Your Goals Don’t Need More Motivation

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” — Lao Tzu

Last month we had a powerful conversation about setting goals, clarifying intentions, understanding our desires, and getting real about what actually matters in life. If you missed it, go back and check it out because it’s POWERFUL.

I’ll be honest—I felt a little bad leaving you all hanging for 30 days without telling you how to actually achieve those goals. But I did it on purpose. I wanted the power of those ideas to fester inside you… to simmer… to get bottled up and ready to explode. Because when the time came (which is now) to talk about how to truly make those goals happen, I wanted you fired up, hungry, and itching to take action.

So, my friends… let’s dive in.
Here’s how to start turning your wildest 2026 dreams into reality.

Understanding Your Why:

Okay—now take out that list of goals and desires you wrote down for 2026.

Find a quiet moment if you can. No distractions. No multitasking. Read through your list slowly and deliberately.

As you read, put a ⭐ next to anything that genuinely lights you up. The things that make you feel excited, energized, or even a little nervous in a good way. Your mind and body already know which ones matter—so get out of your own way and let the starring happen.

Next to those starred goals, add a date you’d like to achieve them—if one comes naturally. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. No pressure. This isn’t about forcing timelines—it’s about creating intention.

Now… if you read any goals that no longer resonate, cross them off.

And just to be clear—don’t cross something off simply because it feels hard, scary, or far out of reach. That’s not what this is about. But if, after sitting with it for 30 days, you’re thinking, “Yeah… that doesn’t actually fit the 2026 version of me”—or maybe even any version of you—then honor that. Let it go.

Now for the real talk.

Something will have to give.

This is where we get honest—without judgment. If you want six-pack abs but drink a six-pack of beer every night… that math just isn’t mathing. 😉

So take a look at your starred goals and ask yourself:

Why do I really want this?
What would I have to give up to make it happen?

Time. Comfort. Habits. Distractions. Saying yes to fewer things. Saying no to things you like. Whatever it is—are you actually willing to give it up?

If the answer is no, that’s okay. Truly. Cross it off your 2026 list… but keep it for a someday-maybe version of you. Just not this season.

If the answer is still yes, then I want you to go deeper:

Why is this still a yes?
Why is it worth giving up X, Y, or Z?

Write that down. This becomes your North Star—the thing you come back to on the days you want to quit.

And right next to it, write what “enough” looks like once you achieve it. Because clarity around “enough” protects us from burnout, comparison, and the never-ending chase for more.

“But I don’t have time…”

Before we go any further, you might be thinking: There is no way I can add one more thing to my plate.

I get it. I’m a busy person too. And if I’m being honest, the moment I have free time, I usually fill it—volunteering for a nonprofit, coaching my kids’ soccer team, starting a new blog… you name it.

But here’s the truth:
You do have time.
It’s just a matter of what you’re prioritizing—and how efficiently you’re using it.

Fifteen minutes a day equals 91 hours a year.

So ask yourself:

What could I give up for 15 minutes a day?
- Doom scrolling?
- Hitting snooze?
- One less episode?

The time is there.

Now let’s use it the right way.

Success Comes From Doing the Right Thing — Not Everything

That idea comes from The One Thing by Gary Keller—and it’s one I come back to again and again.

Most people don’t fail because they aren’t capable. They fail because they’re trying to focus on too many things at once instead of committing to the one right thing.

You can work really hard… but if you’re on the wrong road, all that effort won’t get you where you want to go. Direction matters just as much as discipline.

So let’s get intentional.

Narrow It Down — On Purpose

Look back at the goals you starred earlier.

Right now, I want you to choose just ONE of those starred items—the one that speaks the loudest, pulls at you the most, or feels the most important in this season.

This doesn’t mean the others don’t matter. It just means this one gets your focus first.

Now, walk yourself through this flow of questions. Don’t rush it—write your answers down.

The ONE Thing Question (By Time Horizon)

Instead of asking, “What should I do today?” we zoom out—and then narrow in.

Someday:
What’s the ONE thing I want to achieve in my life?
(This is that top starred goal.)
This Year:
What’s the ONE thing I can do this year to move closer to it?
This Month:
What’s the ONE thing I can do this month to support that yearly goal?
This Week:
What’s the ONE thing I can do this week?
Today:
What’s the ONE thing I can do today?

If that “one thing” feels overwhelming, it’s too big. Go smaller. Smaller is not weaker—it’s smarter.

Protect It Like It Matters (Because It Does)

Once you’ve identified today’s ONE thing, protect the crap out of it.

Time-block it into your calendar. I highly recommend doing it first thing in the morning, before life, kids, emails, and curveballs hijack your good intentions.

Then—this part matters—hold yourself accountable to actually doing it today. Not tomorrow. Not “when things calm down.”

A Gentle Warning (From Experience)

You can repeat this exercise for one or two more goals—but be careful.

Trying to focus on too many “one things” at once is how we end up achieving none of them. If you realize one goal will only take a few weeks or a month, you might even choose to dedicate one goal per month instead of juggling everything at once.

You know your life. You know your capacity. Your job is to build your goals into your real life—not on top of it.

