“There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” - W.E.B. Du Bois

As a busy mom, you're constantly juggling responsibilities such as rushing from one place to another, multitasking, and trying to keep everything in order. Some days feel so overwhelming that you just want to cry in the bathroom or car when you're alone. But deep down, you're also ambitious, striving to achieve your personal and professional goals.

The key to achieving your goals with a busy schedule is being realistic and giving yourself grace. You do not have the same life responsibilities as before having children; therefore, you need to work with your new reality. It takes time, perseverance, and commitment, but it is possible to reach your goals.

Here are 11 tips that have helped me achieve many goals throughout the years. I hope they can help you achieve your goals as well!

1. Reflect on your past goals.

Before writing down your new goals, take a moment to look back on the goals you set yourself in the past. Ask yourself:

• How many goals did I achieve?

• What obstacles did I encounter along the way?

• How could I have improved?

Reflecting on your past successes and setbacks provides invaluable insights into crafting more meaningful and achievable goals for the future.

2. Plan for success.

While I am a firm believer that you can do anything you set your mind to, I also recognize that being realistic and setting attainable goals is important. You must also acknowledge the constraints of time, resources, and circumstance. Ask yourself:

• What are my goals?

• What categories do my goals fall under (e.g., health, family, career, finance, or education)?

• What time frame will I set to accomplish the goals?

• What resources do I have available?

• When will I work on my goals?

• How will my plans affect my family life?

• Do I have support from my family?

By answering these questions honestly, you empower yourself to set realistic goals and prevent the burnout that many busy moms experience.

3. Write measurable goals.

After you have reflected on the latter questions, incorporate the SMART goals approach in your planning. By adopting the SMART goals approach, which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based, we lay a solid foundation for success. The SMART framework consists of:

• Specific – Write goals in a detailed manner including who, where, what, and when.

• Measurable – Write how you will measure your progress. Include quantifiable evidence such as percentages, degrees, or any number that allows you to track your progress.

• Attainable – Think of goals that are realistic to accomplish based on your time, resources, budget, knowledge, and skills.

• Relevant – Select goals that will give you the results wanted.

• Time-based – Establish a time frame or deadline of when your goals should be accomplished.

Write down your goals on a paper, Excel sheet, calendar, or any medium of preference. For additional information on how to write SMART goals, read How to write SMART goals by Guru. The article provides examples for each component of the SMART framework.

4. Set deadlines.

The next step is to set deadlines for each goal, ensuring they are both realistic and achievable. Allow yourself the flexibility to set target dates that accommodate your needs, giving yourself grace rather than pressure. Your life has changed, and with a busy schedule, the timeframe for achieving your goals may need to adjust accordingly.

5. Create a visual manifestation of your goals.

Consider creating a vision board, which is a tangible representation of your aspirations and goals. A vision board is a great way to display your goals in a creative and visual way. It is also a daily reminder of all the goals you want to achieve in life and the actions you need to complete daily/weekly to accomplish them.

Your vision board can focus on your personal or professional goals or a combination of both. My vision board is a combination of all my life goals (e.g., health, career, hobbies, self-care, and travel). It is exciting to see when you accomplish goals on your vision board. I encourage you to start envisioning your future using this great tool.

6. Take baby steps.

After you have clear goals, write what steps you will take to reach those goals. Taking small, consistent steps towards your goals cultivates resilience. Your goals will not appear impossible to reach if you start small and make progress.

Try to not overwhelm yourself by writing down too many goals in a short period of time because it will be unrealistic. Resist the temptation to compare your progress with others and instead focus on your unique journey and growth.

In a qualitative study with young individuals experiencing mental health challenges, the researchers reported that goal setting had a positive impact on participants, helping them feel better emotionally, become more productive, and find meaning and purpose in their lives. Participants indicated that setting realistic expectations, being self-efficient, taking small steps, and having a detailed action plan are key strategies to accomplish goals.

7. Track your progress.

Tracking your progress with digital apps or printable goal trackers is an effective way to stay accountable and increase self-awareness. It also empowers you to identify obstacles, celebrate milestones, and make necessary adjustments along the way. When you are not able to work on the goals established, write down the reasons why. These are considered factors that impede your progress towards your goal.

8. Be confident.

If you have a desire in your heart, you need to feel confident that you can reach your goals. You may fail at times, but that is part of a learning and growing process. It does not matter what goals you establish for yourself; the important thing is to cultivate confidence in your abilities and resilience in the face of challenges.

It is fine to be afraid of the unknown but avoid letting that fear control you. Draw inspiration from the people that inspire you, learning from their triumphs and setbacks. Ask yourself:

• What actions did they take that were beneficial to the accomplishment of their goals?

• What things were detrimental or had a negative impact?

9. Use social media wisely.

Social media allows us to connect with family members, friends, and people around the world. It is a valuable tool for finding resources and useful information on any topic. However, devoting too much time to social media can be detrimental to your goals for the following two reasons:

• Your time is spent on seeing what everyone is up to instead of working on your goals.

• You may develop feelings of self-doubt if you compare your life to others.

Social media can be a great tool if used correctly. I have a Facebook account specifically for connecting with family and friends. I use Instagram to follow accounts that provide useful information or resources that help me achieve my personal goals. I do not follow friends or accept friend requests on my Instagram account. Furthermore, I try to log out from Facebook and Instagram when I feel I am devoting too much time browsing the apps. When social media becomes addictive, it derails us from our priorities and goals.

10. Work on your plans quietly.

I’m a goal-getter, and my family and friends know it. I used to share my plans and aspirations with everyone, but over time, I realized that not everyone genuinely wants to see you succeed. I also understood that sharing our goals too soon can sometimes add unnecessary pressure to achieve them within a specific timeframe, one that might not be realistic when juggling a family and career.

If you want to share your plans, be sure it is with people who you trust and that always wants to see you succeed. These people are put into your life to lift you up when you feel defeated and celebrate your wins. Keep working quietly at your own pace but accomplishing small steps along the way.

11. Reward yourself for small wins.

When you start taking action on your goals, you'll see tasks getting completed, bringing you closer to your end goal. Reward yourself for small wins to maintain motivation and celebrate progress. Acknowledging these milestones helps reinforce positive habits, boosts your confidence, and keeps you eager on your journey toward achieving larger goals.

In the article, Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters, the author states that, “Celebrating each small step creates a sense of purpose as you navigate life’s challenges, whether big or small.” This perspective resonates deeply, especially for working mothers who juggle careers, family, and personal goals. Acknowledging small wins (e.g., completing a task at work, sticking to a short self-care routine, or tidying up the house), reinforces that every step forward matters. These moments of progress can provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment, even amid life’s ups and downs.

Final Thoughts

Achieving your goals as a busy mom may be challenging, but it’s possible. You deserve to pursue your dreams and work toward what brings you happiness. By setting realistic goals and timelines, you increase your chances of success while avoiding unnecessary stress.

What goals are you setting for yourself? Have you found strategies that help you stay on track?

Best wishes,

Mel