Hey moms, you need to set goals in order to grow! Here are some tips on goal setting for moms!
I know how easy it is to get caught up in just being a mom.
You already have plenty on your plate.
I know that your regular to-do list never ends.
Your kids need help, attention, and car.
Even so, you can’t neglect yourself!
Goal Setting for Moms
Do Moms Need Goals?
Do all moms really need to set goals?
What about:
- stay-at-home moms?
- single moms?
- working moms?
- empty-nest moms?
Regardless of where you are in your mom-journey, I would say YES you do need to make your own goals.
Why Should Moms Set Goals?
Goal setting for moms is important because goals:
- give focus, drive, and purpose to our lives
- help set you up for future success
- fill you with meaning
- contribute to your happiness (you feel great when you hit that goal!)
- help keep your life in order
- give a good example to others (as a mom, this is particularly important – that you set a great example for your kids!)
You can’t hit a target or reach the end of the road if you have no idea where you are going or don’t have a clear destination.
You’ll just drift along the road to anywhere!
Moms, you need to grow for their own personal selves, but also to set an example for your kids! We all want our kids to be happy and successful and part of that includes setting goals and striving to reach them.
Show your kids by your example!
As a single mom to 2 little girls, I am often very keenly aware of the example that I am setting for my girls – for good or ill – and it’s absolutely a struggle but worth it!
Goals can help give order to your life – you can start by organizing meals, chores, cleaning, activities…
What Kind of Goals Should Moms Set?
I would start by emphasizing that you shouldn’t go overboard.
Goal setting for moms should NOT be tedious or overwhelming!
Don’t set 20 difficult goals or you will get discouraged really quickly!
But don’t shy away from setting 1-2 BIG goals!
You can start by looking at a few main areas of life:
- Health (fitness)
- Relationships – family, friends
- Spiritual
- Financial
- Personal
Look at where you were the previous year and think about some realistic goals and positive changes that you can make for this next year.
Many people set big yearly goals as New Years Resolutions, but the 2 most important components of goal setting are just starting and having a time frame. If you start in the middle of the year, that is ok and the perfect time for you!
You want to stop, take a moment, and look at the big picture of your life.
You might already have a list of goals that you want to set, but if you don’t here are some ideas in each category to help get you started.
Health or Fitness Goals for Moms
- Exercise 3-4 times per week
- Drink 8 cups of water per day
- Set a weekly meal plan in order to eat healthier foods
- Get enough sleep (8 hours)
- Make regular doctor appointments
- Set a weight loss goal
Relationship Goals for Moms
- Invest in your marriage – have regular (monthly?) date nights with hubby
- Improve relationships with your children
- Get together with friends (and no kids) once a month
Spiritual Goals for Moms
- Go to church weekly
- Attend a bible study
- Set a daily time for regular prayer or meditation
- Read the bible for 10 minutes a day
Financial Goals for Moms
- Earn some side money as a homemaker
- Tips for making an extra $1000 a month
- Side gigs for single moms
- Save more money this year
- Reduce debt
Personal Goals for Moms
- Read a book a month (You can join a book club – I’m in a Well-Read Mom book club and I love it!)
- Limit screen time (e.g. set a limit of 30 minutes a day)
- Establish basic routines
- Do something new, fun, and creative for yourself!
Aim for being an excellent mom and person. Not perfect, but sincerely striving to do your personal best.
SMART Goal Setting for Moms
Once you pick a couple of goals, you need to make sure they are SMART goals.
SMART means:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-Focused
For example, if you pick goals that are too hard to reach or have no time-limit then you are not setting yourself up for success!
We fail at goals often because they are too vague and not easily trackable:
Too vague – I will eat better.
Better – I will meal plan on Saturday morning for the coming week to ensure that I have healthy meals and snack options.
Too vague – I will be a better mom.
Better – I will spend 20 minutes reading or playing with my kids each day.
Setting smart goals for moms will help you make real progress!
Mom Goal Planner
Where to Start when Setting Goals as A Mom?
You need to create a long-term vision for your life.
- What does your ideal life and day look like?
- What are you doing right now that you want to change?
- What are your life goals for yourself and your kids?
1. Brainstorm
Take each category above and brain dump a list of ideas under each one.
Focus on what you want your life to look like the next year (or 2).
2. Organize
Organize the list into mini categories.
3. Select Goals
Pick 1-2 goals per category.
Remember, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself by picking too many goals!
4. Make a Plan
Write down the daily steps you will take to meet each goal.
Keep each step as simple as possible!
5. Move Forward
Each day (or week) take a step toward your goal!
Use a planner to keep track of your goals and your progress toward them!
Daily habits make all the difference!
6. Review
Review your goals on a regular basis to make sure you are headed in the right direction. At the end of each month (or week) you can take a few minutes to check on your progress toward each goal.
If you haven’t made much progress, don’t give up!
Set up a scaffold on how to get there – what is the next mini-step that you need to take?
Just keep moving forward – even if it is a little step at a time!
Celebrate all of the steps you take and any progress you make!
I recommend reviewing your progress at least weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly.
Sample Goals for Moms
To help you get started with brainstorming, here are some sample goals that a mom might make for herself.
Stay-at-Home Mom:
- I will get up at 5:30 am to exercise and get ready for the day.
- I will get together with a friend once a month for fun (coffee, spa day, paint and sip, etc.)
- I will join a local book club or moms group.
- I will start a savings plan.
Related: How to Save $10,000 in a Year
As a single mom, I want to help other single moms! So, here are some possible single mom goals:
Single Moms:
- I will get together with a friend once a month.
- I will work on a side hustle 5 hours per week to make some extra money.
- I will get up 30 minutes early to meditate and have a morning coffee before the kids wake up.
- I will ask for help from friends or family once a month (for babysitting, cleaning, errands, etc.)
Related:
Side Hustles for Single Moms
Best Degrees for Single Moms
Building Wealth as a Single Mom
Other Sample Mom Goals
- Go to bed on time to get enough sleep.
- Schedule “me time” each week.
- Do something creative or learn something new (start a new hobby!)
- Meal plan so you and your family can eat healthier
- Stop negative self talk and comparison (use daily positive affirmations to help!)
- Nurture social relationships with good friends
- Exercise daily
- Be flexible and learn to let some things go.
- Unplug one day a week (from your phone or at least from social media)
- Journal with your kids
- Read with your kids daily
- Create a bucket list with your family and choose one item and plan for it
Here are a couple of my favorite books to help inspire you!
What About Obstacles?
Mom life can be incredibly chaotic (and single mom life even more so!). Taking care of tiny humans is exhausting!
Despite that, busy moms should not just give up.
Remember, setting SMART goals and taking small steps toward them are really important!
Make a step toward your goal a daily habit! The easiest way to do this is to have specific times of day assigned to work toward your goals. Write them on your calendar!
Set up an accountability partner (preferably a trusted friend) to help keep you on track and motivated.
But, above all, be compassionate with yourself.
Just keep moving forward, don’t give up! Even if it seems like you are only taking baby steps.
If you stop moving toward your goals, then you just start up again!
Final Thoughts on Goal Setting for Moms: Living with Purpose and Passion
Mom life can be very challenging. In setting goals for yourself, you are striving to build a well-balanced, healthy life for yourself (and, by extension, your family) that is focused on personal and family growth and working toward your dreams.
Start by choosing some smaller goals that you can work into your daily routine. Remember smaller steps can yield big rewards!