And remember:
15 minutes a day goes a really long way.

So next, let’s talk about how to become more intentional, protective, and effective with your time—so the things that matter actually happen.

Becoming More Efficient With Your Time

To truly become more efficient, you don’t need a complicated system or a color-coded planner. You need better questions.

Anytime you’re doing something—or about to say yes to something—pause and walk yourself through these:

1. Why am I doing this?

This question alone cuts through so much clutter.

Is this actually important?
Is it aligned with my goals, values, or season of life right now?

If the answer is no, let it go. Efficiency isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less of what doesn’t matter.

2. If it is important… how can I do this better?

If something truly needs to stay on your plate, the next question becomes:

Can this be simplified?
Can it be done faster?
Can part of it be automated, delegated, or restructured?

And here’s a little permission slip: if you’re stuck on how to do it better—ask ChatGPT. Build out new steps. Rethink the process. Efficiency often comes from redesigning how you do things, not pushing harder through the same old way.

3. Shorten the time you give yourself

I read a book a few years ago called The Vacation Effect, and it perfectly ties into goal-setting and habit building.

You know how you somehow get a week’s worth of work done in a day or two before leaving for vacation? That’s not magic—it’s Parkinson’s Law. Work expands to fill the time you give it.

When you intentionally shrink your time blocks, your focus sharpens and efficiency skyrockets.

The takeaway?

Stop giving tasks endless space.
Shrink the window.
Protect the time.

You’ll be amazed at how much faster—and better—things get done… leaving more room for the life you’re actually working toward.

And Finally… Learn to Say No

Your time will get eaten alive if you don’t protect it.

Saying no isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. And yes, it’s uncomfortable (especially for people-pleasers… hi, it’s me 🙋‍♀️).

If this is something you struggle with, I actually wrote a full Elevate Livin’ Life blog on the power of saying no, and I highly encourage you to read it. It’s a game-changer when it comes to reclaiming your time and energy.

Because when you protect your time, you protect your goals—and ultimately, the life you’re trying to build.

Atomic Habits to Make This Happen

Now that you’ve identified the actions, the next step is building the habits that actually support them.

I’ve already written about habit-building through the lens of the book Atomic Habits, so instead of reinventing the wheel here, I’m going to link that blog post and let you dive deeper into that world—because it’s powerful and incredibly practical.

That post also weaves in some big-picture thinking and “design your year” inspiration from one of my favorite motivational humans, Jesse Itzler—so you’re getting both the small daily habits and the big vision energy in one place.

But if I had to boil all of it down to one core habit rule, it’s this:

👉 Make it small enough to stick… but big enough to matter.
👉 And make it easy to do the right thing.

Habits don’t fail because we aren’t motivated enough—they fail because we make them too hard to maintain in real life.

For example:

I wanted to work on my photography, so I put my big, fancy camera in my kitchen, where I see it every single day.
I want to learn Spanish, so I put the Babbel app right next to Instagram on my phone—so it’s just as easy (or easier) to click that instead of scrolling.

No willpower required. Just smart setup.

Your environment matters more than motivation. When you make the habit obvious, accessible, and friction-free, consistency becomes a whole lot easier—and that’s where real change actually happens.

Road Bumps (Because They’re Coming)

Let’s talk about road bumps—because I promise you, they’re coming.

Sometimes it’s a small pothole.
Sometimes it’s a full-on roadblock with a giant DO NOT ENTER sign… where you fall flat on your face (like Charlie above 😅).

So instead of being surprised when it happens, let’s talk about it now—so you already have a plan when things get hard.

Looking at the 1–3 goals you’re actively working on, walk yourself through these questions.

1. Who are you becoming?

Ask yourself:

Who do I need to be to achieve this goal?
What identity am I stepping into?

This matters more than motivation.

For example, if you’re training for a marathon, start telling yourself:
I’m the kind of person who trains in all weather.

That way, when the first cold, rainy day hits, you still lace up your shoes—not because you feel like it, but because that’s who you are now.

Anchor into your identity and your why. That’s what helps you push through the hazards ahead.

2. Can you let go of perfection and ditch the all-or-nothing mindset?

This one is big.

If you planned to run 10 miles and only ran 6, don’t fixate on the 4 you didn’t do. Focus on the fact that 6 is better than 0.

This is not permission to give yourself excuses ahead of time—but it is a reminder that showing up imperfectly still counts.

Some days you won’t hit the goal exactly as planned. Still try anyway.
Progress beats perfection every time.

3. What’s your backup plan when life shifts?

Think about this in small doses and big doses.

Small pivot:
If you hurt your foot during training, instead of throwing in the towel and declaring the whole race ruined, pivot. Go swim. Row. Bike. Keep your cardio up so when your foot heals, you’re ready to jump back in.

Big pivot:
If you’re tracking your progress and getting really honest with yourself—and it’s clear the original goal isn’t happening—what’s a meaningful alternative?

If a marathon isn’t realistic, would a half marathon still feel like a win?

Again: something is better than nothing.

