Realistic goal setting examples for overwhelmed mums
As busy mums we juggle a lot, which means that sometimes finding time to work on our goals feels impossible, which is exactly why finding realistic goal setting examples is helpful.
Instead of trying to find the time and energy to achieve large scale goals, we can work on smaller, more easily achievable goals that will move us in the direction we crave.
In this article you’ll find some goal setting examples that are full of easy goals you can start working on today.
This article also discusses why realistic goals matter, how to set goals you can stick to, and how to stay motivated to achieve them.
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Why realistic goals matter
Realistic goals matter because:
- They work with your existing routines, time limits, and energy levels
- They build confidence, encouraging you to keep pursuing your goals
- They help reduce mental overwhelm
- They create long term change
How to set goals you can stick to
Here’s some ways you can set goals that you can stick to.
- Make your goals small enough that they’re easy to achieve
- Make them specific
- Use habit stacking where you attach your goal to something you already do
- Set goals you’re responsible for achieving
- Adjust your goals if they’re not working, remove goals you can’t achieve, or consider setting a word of the year for one word to drive your actions
Goal ideas
Here are some easy goals that you may like to set for yourself or your family.
Home organisation goals
Here are some goals to help you be more organised at home.
Do a 5 minute daily reset
Doing a reset of your home could include setting a timer for 5 minutes every night, so you can put bags, dishes, laundry, toys, and mail away.
Resets help keep clutter under control, and reduce the amount of time you spend doing larger cleans each week.
Declutter one small area per week
Decluttering your whole house at once isn’t just overwhelming, it’s unrealistic.
A more realistic goal when it comes to decluttering is to start with a small area, which can give you the motivation you need to declutter larger areas of your home.
Some smaller areas are:
- Cutlery drawer
- Junk drawer
- Kids’ sock basket
- Kitchen drawer
- Makeup bag
- One bathroom shelf
- One wardrobe shelf
Create one drop zone
Choose a spot in your home where you can store items you use on a daily basis, such as keys, backpacks, coats, and shoes.
This will mean you spend less time each morning searching for items you need.
Self-care goals
Some goal setting examples when it comes to taking care of your own needs include:
Go to bed 15 minutes earlier
Going to bed just 15 minutes earlier can help reduce burnout, and increase your energy levels for the next day.
Drink one extra glass of water daily
Drinking water boosts energy levels and helps you to feel more alert.
You can use a water bottle with time markings on it to help with this, which you can carry with you as you go about your day.
Take a 10 minute break each day
Choose a time of day when you’re by yourself, or when you have a quiet moment to sit down and de stress.
Spend 5 minutes outdoors each day
When it comes to easy goals, spending more time outdoors is a great goal to set.
This could include stepping out into your garden, breathing in a bit of fresh air, or just standing by your back door and stretching.
Write 3 things you’re grateful for each night
Writing 3 things you’re grateful for at the end of each day can help you feel more positive, and not get caught up in the chaos of mum life.
Your gratitude list can include even small things like being grateful for coffee, or being grateful for a little bit of downtime during the day.
You can write your gratitude list in a gratitude journal, or any notebook you already have.
Say no to one commitment a week
Saying yes to everything you’re asked to do leads to burnout, so a goal that you could set is to say no to at least one request each week.
A great way to say no is to ask yourself if you really want to do something, and if the answer isn’t a definite yes, then say no.
Family & routine goals
Setting family goals and routine goals helps your family function better. Here are some goal setting examples for this area of mum life.
Create a school morning routine
Having a school morning routine helps you and your kids wake up on time, get ready faster, and face the day head on.
You can do this by using a morning routine checklist, which can include things such as:
- Make the bed
- Get dressed
- Brush teeth
- Brush hair
- Pack school bags
Create a weekly meal plan
Creating a weekly meal plan means you don’t have to waste time thinking about what to cook each night.
If this is one of the easy goals you’d like to set, you can start by writing your meal plan in a meal planner, grocery list, or a notebook.
Cook one new meal a week
As part of your weekly meal plan you may decide to cook one new meal a week, which you can do by having a list of dinner recipe ideas handy.
Cooking new meals keeps family meal times interesting, and can expose family members to new ingredients.
Start a weekly planning routine
Another goal idea is to start a weekly planning routine, which allows you to focus your time and energy on things that are important.
Here are some things that you may like to include in your weekly planning routine:
- Checking the school calendar
- Filling in forms
- Laying out uniforms
- Prepping lunchboxes
Create a family command centre
If you struggle to keep track of school commitments, extra-curricular activities, appointments, birthdays, and everything else it takes to run a family, then setting up a family command centre is one of many goal ideas you may benefit from.
Some things you can include in your family command centre are:
- A bulletin board
- A family calendar
- A weekly planner
- Chore lists and charts
- Charging stations
- Bowl for coins and keys
Financial & life admin goals
Some financial and life admin goal setting examples include:
Do a 15 minute weekly budget check
Once a week take a look at your spending, bills, and upcoming expenses.
15 minutes is long enough to stay on top of your budget, but short enough to stick to this goal.
Sort one admin task per week
One of my most consuming tasks is life admin, it’s amazing how quickly small tasks can build up.
Tackling one admin task a week is a great way to keep on top of this part of mum life, and can include:
- Booking appointments
- Paying bills
- Renewing library books
- Returning or sending parcels
Personal goal ideas
Setting personal goals can mean scheduling self-care activities into your day, or setting goals that allow you to work towards anything you want to personally achieve.
Here are some personal goal ideas you may like to try:
Read 5 pages of a book each day
Reading is my number one self-care activity, and the personal goal I have for this area is to read before bed every night.
Setting a goal of reading 5 pages is achievable, even in a small amount of time.
Spend 10 minutes on a hobby
Hobbies are a great way to do something that’s just for you.
Some hobby ideas are:
- Baking (my favourite hobby)
- Drawing
- Pottery
- Puzzles
- Reading
- Swimming
Move your body for 3 times a week
You could set a goal to move your body 3 times a week, which could be anything from walking, yoga, running, or a free YouTube exercise class.
One of my favourite ways to move my body is to do free YouTube strength training classes at home.
Start a morning routine
Starting a morning routine is a great way to reduce stress and overwhelm in the mornings.
Some things you can add to your morning routine include:
- Writing a to do list with the top 3 things you want to accomplish
- Tackling some chores like making beds, getting school lunches ready, or unloading the dishwasher
- Doing some exercise
How to stay motivated
Here’s some ways to stay motivated to work on your goals, especially when time feels limited.
- Celebrate the small wins, every step towards achieving your goals matters
- Keep your goals somewhere you can see them
- Pick one or two goals to work on at a time, add more when you’re up for it
- Set reminders to work on your goals
- Change your goals, or remove goals if they’re no longer working for you
Realistic goal setting examples – a recap
Setting realistic goals is about setting goals that fit in with your busy life.
When the goals you set feel achievable, they create momentum, boost your confidence, and help you feel more in control of your days, instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.
Whether you start with a 5 minute reset, a weekly meal plan, or some self-care activities, remember that small steps add up.
Focus on setting goals that feel manageable right now, celebrate every small win, and allow your goals to evolve as your season of motherhood changes.
Most importantly, choose goals that support your wellbeing, your time, and your energy levels, because when you feel more organised, energised, and grounded, everything runs more smoothly.
If you could only focus on one goal, which one would it be?
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