Clarity counseling & Wellness journal
Download our free journal with the reflection questions to help guide you through your thoughts. This journal can be printed or filled out digitally.
goal setting and gentle accountability
We are moving towards the final quarter of the year and it feels like a good time to think about any goals you may like to accomplish in the coming months. If you break the year into quarters, you may be starting to think about what you would like the final quarter of 2024 to look like for you. Maybe you are hoping to get clear on professional goals, financial goals, health goals, relationship goals or even your mental/emotional health goals in the next few months or beyond. Goal setting can be a really exciting and motivating practice. It can feel good to get clear about what you are hoping to accomplish and the plan for how to get you there. Intentionality can also go a really long way towards making progress on the things you have on your mind instead of just letting them to stay in your head unaddressed.
However, as anyone who has ever set a goal most likely knows, accountability is key to progress. Most of us set out with good intentions to set a plan and get things done but do need some way of helping us continue to show up at the times when it feels a little (or a lot) harder. Some people have accountability partners or groups. Involving others for encouragement, and to vent when it gets hard, is a great way to have accountability. Others can give ideas if you are feeling stuck and encouragement when you may want to give up. In addition to involving others, I also recommend having a way to keep yourself accountable between check-ins with your partner or group. I find that taking a bit of reflection time helps to maintain focus and clarity around each step toward the end goal.
With that in mind, I’ve created some gentle accountability journal prompts that may be helpful for reflection. The prompts can be used for whatever time period you find useful as noted at the start of each prompt. You do not have to use each time frame presented. You can choose the one you would like to consider at the time you decide to journal. This is a journaling exercise that you can write out for yourself as often as you find useful. The prompts account for four things: the work you have already done, all of the things on your mind, what your priorities are, and a small consideration for slower or harder times.
One last note, it is important to note the “gentle” aspect of the prompts. It can be tempting when goal setting to create lofty and ambitious goals. While there is nothing wrong with that, we can sometimes overwhelm ourselves which often inadvertently hinders success, instead of building it. The prompts are meant to help provide clarity and accountability while also pacing ourselves along the way. Good luck on your goal setting journey! You got this.
Gentle Accountability Journal Prompts Choose just one time frame that feels most relevant to consider for each prompt.
Prompt 1:
What was I able to accomplish __today __yesterday __in the past week or __in the past month?
Reflection and credit for the things you have already worked on is important.
Prompt 2:
List of my tasks to be completed __ today__tomorrow __in the next week or __in the next month.
Feel free to take up as much space as you need for what’s on your mind/to-do list here.
Prompt 3:
If I modify the list, what are the top __three __ five or __ten tasks that take priority?
Now, pare it back. It isn’t realistic to do it all but what are a few things that take priority?
Prompt 4:
For the upcoming __day __week or __month, if nothing else, what one task do I want to complete?
If it’s a harder day/week/month, no problem. You’ve identified one main goal and you can focus there for now, if needed.
