I cannot believe that November is already here. This is my favorite time of the year… all I need is a brisk morning out on the porch, with a good book, wrapped up in a cozy blanket, sipping on a warm cup of coffee. Okay, so maybe I need more than that but you get the gist…

There is just something about the fall season that makes me feel really motivated. I decided I wanted to try something new by setting monthly goals for myself. Before I sat down and started this list I tried to really think about the pros and cons of goal setting and wanted to make sure I can still appreciate what I have now, while working toward what I want eventually.

I found a blog post by Lisa Bell and really enjoyed her first paragraph. She stated that setting goals can be uplifting and helpful but at the same time they can “trick us into never feeling fully satisfied with our lives.”

With keeping that in mind, as you can see I proceeded to accept this challenge and set my theme for this month to intentionality and gratitude, no matter the circumstance.

There are so many distractions in college and lately I have really been struggling with staying true to my priorities. Goals are a great way to stay focused, keep you locked in to achieving the specific endpoint you have set for yourself, and gives you a sense of direction.

My November Goals

Prioritize // Like I said, I am really in desperate need of improvement and a lot of prayer over this area of my life right now. Lately I have been distracted with all these worldly things like: my education, studying and homework, work, exercise, intentionality with my friends etc…

This month I am really going to push hard to start every morning off with my devotion and prayer, then get into my bible at least 20 minutes every day.

Hit the gym 5 days a week // My workout inspiration for the past two weeks has been @laurajulaine. I have fallen in LOVE with her workouts, body, her passion and just her way to motivate me to want to go to the gym every day… then recently she posted about a different girl, with a bigger butt and stronger legs, that she wanted to be like. After this I was left pondering, is any girl ever just happy with how she looks?!

I did a little research and found out that about 91% of woman are unhappy with their bodies and only 5% naturally possess a body portrayed by the media. Ladies, this breaks my heart honestly. I found that the quote I posted below has really helped me with this idea of being “intentional” during every workout but still having “gratitude” over myself and my body in the end.

Start my Zumba choreography // Guys I am so excited because a month later I am finally going to be able to use my Zumba certification. Long story short the REC lost my application but I went in and talked to them and they told me I can start as soon as I am ready… So I guess that means it’s time to “get ready”!

 

How To Set Your Own Goals

1. SMART // If you have never heard of SMART goals I added a link where you can go check out what others say about it. If you want to set great goals than just be SMART.
   • Specific: The difference between having a desire (“I just want to be skinny”) and have a goal, is by making it specific (“I want to lose 5 pounds by the end of this month”).
   • Measurable: This again goes with the being specific part, make sure you have included precise amounts that are reasonable to obtain.
   • Attainable: Setting a goal that you really do not have a deep desire of achieving can really drop your confidence. There is a fine line between setting a goal that is too easy and a goal that isn’t realistic. It is your job to find a goal that fits in the middle of both situations.
   • Relevant: First make sure you define your future dreams so that when you set your goals that they are all relevant to where you want your life to go in the future.
   • Time Bound: Give yourself unil the end of the month!
2. Stay Positive // Sometimes the end goal can seem overwhelming and distant. We all know how mentally and emotionally draining it can be to look forward to a point in the future that never seems close enough to grasp.  What encourages me to stay positive is by truly taking things one day at a time and learning to focus on every small goal I achieve throughout the day.
3. Have Accountability // Share with someone the goals you have laid out for this month to make you more motivated and “accountable” to achieve them.

I hope you all enjoyed this post and are feeling inspired to set your own goals for this November. Feel free to comment on this post with your thoughts or ideas and if you liked this post then insert your email at the bottom of the page to receive a notification every time I post.

Now it’s your turn guys, so make it happen and good luck!