Goals In Sips Not Gulps

How to plan goals that sustain you instead of draining you

Photo credit to author somewhere in the state of Maine

Many people want it all.

The money.

The car.

The house.

The vacations.

The cottage.

The stuff.....

And even if we don't want 'everything,' many of us would at least like to have enough resources to do whatever we want when we want.

But the reality is that it takes time to get to where we want and we are impatient by nature.

So if we have all sorts of big dreams, what can we do today that makes us feel like we are heading towards our goals without feeling absolutely crushed by how unattainable it is? Or even worse, getting impatient and just blowing a bunch of money we get that gratification without the delay.

Yeah let's try and avoid that.

Let's look instead at a few things that can help you to reach your goals in the future while feeding your soul today.

1) Looking near and far

Yeah...this would be alright - Dolomites (Italy)

I would love to hike the Dolomites in Italy. Seeing pictures of those shark fin columns of black stone jutting into the sky, set against grassy plains and blue skies... heaven. But every time I try and envision what that would be like, I get slapped back to reality with the price tag. Yes hiking in the area of the mountains would be free, but getting there, accommodations, food, equipment for hiking etc....it is crushing. I will get there eventually, but that's not reality for me today. So what are some things I can do now which act as building blocks for my Dolomite adventure? And what can you do if you also have the travel bug.

Be a tourist in your own area

There is a good chance that you haven't deeply explored your city, town, province, state, or Country. So go the library or jump online and start figuring out what adventures you can do starting today.

Can't afford a hotel? Camp.

Can't afford that expensive resort? Try getting a seasonal job at the resort, make some money and check out the amenities in your down time.

Can't afford to do much of anything right now? Get library books and read about the adventures you will take. Hey, planning is half the fun! By the time you can go, you will have your whole itinerary planned.

Never forget:

Right now while you dream about going somewhere else, someone somewhere else is dreaming of being where you are.

So don't ignore all of the amazing things around you. I'll bet there are some pretty great things to do and see right where you are.

Planning local and reasonably priced little adventures for yourself can really help defeat the feeling of lack that comes from being temporarily unable to do exactly what you want.

2) Stop the Comparison Trap

Stop the insanity

If you are really serious about your goals, then stop looking at social media and comparing yourself to others.

Spoiler alert: Most of what is on socials is fake

In order to reach your goals, you have to be very patient and kind to yourself. Getting into some shame spiral about the fact that 'everyone' your age is flying first class and staying at all sorts of exotic locations while you are still struggling is a recipe for disaster.

So how do you deal with it?

Stop looking at it. Challenge yourself to nap or snooze the accounts that seem to upset you the most, and just go about your daily business of self-improvement. We don't always recognize when things trigger us, and it is that lack of understanding that causes us to book that vacation we can't afford just to feel less looser-ey in comparison to the other people on socials.

You would not keep foods in your home that could sabotage your diet, so why would you watch videos and socials which undermine your self worth and your focus on your goals?

So stop the scroll and read a book, go for a walk or make a real life connection which may help you craft the life you want.

3) Treat yourself

Photo Credit To Markus Loke on Unsplash

There is a bakery I know that makes a custard croissant which could only have been crafted by small angels. I don't get to have it very often, but when I am in the area and there happens to be a batch available, I get one. They aren't super cheap, and I'm sure they have absolutely no nutritional advantages, but so what? I like them, and it's a treat.

You can't live a life without any kind of indulgence in order to reach your goals more quickly. That's not living. Yes cutting out your morning coffee at the fancy shop may get you to your financial goals slightly quicker, but here is my question:

If the goal is to live the life you want, how is the absence of doing anything you want in order to reach that goal helpful?

If you cut out all indulgences in your life to lose weight, you will inevitably create a scarcity mindset for yourself and fail.

If you tell yourself you can never do anything fun until you are out of debt, you will eventually feel like the effort is not worth it and fail.

If you decide to start exercising and overdo it, you will eventually get injured and fail.

Its ok for things to take time and for you to do things in moderation. The whole point of this journey is to enjoy the whole process and not just get hyper focused on the finish line.

In the end, the trick is to take little sips of the things you would like more of as you work on your goals, not big gulps. A little travel, a little fun, small daily changes and steady progress.

Remember, even vitamins become toxic when you take too much, so don't try to do too much too soon.

Be grateful for what you are able to do today, and look forward to a future where your options will be limited only by your imagination.

Maybe you can't have it all today, but you can have lots of little nibbles to sustain you along the way.

© Intentionally Unfocused 2025