Are you still on track with your 2019 goals?

It’s still January, so I believe we can still talk about goals of the year, RIGHT? Now, let’s be honest: How many of you are still focus on the goals you set a couple of weeks ago? The truth is: most of us, after 2 weeks, forget the goals settled for the year. This why I decided to write about this subject NOW.

How to define goals and REALLY accomplish them:

1. Define only 3 GOALS per year;
2. Detail the as much as possible each goal (for example: lose 10% fat mass in 2019; instead of saying: lose weight in 2019);
3. Write the 3 goals and read them at least once a week.

For the most curious, below I am sharing with you my list of 3 goals per year that I have been defining since 2015.

Goals for 2016:

• Quitting my job and leave Paris – DONE

In December 2015, I spent Christmas in Portugal and I told my family that I wanted to leave Paris in 2016. I still did not know how but I knew that my time in France was coming to an end. I was tired of my routine, I wanted more adventure in my life. Negotiating with my company was not easy (it never is) BUT, at the 3rd attempt, we reached a reasonable agreement and I left in May of 2016.

• Backpacking in South America – DONE

My backpacking dream was in my head since I was 20 years old: Here I explain why backpacking and why Latin America. Although I wanted to go so bad, I was also so afraid and, every week, I would find a different excuse not to book my flight. It was not until October 2016 that I finally bought my one way ticket to go. When I finally started the adventure, everything changed. The fear disappeared and the trip that was supposed to last for 4 months turned out to be 8. Anyone else planning backpack trip?

• Having X0 000€ of saving – DONE

One of my goals for 2016 was to have savings – savings to travel the way I wanted and savings for some time after traveling. I wanted 6 digits in my bank account. After 3 years working and 1 year of internships: the outcome I dreamed of was there. : D – Leave me a comment below if you want me to go deeper on this subject!

Goals for 2017:

• Seeing my lifestyle/ traveling life in the Portuguese Media – DONE

When I returned to Portugal after my trip in Latin America, I talked to a couple of friends who attended university with me about my travels and, naturally, there was an opportunity to share my traveling experience. In August 2017, I was at SIC talking about my trip. If I knew this would happen? Not! But I really wanted more people to know what I had done; I wanted to inspire and show to people that it was possible to travel even being a woman, even being Portuguese and not being rich.

• Finding a job in my field in Australia – DONE

It arrived in October 2017! I signed my contract with TAFE – You can see more about my work in Sydney.

• Having the same amount of money I had before my trip – DONE

I’m not going to lie, money matters to me. Money is not everything but it is important. At the age of 20, I started being self sufficient and knowing that I depended only on myself, taught me how to SAVE MONEY. So after my trip (you can see more about my budget in Latin America), I just wanted to find a job and save up again. Believe me or not, in 3 months working in Australia, I was able to save what I had spent during my trip. Crazy? PERHAPS! But, as I said, I am good at saving and wages is Australia are MUCH HIGHER than in Europe (you can see how much I was making in Aussie land).

Goals for 2018:

• Running my 1st marathon – FAIL!

I am terrible dealing with failures. And not accomplish this very specific goal, that depended mostly on me, drove me crazy! In 2018 I learned that life changes and sometimes we do not control everything (I am that kind of people who loves controlling)… My accident in Bali meant flying back to Europe, spending my savings, not working for more than 6 months and not running the marathon in Sydney, as I wanted. I was so lost and mad at the situation that only months later I could finally see things getting better. Anyway, failures actually makes a grow and although 2018 was hard, I know I became a better person. What about you?

• Being accepted at a top rank American University – DONE

It might sound crazy but my accident in Bali shifted my life in 2018. One of the consequences of it was having more time to invest myself in old dream: Studying in the US. It was not easy but hard work pays off … and I could not be prouder and happier for this dream to finally be on the way.

• Making money with my blog – DONE

Do not think I’m rich with the blog – in this article I talk about the blog’s statistics and acknowledgments. One of my goals for 2018 was to be able to cover the annual expenses of the blog. Thanks God and, to each one of you, this was possible in 2018. Thank you very much!

Goals for 2019:

Let’s talk about this next year. What do you think? Surprised to see that I only define 3 goals a year? What about you? How many do you define? And do you usually accomplish them?

Beijinho,

Daniela