Discover actionable steps after achieving a big goal in your life.
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If you’re new here, I have a lot to celebrate recently. I ran my 11th marathon in Berlin (I ran a personal best, I might add). I went to Europe for the first time. I completed my first season as a running coach with Fleet Feet Training. While that all feels exciting, it can also feel a little sad. I spent months anticipating this trip and I vlogged about it extensively. Now that it’s over, it’s easy to wonder, “What’s Next?”
Key Topics Included in this Post
What to Do When You Finish a Goal
In the weeks leading up until my trip, I envisioned having so much free time on my hands once I got back. It took me about a week to adjust my body clock back to normal. Immediately after getting my rhythm I had so many events with the Chicago Marathon. I still feel very busy! Marathon training is a huge commitment ! Now I feel like I’ve been trying to catch up for the things I missed in the last few weeks.
I write this to not only share my own experience but also as a reminder for anyone who’s achieved a big goal to process the accomplishment properly and to transition to what’s next. While there are different strategies for goal setting, these steps after achieving a big goal are important, no matter the criteria of your goal.
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How to Celebrate The Big Goals in Life
After pouring your heart and soul into achieving a big goal, it’s crucial to take a moment to celebrate your accomplishment. If you’re anything like me, my brain wants to check the box and be a little busy bee to get started on the next goal setting plan. It’s a form of self-sabotage that I have a difficult time recognizing sometimes.
Take Time to Recognize the Accomplishment
Taking time to celebrate is important to recognize the accomplishment. It’s just as crucial to celebrate as it is for goal setting and planning. It’s putting a little bow on the process and sending it off into the sunset.
For me, it’s so easy to not feel like the thing was “big enough” to celebrate. I might be exhibiting some serious oldest-daughter energy where I feel like I should just be good at something, then undermining the importance of the accomplishment. The reality is, if it’s worth talking about, it’s worth celebrating.
Celebrate the Goal, No Matter How Small
This celebration doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can be as simple as treating yourself to a favorite meal, enjoying a relaxing day off, or sharing your success with friends and family.
Recognizing your hard work not only honors the effort you put in. It also reinforces the positive emotions tied to your achievement. Celebrating can serve as a powerful reminder of what you’re capable of, fueling your motivation for future endeavors.
Remember to take that moment to reflect on your journey, embrace the joy of your success, and give yourself the recognition you deserve!
Related Post: My friend, Jen, wrote this guest post with her experience running the runDisney Dopey Challenge. Read more about her story here.
Assess Your Current State
After reaching a significant milestone, it’s essential to take a step back and evaluate your physical and mental well-being. Reaching a big goal takes an incredible amount of intense effort and dedication. After it’s over it might leave you feeling drained or even sad.
Check In With Yourself
Take some time to check in with yourself: How do you physically feel? Are you fatigued or energized? How are you feeling emotionally and how does your achievement resonate with you? Do you feel proud or is there an element of shame or embarrassment?
I remember after I finished my first marathon I felt incredibly proud and at the same time, I was really hard on myself. At the time, the Chicago Marathon would publish the names of the finishers in the Chicago Tribune. I remember looking in the paper for my name and it wasn’t included because I didn’t have an “official” time under 6:30:00. I finished at 6:33:46 and missed it by under four minutes.
I felt incredibly down on myself for feeling like I could have done better or I didn’t work hard enough. And after a lot of therapy, I’ve come to terms with that race. Just because my name wasn’t in a paper didn’t make me less of a marathoner!
Self-Assessment Is a Crucial Part of the Process
Taking a moment for self-assessment is crucial not only for understanding the impact of your journey but also for setting a healthy foundation for your future endeavors. By recognizing where you’re currently at you can make a healthy decision on where to go next. It doesn’t matter if you next phase is to sign up for another race or heal an injury, take some time to focus on yourself.
Set A New Goal Setting Plan
Setting new goals after achieving a significant milestone is vital for maintaining momentum and personal growth. Once the excitement of your accomplishment settles, take time to reflect on what you truly want to pursue next. Just because you completed a goal doesn’t mean you have to do it again. You can set goals in the same vein as the last goal or you can be something completely different.
Create a SMART Goal
We’ve all heard of goal setting with SMART goals, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, to provide a clear framework for your new ambitions. SMART goals are a goal setting template to help you visualize the foal and keep track of your progress. Consider tracking your goals in a goal setting excel template to monitor your progress to see how far you’ve come. Or you can even gamify it in something like a bingo card.
Create a Vision Board
Your next set of goals can range from expanding on your recent achievement to exploring entirely different areas of interest. Whether it’s training for another marathon, learning a new skill, or starting a creative project, the key is to challenge yourself while ensuring the goals align with your passions and values.
Put your goal on a letter board and remind yourself of what you want to achieve! Embrace this opportunity to stretch your capabilities and keep your journey dynamic and fulfilling. Or host a vision board party for accountability with friends.
Related Post: I wrapped up my second year creating a bingo card, check out the updates!
Build a Support Network
Building a supportive community is crucial, as it provides encouragement and motivation for your next steps after achieving a big goal.
Connecting with like-minded individuals who share similar interests can help you stay inspired and accountable. They can also help with supporting your goals by participating with you! Consider joining local clubs, online forums, or social media groups related to your goals. For me, I’ve found support as an opportunity to seek advice and celebrate our successes.
Share Your Goals with Friends
While sharing my goals has been scary at times (vulnerability can be so uncomfortable) it’s been a chance to open my eyes to new opportunities and different perspectives. Surrounding myself with supportive peers can make the journey ahead feel less daunting and more enjoyable, reminding me that I’m not alone in the trenches of my goal.
Related Post: Need time to sit down and set your goals? Plan an admin night with friends to socialize and add goal setting to your task list!
Dream Big, Set Goals
While achieving a big goal might seem like the end, it is just the beginning of a new journey. I use my experience as a marathoner as an example, however these steps can be applied to any goal you’ve set for yourself.
Continuing the process is the stepping stone of reaching something bigger and achieving something incredibly great. And when you reach the next big goal, take the time to repeat the steps outlined above and continue your journey.
What are your primary steps after achieving a big goal? Leave a note in the comments! Have friends who need these steps after achieving a big goal recently? Share this post!
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