Would you like to have a successful month? To accomplish more and do less? To feel peaceful, fulfilled, and content?
If so, you’re in luck.
With each new month we face, we are given the opportunity to start new and fresh. In this article, I explain how. Then, I give you five powerful things NOT to do if you want a successful month ahead.
Why New Months Are Ripe for Success
Before I jump into the tips, I first want to talk about why new months are ripe for success.
Similar to a new year, the start of a new month feels light and positive.
Although it’s only a number, many people find themselves filled with optimism and hope when the calendar reads “1”.
Why is this – especially considering the start of a new month is the same amount of time away from the last day of the month as the 15th of the month is from the 16th?
For starters, new months shift our perception. They give us the view that we’re starting new or starting clean. Much like you feel a difference between December 31 and January 1, the start of a new month marks a turning point for us psychologically. Things seem easier when we’re just beginning. We also feel more hope and optimism.
Second, new months give us the opportunity for closure from things in the past. If something didn’t go our way in the previous 30 days, a new month can offer us the chance to honor that thing – and then leave it in the past.
Last, many people relish new months because they give us the chance to start over. Like a new baby or new project, the beginning of a new month is pure, untouched, and full of fresh energy. We may feel a renewed sense of purpose and get back in touch with our dreams, desires, and capabilities at the start of a new month. We likely have renewed energy and feel refreshed and ready for what’s next.
Given all of this, it makes perfect sense that the start of a new month is an excellent time to chart your course for success. With the right tools and a positive attitude, you’ll find that the success you seek is well within reach.
Here, in no particular order, are 5 tips on creating a successful month ahead.
Successful Month Tip #1: Don’t just “wing it”.
If you want to have a better month, do yourself a favor: do some planning. Why? Because there is nothing worse than having a bunch of energy, drive, and determination with no focused priorities.
Although I’m not a fan of rigid systems or rules (I find they cause unnecessary stress and shut down creativity), I love goal setting for its simplicity and effectiveness. True, setting goals can seem like “just one more thing to do”; but, if you look at the link between goal-setting theory and success, you’ll see the time you spend is well worth it.
(Jaime’s Tip: If you’re someone who cringes at the idea of setting goals, you may want to use another word for it, such as intentions or manifestations.)
Ready to set successful goals? Here’s how to do it.
Chances are good you’ve heard the acronym SMART before. You may even know it’s related to goal setting. If you’re unsure what the letters in SMART actually stand for or how they help you craft successful goals, you can learn about that here:
S. Specific.
In order for a goal to be successful, it needs to be specific. What does that mean? Well, it means you define what you want and get clear about it. Let’s say, for example, you want to be happier this month. While this is a lofty goal, the idea of being happier is subjective; meaning it means different things to different people. For one person, being happier could mean losing weight. But for another, it could mean having more peace. These two things are great, but more specificity is still needed. How much weight do you want to lose and by when? are questions the first person needs to answer. What are some ways you can become more peaceful? is a clarifying question for the person seeking to create a goal for more inner peace.
M. Measurable.
Along with being Specific, goals that have the greatest chance of success are also Measurable. When something is measurable, it means you can measure, or quantify it. There are several ways to do this, such as through the use of specific numbers if you’re trying to lose weight, or a length of time if you’re trying to accomplish something. Using the examples from the S above, “lose weight” now becomes “lose 5 pounds this month” and “less stress” means “lower my blood pressure by 5 points in the next 45 days”.
A. Actionable.
Now that you’ve got a goal that is Specific and Measurable, you need to make sure it is Actionable. So what, exactly does Actionable mean? One way of describing something actionable is that it’s practical or do-able. In other words, it is something you can do or take part in. Consider this example to help clarify. Consider, for example, that you want to lose 5 pounds this month. Unfortunately, though, you broke your leg last week and aren’t able to move around much, making this goal largely unactionable if you plan to lose weight through exercise. Setting a goal to lose 5 pounds this month probably isn’t the best choice, but it could be once your cast comes off and your doctor gives you the okay.
