Do you set goals for yourself? I was in my mid-thirties when I stumbled into the goal-setting world. And let me tell you, learning goal-setting tips for busy moms my life! I’m not exaggerating when I say that. Goals brought clarity and focus when I was in a season of uncertainty.
We all have set finite days in our life. I decided I didn’t want to meander the days away any longer. I stepped into the calling that I was created on purpose for a purpose. And so are you, sweet friend. You have a worthy life to live!
Goal setting takes practice, and it can feel overwhelming for someone starting. Here are my tips for learning how to set goals for your life.
Start with the Big Picture
What do you want your life to look like when you are 80? This was the question that sparked something in me. It occurred to me that I needed to be doing stuff now to have the life I envisioned when I was old. I want to be active, and I want to be living life to its fullest. I don’t want to be feeble!
So, here I am asking you this same question. Think about all the aspects of your life. What do you want them to look like 50 years from now, and why? Why do you want your life to look like this vision? When you’re struggling, always refer back to your way.
Break It Down
Now that you have your long-term picture, it’s time to break it down. Grab a piece of paper and write out various categories. Things like family, hobbies, spiritual life, finances, etc. You tailor this to you. Next, write out what needs to happen in each category to reach your end-of-life vision, and once again, don’t forget the why.
Bust Through the Doubt
It’s going to happen. We all encounter doubt and fear in life. Your goals might seem pretty far off right now, almost unreachable. You might hear whispers of insecurity or feel trapped in the comparison game.
I am going to ask you to do something profound here. I am going to ask you to do a deep introspection. Meditate and pray about the root of your fear. Think back to the first time you felt that feeling. Replace those lies with truth. You are WORTHY.
No one can do what you were divinely created to do. Dear friend, let me encourage you. I am here for you, and I am cheering you on.
Write It Down
Another easy goal-setting tip for busy moms is to write them down. Please don’t keep them in your head. Let’s get after it. Go back to your categories and start thinking of small actionable steps this month to move the needle forward on your goals.
Small steps over time lead to enormous progress. You are not required to make perfect progress. I can guarantee that there will be mistakes and missteps along the way.
I know. I’m not too fond of the idea of making mistakes, either. However, I would rather make a mistake and learn while progressing toward my goals than stay stuck in the same place for the rest of my life.
I have daily, weekly, and monthly check-off items when writing my action steps. A daily step might be as simple as drinking water daily (why is this so hard??), while a monthly step might be paying down debt by a certain amount. You do you. This is your one life.
But wait, here is the most crucial thing. Put your action steps in a place where you will see them every.single.day. I have mine taped to my bathroom mirror. It is so easy to get distracted by the day-to-day. Having your goals in front of your face will help to keep you focused.


Tips and Tricks
- While you do not need special tools to set goals, I like the resources from Cultivate What Matters. Makse is another popular tool, but I have never used it.
- Set a word for your year that encompasses all of your goals. I know it’s not January, but here’s a secret – there’s nothing magical about January 1st. You can read all about my word for 2021 here.
- Your goals should stretch you. Be honest with yourself about what you are capable of. Have realistic expectations of your dreams, but you should also be stretching yourself. I usually set my monthly goals to where I know I won’t accomplish them perfectly, so I am always pushing myself. Does that make sense?
- Decide today is the day because why not you? Why not today? You got this!
What are your easy goal-setting tips for busy moms? Tell me about your goals, and as always, please like and share this post if you enjoyed it.
I’m a huge planner, but not so much a goal setter. I like your ideas and tips a lot! Thank you!
I’m glad this encouraged you! Goal setting is a great way to level up your planning.
I have to admit, I’m not great at setting goals. I feel like I’m more on a survival mode than anything. But I think these are awesome ideas, and I’m realizing that setting goals is so important to be more purposeful in how I spend my time. Thanks for this article!
You can do it, friend! Setting small goals can definitely pull us out of those seasons when we are in survival mode.
This past year has been so tough, almost like my goal was just “keep us all safe”. I’m so ready to start looking forward again. Thank you for these reminders on how to set goals for myself. ??
That is real talk, friend. I’m so glad this post encouraged you to step out again.
I feel like getting started is half the battle in reaching our goals. Thanks for these helpful tips!
I’m a busy mom of 2 and these are great tips. Thank you!
I’m so glad!
Good points! My goal is to set more intrinsic goals than extrinsic goals. After all, you should set them for yourself and not to please others.
Oh absolutely!