4. When everything is competing for your attention, ask: What’s important NOW?

When it’s time to work on your goal and a million other things are screaming for your attention, pause and ask:
What actually matters right now?

If the urgent thing truly needs your attention, then consciously let go of your goal for the moment—but reschedule it immediately.

If the distraction is laundry, dishes, or a messy house—and it’s your planned time to work out, cook the healthy meal, or move your body—let the mess go.

You can do laundry tomorrow.
You can’t “double up” tomorrow’s workout… because tomorrow already has its own workout.

5. Create rules that make decisions easier

Rules remove decision fatigue.

For example, we have a rule in our house:
If it snows more than 6 inches, we drop what we can and go ski.

If it’s only 4 inches, we don’t turn our whole day upside down to make it happen. But if we’re free and it works—hell yeah.

Those rules help us know when to act and when to let it go.

So ask yourself:

What rules could I put in place to support my goals?
What signals tell me it’s time to take action?

6. Why does becoming this person matter?

You already wrote your why.

Now go read it again.

Put it on your wall.
Screenshot it on your phone.
Stick it somewhere you’ll see it on the hard days.

Remind yourself why past-you wanted future-you to achieve this.

And then—respect that version of yourself enough to keep going.

Tracking & Accountability (The Part We Love to Hate… but Works)

Okay, I’m sorry—I kind of hate to say this.

But just dreaming and then doing usually isn’t enough.

Sometimes it is. But most of the time, if you really want to know whether you’re moving in the right direction, you need to track what’s actually happening—not to judge yourself, but to understand yourself.

Here’s the good news:
Tracking can be as simple or as advanced as you want it to be.

I’m going to share the new tracking plan I’m personally using this year. Take what works for you. Leave the rest. 😉

Daily: A Simple Nightly Check-In

Every night, I want to answer these four questions:

What did I do today?
What do I wish I did today?
What are three amazing things that happened today?
What are my top three priorities for tomorrow—so I end the day feeling as happy and fulfilled as possible?

That’s it. No perfection required. Just awareness.

Monthly: Zooming Out

Once a month, take a little time to review your answers. Look through your photos, your calendar, your notes—get a feel for how the month actually felt.

Then ask yourself:

Where am I feeling happy about my life?
Where am I feeling sad, frustrated, or stuck?
What’s one moment from this month I want to remember in the future?
Am I living a life I’m genuinely stoked to live?
Where did I fall short on my goals?
What could I change to get myself back on track?

This isn’t about beating yourself up—it’s about course correction.

Quarterly: The Bigger Picture Check-In

Once a quarter, slow down and reflect more deeply. Ask yourself how you’re feeling in each of these areas:

Physical Health
Mental & Emotional Health
Career
Financial Health
Work / Life Balance
Friendships
Family Relationships
Hobbies & Creativity
(painting, photography, music, learning new skills, personal growth)
Light-Up-Your-Soul Activities
(fun, travel, adventure, and the things that truly make your soul sing)
Material Life
(home, vehicles, belongings)
Happiness & Joy
Purpose
(meaning, fulfillment, legacy)
Spirituality
Character
______And anything else you created for yourself—check back in on it now

This is about noticing patterns—not fixing everything at once.

Measure the Gain, Not Just the Gap

One last reminder that matters a lot.

If we only focus on our ideal future self and how far away we still are, motivation drops fast. Frustration creeps in.

So make sure you’re measuring backwards, too.

Compare where you are today to where you were last week. Last month. Last quarter.

Progress counts—even when it’s quiet.

This idea is beautifully explained in the book, The Gap and the Gain, and it’s one I come back to often.

When You Reach the Goal…

When you do achieve a goal, go back and reread your answer to this question:
“What will be enough?”

Because here’s what will happen—you’ll feel the pull to set a bigger goal. That’s normal. That’s growth.

But don’t let the chase for more steal the balance of a well-lived life.

Before pushing further, ask:

Is there another area of life that needs my attention right now?
Is maintaining this progress actually the goal for this season?

It’s okay if “better” this year doesn’t mean bigger.
Sometimes it means steadier. Or more balanced. Or more present.

And sometimes… staying exactly where you are is the ultimate win.

Parting Thoughts

You have the right to be happy.
You have the right to go after that happiness.

And yes—sometimes that might feel uncomfortable. It might even temporarily ripple into the lives of the people around you. But here’s what I truly believe: when you become a happier, truer, more aligned version of yourself, everyone wins.

You win.
Your family wins.
Your friends win.
Your community wins.
The world wins!

Okayyyyy—I know I just went a little big-picture there 😉 but I really do believe this.

If more people lived as their meant-to-be selves…
If more people chased what actually made them feel alive…
If more people felt fulfilled at their core…

The ripple effect would be real. One happier person leads to another, and another, and another—until the world feels just a little lighter.

So if you’re struggling to do this just for yourself, do it for your kids.
Do it for the people you love.

But also—please—do it for you.

Don’t wait until you’re fearless.
It’s okay to be afraid.

Just saddle up anyway… and go get after it.

Thanks so much for being here, for reading, and for doing this work alongside me.

We’ll catch up again next month 😊

With gratitude,
Kelli