R. Relatable.
As important as it is for a goal to be Specific, Measurable, and Actionable, all successful goals must also be Relatable. What are Relatable goals, you ask? Goals are considered relatable when they somehow connect with the goal-setter. If I love helping and healing small animals, a relatable goal could be to go to Veterinary School. If, however, I am terrified of heights and don’t like being on airplanes, becoming a stewardess would not be a relatable goal for me. Here’s a tip when it comes to the R in SMART: a good rule of thumb is to check your gut or body impulses. if the idea of something “lights you up” inside, then the goal is relatable. If, however, you feel ambivalent or resistance to it, it’s probably not a good goal for you.
T. Timely.
When it comes to the last item on the SMART list, it’s all about timing. Good questions to ask yourself here include things like, “Do I have time for this in my life right now?” and “Is this a good time for my family if I pursue this?”
Timeliness pertains to the amount of time it takes to do something, as well as the time of life the goal-setter is in. Say, for instance, that Patty recognizes a need to bring more relaxation into her life. After doing some brainstorming, she has the idea to go on a spa trip to Arizona – and makes a personal goal out of it. Before she books the trip, though, she needs to make sure it is feasible for her to take time off of work. If she has already taken all of her vacation days, then her goal may not be timely unless it’s done on a weekend.
Tip #2. Don’t Move On Without Reflecting.
Before you can successfully improve something, you must know where your problems lie. Therefore, it is vital to take some time at the beginning of a new one to reflect on what went well – and what didn’t. If you had a goal to eat fewer calories last month, for example, but every night you found yourself eating cookies from a glass jar on your kitchen counter, it’s time to make a change there. This could easily be done by eliminating cookies from your household and filling those containers with fresh fruit or vegetables instead.
Be Successful Tip #3. Don’t Forget Your Needs.
Now that you know what your goals are for this month and what was problematic for you last month, you can start your new month off right by prioritizing your needs. When I say needs, I’m talking about more than just food, shelter, and clothing, although those are obviously non-negotiable. Other things that go into this category include your physical needs (i.e., setting aside time for exercise, dentist and doctor appointments); connection needs (socializing, dating, or spending quality time with people you care about), and recreation/leisure needs.
Tip #4. Don’t Worry!
Did you know that the average person spends two hours a day worrying? Pretty crazy, huh? I think so, too. So much so, that I did a speech about this very topic a few years ago and delivered it in front of a huge audience.
And do you know what the majority of the people who came up to me after the speech said? “That’s me, Jaime! You described me!”
While the majority of us learned to worry either as a defense mechanism or from a fear-based-atmosphere, that doesn’t mean we need to continue doing it today. Therefore, do yourself a favor this month and lessen your overwhelm by cutting out worry.
Successful Month Tip #5: Don’t Compare Yourself to Anyone Else.
This is a big one that can lead you down a very slippery slope – if you allow it.
Why do comparisons to other people leave us feeling so bad?
Since there will always be someone who is smarter, thinner, prettier, wealthier, fill-in-the-blank than you, comparing yourself to another person is like comparing a fish to an ant; there is no contest. Each item brings a unique set of traits, characteristics, background, and value to the table.
Conclusion
Being successful isn’t always easy. It isn’t something people are born with or magically receive; instead, most successful people spend time working toward what they want to achieve.
READ: 7 Simple Ways to Stop a Bad Day in Its Tracks
If you’ve been trying to become more successful recently in your career, relationships, or some other area of life, kudos to you. Although this type of work can be challenging, difficult and even frustrating at times, it can lead to huge change and transformation internally and externally. And, if you are on the road of personal, professional or spiritual development, you don’t have to do it alone. There are plenty of resources available to you to make your learning and transitions easier. There are also things like SMART goals which you can follow to make success more probable for you. It also pays to know what things to avoid if you’re seeking success.
The beginning of a new month gives each of us a wonderful opportunity to start fresh and do just that. By setting achievable goals, reflecting on the good and bad of previous months, prioritizing our needs, and only comparing ourselves to who we used to be, we poise ourselves to have a stellar month ahead.
