors that enabled you to achieve that goal - what worked? Can you do more of that? Can you translate those lessons into other goals?

It's also important not to be too hard on yourself. If you haven't achieved a goal within the timeframe that you set for yourself, that's not a failure - it just means that something didn't quite go to plan. Take the time to try and understand what didn't work - learn those lessons and adjust your goals accordingly.