13. TIPS FOR MINI-GOALS
It has been stated several times throughout the book that your revamped lifestyle should be one that, overall, brings you satisfaction and fulfilment. This is most important if your general levels of happiness and peace of mind are to be established and maintained. The point has also been made that there needs to be a careful balance in your choice of lifestyle activities so that your home, career, personal development and other needs are provided for.
However, there is sometimes the danger that even a carefully constructed lifestyle package can end up being somewhat tedious and perhaps even boring. This is because most of us tend to place a heavy emphasis on those life areas relating to earning a living and maintaining a home and family: and place far less emphasis on relationships, personal development and having fun and laughter in our lives. However, if we ignore the latter areas or do not provide for them adequately we run the risk of ending up with a lifestyle experience which can leave us less than happy.
This short section of the book has been included to try and offset this possible difficulty. It highlights a large number of important non-career activities, all of which are broadly related to the concept of personal development. Most people would agree that some of these activities should be included in any well-balanced lifestyle.
It is suggested that you look through the lists below and check out that some of these activities, or similar activities, are planned for and included in your new lifestyle blueprint. If not, consider including some of these mini-goals insofar as time and opportunity permit.
Some of the activities can also be used as rewards within the Phoenix Self-Help Life Plan program: for example, when you complete a week of the program and all your targets have been met as planned on your Program Monitoring Sheet.
The activities are loosely grouped into the following categories:
If you don’t find activities which appeal in these groups, it is likely that the lists will prompt you to create another activity which will better suit your life situation.
[See lists on next page]
Activities with others
Learning a new skill
Your relationships
Improving your health
Keeping yourself happy
One-off activities to make you feel good
If you managed to find some activities from the above lists which sparked your interest and enthusiasm, that’s great! But don’t just dwell on the idea of building it into your lifestyle in the future – when you find the time. If you do, it might never happen. Instead, take steps this week to set up arrangements which will make it happen!
EXERCISE
If necessary, review your blueprint for your plans for an improved lifestyle to take you from where you are now to where you want to be. If it is helpful, talk your ideas through with your buddy within the Phoenix Plan and come up with a final edition of how your lifestyle format is going to be.
Again, make sure that you have made adequate provision for relaxation, family and leisure time and free time for yourself.
If you are still working through the Phoenix Plan check your goals again and make any amendments which you feel are called for. If you have already finished with your first round of the Plan, consider setting up a second round with new goals.