Most days are routine. Most involve getting to our normal to-do lists. If it's a special day or we have set aside time, we find ourselves lucky enough to share extra moments with our friends and family; or venture to places that we love to go.
 
Most routines are necessary and that's the way our world works, but what if we get to a point in life where we wish that we had made our routines different from what they entail? 

• Are we putting off doing things that we will someday look back on and wish we had made time for?
• Are we dodging projects that we know would lead to happiness?
• Are we chasing our dreams?

At what point does it become too late to start chasing?

And WHAT exactly is there to wait for, right?

Having just rounded the bend on another birthday, these questions are fresh in my mind and I realize with each year (hell, with each day) that passes, that there just isn't time to wait if I really want to make things happen.

I am learning how to tackle these dreams in tiny increments and I have realized that having perspective, taking baby steps, and learning to be patient with results serves me best.

Here are a few tips that I am trying to employ and thought I would share, should you find yourself in the same boat of wanting to start working on a goal.

Decide:

• Determine what matters to you most.
• What do you want to improve?
• What do you want to learn?
• How do you want to grow?
• What do you want to be proud of yourself for accomplishing when you look back on your life? 

Take Time:

Be willing to budget the required amount of time you need to focus on your goals. Whether it's 10 minutes a day or two hours a day, figure out just how much of your attention this is going to take.

If you can't budget enough time right off the bat, take baby steps - start out small and add a little each day (or each week) until you are to the point where you are dedicating yourself to your cause (aka your goal).

Remind:

Remind yourself all the time how important this goal that you have set for yourself is. Remind yourself in the morning when you wake up, or when you get in the car to leave for work, or when you are feeding the dog, or any time that is consistent and will become a habit.

Say It Out Loud:

Tell someone (or a lot of people) what your goal is. This is hard to do, I know.

Letting the cat out of the bag puts more pressure on you to really keep striving and stick with it. I know this one because I recently revealed to you all that my new big goal for my 39th year is to complete a triathlon.

I had decided on the goal awhile back and had already begun training, but had waited to actually declare it out loud because I knew when I did that it made it that much more REAL. But you know what? I'm so glad I did. It keeps me focused and makes me feel like I have a great support system behind me to make it happen.

Document Your Progress

Make little notes to document your accomplishments.  Even if they are baby steps. Write down what you did each day and watch your progress grow and grow.

Pretty soon, when you go back through your archive, you will see that your baby steps are turning into leaps and bounds.

Celebrate your Accomplishments:

Pat yourself on the back and be proud of each stage you get to. Don't get discouraged, keep it positive and revel in the small stuff.

 Photo by nutmap

• Discover your dream.

• Start making it happen.

• Don't wait.

• Live life your way and start TODAY!