has that time come again? Time to set your Summer goals for this year?

- James Stevenson (MSc, IEA) - Coach and Psychologist

Thinking about summer? What will your summer goals be this year? A time for friendship? For reading? For travel? For health?

So you've decided it's time for summer goals! It's getting closer... Excitement is building... Summer has to be the best time for setting goals!

Does summer seem to lift you and put you in the mood for doing more? Plenty of opportunities often show up when the sun comes out, and you know that these opportunities may only be around for 2 or 3 months.

Naturally this brings you to determining that this year you will take advantage of the gorgeous weather somehow!

To set a goal is to create a new possibility

Maybe that means friends and BBQ's, getting to that beach more often, or connecting with those friends we haven't seen in a while. For each person it can present a different opportunity but no matter who we are it often signals a good time for some kind of growth.

Making your summer goals work for you

If you do a quick search you will see plenty of nice examples of lists of goals for the summer. Unfortunately not a single list I have seen will have the potential motivating power it could have. Some examples are:

Read as many books as possible or I will stretch my mind by reading

Don't get me wrong. Lovely idea. BUT.... this goal can be made more powerful. It would have a stronger influence on you if you decide how many books you would love to read before October 1st. A stronger goal would be.

Read 10 books that stretch my mind by October 1st.

Subtle difference but an important one. On a very practical level the 2nd goal may cause you to buy the ten books you hope to read in preparation. It also may cause you to realise that if you read each book in 2 weeks you will reach your goal.

Check out the following vague intentions and their specific goal counterpart.

Play my Guitar OR Play guitar for at least 10 minutes every day and learn 10 new songs by October 1st
Run frequently OR Run 20km each week and a total of 200km by October 1st

Are some of the really lovely ideas below things you like the sound of? Why not turn your vague hopes into concrete goals that will lead to concrete actions and growth!