albert einstein once said “if you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” setting goals gives you the drive, clarity and focus to be your best self and live your best life. so how do you turn goals into achievements?

three words: write it down. 

(then, go make it happen.)

journaling goals is creating a blueprint for achieving your dreams. it literally takes you through the process of laying out the framework of thoughts, ideas and corresponding action items upon which your end-game is built. sounds good in theory, but not sure where to begin? 

follow our 12 simple journaling tips to go from dreamer to #goalgetter.

1 [find a journal you love] what's your goal, #goalgetter? do you want to lose weight? practice gratitude? train for an event? whatever it is, there's a journal for you. (we know this because we created them...for you.) and it's important to find the one that's the best fit for helping you reach your goals.

2 [commit] set aside five minutes every. single. day. to write down your thoughts, dreams goals, shopping lists, to-do lists - whatever it is, just spend 5 minutes each day committed to your journal. 

3 [envision it] write a vision statement for your life. what does your ideal day look like? what do you really want for yourself? then match up your goals with your vision and assign yourself realistic action items to inch yourself closer.

4 [break it down] don’t become overwhelmed by your larger-than-life dreams. just break bigger goals down into smaller action items with realistic timeframes. that's why we encourage you to set bigger 12-week goals, then break them down into smaller, more achievable goals on a weekly basis.

5 [start on a sunday] spend quality time with yourself on a sunday, set your goals + write down your plan for the week. 

6  [during the week, jot at night] sure, you may journal food and workouts as you go, but take time each evening to reflect on your day, focus on what worked (or didn't), and then mentally prepare for the next day.  

7 [keep it real] don’t censor yourself. in order to really analyze your deepest hopes and desires and set your goals accordingly, you have to be completely honest.

8 [be specific] when setting goals, always include as much information as possible so you can adequately measure progress. for example, when journaling your food include portion sizes.  when recording workouts be sure to log time, sets, reps or steps. whatever it is, the more detail you include, the more headway you’ll see.

9 [hold yourself accountable] share your goals + progress with a friend - whether it be on social media, daily phone calls, or exchanging journals; be honest, be sincere, and don't be shy!

10 [practice gratitude] always write down the things you’re grateful for each day. people who take the time to journal gratitude are happier, healthier and more likely to achieve their goals.  

11 [reflect on progress] taking the time to go through past journals is a great progress report. reminding yourself of all the challenges you’ve overcome and goals you’ve achieved throughout the years instills confidence and pride.

12 [celebrate your successes] set rewards for reaching your goals, then give yourself a well-deserved pat-on-the-back once you reach them.