Episode•January 31, 2023•11 min

How To Stick To Your Goals When You Don’t Feel Like It | Ep. 198

So you set some goals, but now you don't feel like following through? Don't let the feeling of being overwhelmed keep you from achieving your goals. Here are some tips to help you stay on track when you don't feel like it! Every Tuesday, Tiffany answers one of your submitted questions. To submit a question for an upcoming episode, visit here: https://www.moneytalkwitht.com/asktiffany Connect with Tiffany on Social Media Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Make goals visible and tangible
Use vision boards or place photos of your goal (e.g., a house photo on the fridge) to keep the target top-of-mind daily
Affirmations placed on mirrors, whiteboards, or phones reinforce commitment through repeated exposure
2
Public accountability increases follow-through
Share goals on social media, blogs, podcasts, or with family/friends to create external pressure to succeed
Tiffany started her blog in 2017 partly to hold herself accountable to being debt-free by 30
3
Connect daily actions to the bigger picture
Frame small goals as stepping stones (e.g., paying off one credit card contributes to overall financial freedom)
This connection mirrors corporate HR tactics that help employees feel part of something larger and stay engaged
4
Avoid self-sabotage through positive self-talk
Negative internal dialogue like "I missed one month, might as well skip next" can derail progress
When goals slip (Tiffany missed debt-free-by-30), adjust the timeline instead of quitting—move target to age 35
5
Revisit and tweak SMART goals when life changes
Unexpected emergencies require recalibrating deadlines while keeping the goal realistic
Even partial progress is valuable; celebrate accomplishments along the way

Intro

This Tiffany's Take episode concludes a four-part goal-setting series, offering practical tips for staying consistent when motivation fades.
Tiffany Grant is an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) and host of the Money Talk with Tiff podcast, where she provides financial coaching and answers listener questions every Tuesday.

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– Series Recap & Episode Purpose

Tiffany recaps the goal series: values alignment, SMART goals, organizing short- and long-term goals, and implementation into budgets. This final episode focuses on staying consistent when motivation dips.

– Vision Boards & Visual Cues

Place goal imagery where you'll see it daily (fridge, bathroom mirror) to keep targets concrete and emotionally salient.

– Public Accountability

Announcing goals publicly—via social media, blogging, or telling friends—creates external stakes that encourage follow-through.

That's the whole reason I started the blog... to hold me accountable to be debt free by 30.

– Affirmations & Environment Design

Scatter affirmations across office whiteboards, phones, mirrors, and refrigerators so positive reinforcement appears in the spaces where daily decisions happen.

– Connecting Goals to Larger Purpose

Link current actions to bigger outcomes (paying off one card → overall debt freedom) so motivation stays rooted in meaning rather than fleeting feelings.

– Watch Your Self-Talk

Negative narratives like "I'll never get a raise" become self-fulfilling; replace them with constructive reframes even after setbacks.

Watch your self-talk because your self-talk will get you in trouble sometimes.

– Adjusting Goals After Setbacks

When emergencies derail timelines, revisit SMART criteria and set a new realistic deadline instead of abandoning the goal entirely. Tiffany moved her debt-free target from 30 to 35 after missing it.

– Offer for Personalized Help

Tiffany invites listeners needing goal support to submit questions or book sessions via her website; she has helped over 50 clients with debt payoff, savings, and home-buying plans.