Personal Goal Setting for Women

Women today...wow, we do it all, don't we? In a single day, any given woman can not cook the meals for her family, but do the shopping for the ingredients and make the money to buy them! Or, in my case, make the money to eat out.

It's odd to me that when a man wants a family and a career, it's a natural thing. Actually, it is an expected occurrence. However, even today, if a woman wants both those things, she "wants it all" and is eyed as wanting too much.

Why is that? Why is the women in our society are the ones having to learn how to balance? Why is we are the ones that feel "blame" when we don't do everything just perfectly? Further, why do we keep trying to do things perfectly? There comes a times when we have to set our goals and somehow balance our daily lives to achieve those goals. With a few little tips, maybe we can make this easier on all of us.

Think "Pencil". Whatever your priorities are, whatever your plans are, write them in pencil. We know as wives, mothers, and daughters that plans can change in a heartbeat. The more often you make your plans concrete and written in ink, the more difficult it is to be flexible when those inevitable changes occur. When these same plans are written in pencil it is far easier to readjust your day to fit your needs. It's ok to stray "off path" of your goals. Remember, just as there is more than one way to skin a cat, there is also more than one path to reach your goals.

When choosing what is most important or "pressing", ask yourself if this will make a difference ten minutes from now... ten months from now.... Ten years from now.

For example, your neighbor wants you to come over and see her new flat screen TV. Now, lets add in that this neighbor is a stay-at-home mom who seems to always look down her nose at you as you race out the driveway to get to work each day, but she has been extremely helpful and friendly to you and your family. You feel pressed to go over and "ooh" and "ahh" at her new luxury, but you promised your daughter you would run her to the store. What do you do? Ask you daughter to wait? Say "no" to your neighbor? Most likely, by applying the "10 minute, 10 month, 10 year" principal, you will opt to take you daughter as promised and ask your neighbor for a rain check.

On the same token, let's say you had the same promise to your daughter, but your neighbor was ill and needed help. Now what do you do? Things change a bit now, don't they? Keep your plans in pencil and your priorities in perspective.

Another thing to learn is to painfully simple. Say "No". There is no rule that says that any woman has to do everything that is asked of her. It doesn't make us a better person to agree to bake 70 cupcakes, take 4 of your son's friends home after practice, pick up Susie Smith from ballet, and do your co-workers report for her...all in the span of one hours time. What this does do is make you tired and less effective for your own goals and the needs of your family and loved ones.

Learn to say "No", keep a pencil in your day-planner, and write time for yourself in pen! Taking care of yourself is the best gift you can give to anyone who cares for you.