Sometimes when a person is attempting to reach a goal, it can be cumbersome trying to remain consistent. This is especially true when an individual is working on a target that cannot be accomplished in a short period. For instance, if a person set a goal to get up early 3 days a week to complete a homework assignment for college, he, or she might struggle with getting up but can remain consistent, because this task only requires one week to complete On the other hand, if the person sets a goal to quit smoking, then that individual may have a difficult time because aiming to reach this target requires consistency over an extended period. The best way to work towards these type of goals are to focus on baby steps. Not one singular action you take, can wipe out that goal in one move. But if you break down the goal and tell yourself, “for this month, I am going to pick one day a week that I am not going to engage in this habit that I am trying to break.” then you will see small progress every week that will ultimately lead to you getting closer to your goal. Baby steps ultimately lead to giant steps.

Joan Hampton, Licensed Professional Counselor