Many daily tasks are simple to do as they provide an immediate result–a full tummy, fun with friends or family, or a neatly organized home–but many of our long term goals can seem impossible. Many people want to give up on finding a better job, completing their novel, or finding extra cash to take a trip around Europe. Certainly, giving up will make life easier for you in the present, but could lead you to feeling worse in the future. 

The most important thing to learn is to never give up! You can make minor adjustments in your daily schedule to get you to where you want to be six months from now, a year from now, or even a decade from now!

1. Imagine yourself achieving a goal. Don’t just think about a general goal. Instead, picture you achieving that goal. Think about how wonderful you feel. Do you think it’s something you want to do everyday? If not, consider how you can improve and change your goal so it suits you. Now that you’ve done that, you’ll discover it’s more obtainable to you.

2. Learn from your mistakes. You may have had a bad teacher in the past who belittled you for your mistakes. It’s time to put these memories in the vault and consider how mistakes are actually a part of the learning process. Some experts believe that after your first major failure that you need to celebrate! Did you get turned down for that great job, or you received a rejection slip in the mail for your novel? It’s time to celebrate!

3. Learn one new thing a day. Obviously, our days are busy and full, so even learning one new thing is going to be advantageous. When working toward your goal you may have many questions. Try to narrow it down to one and ask it. Then search for that answer. 

4. Stay positive. Positive thoughts can draw positive things your way. There’s no point in wasting your energy on negative thoughts as that’s going to get you nowhere fast. But in order to stay positive, you need to search for positive thoughts. Consider your strengths or what you’re good at. If there are any people in life who inspire you, reach out to them. Perhaps you can meet for coffee or have an online chat.

5. Try different interests. Sometimes we can get stuck into the same routine. Not only are hobbies and interests good for mindfulness, that practice of keeping our mind focused and positive–but you’ll also be learning new skills that you just may be able to use as part of your future goals. If you’re not sure what may interest you, consider attending a craft fair, or seeing a play or film you wouldn’t normally see.

Remember to keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on negatives that hold you back. Think about one small question per day that you need to find an answer for and do it!