Many people at the end of a week feel that they have not been as productive as they would have liked, they can also feel guilty for not having practiced more sports or not having spent more time with the family. Perhaps you are also one of those many people who regret at the end of each week for the things they did and the things they wish they had done.

The problem can be a minor problem such as missing an appointment or involving a major problem that could cause you serious problems. Normally people regret in different areas of life such as: education, profession, the couple, raising children, personal improvement or leisure. The good news is that you can address the regrets you have at the end of each week, so you lose facing them and improving your quality of life.

Acknowledge your regrets

Your regret may be due to inaction or making the wrong decisions … but we all make mistakes, even a big one like compulsively quitting work and running out of income at the end of the month. Sometimes pride gets in the way and keeps people from admitting their regrets.

As you punish yourself for a mistake you made or if you get angry again for all the reasons why you should have known they wouldn’t be helpful … you need to take a few minutes to recognize that your regret can help you learn from your mistakes.

It is healthy to be sorry if you have hurt other people, because you want to make up for that mistake. You need to learn to label and name your emotions, recognize that your opportunities for growth are within you.

Identify your long-term goals

Without clear long-term goals, you will likely end up regretting it at the end of the week. Do you want to take better care of your health? Do you want to get a college degree? Do you want to raise your children differently?

Consider how you want your life to be 5, 10, and 20 years from now. Thinking ahead is key to creating the kind of life you want to live … with fewer regrets and more actions that lead to it.

Set weekly goals

Setting weekly goals will help you turn your ideas into action. You can ask yourself questions like, “What do I want in the next seven days so I have less regret at the end of the week?” Or “What can I do today to feel better during the day and also tomorrow and the rest of the days?”

Maybe you want to lose weight, exercise more or improve the skills of a hobby you have … Write down your weekly goals and you will increase the chances of being successful in that. Once you write it, you will metallize what you have to do, and you will do it! Write it down in a notebook, on a piece of paper from the fridge, on your mobile … wherever you want! But keep it written down.

You can also have daily goals

Identify one step you can take each day to get closer to your weekly goal. Your daily goals can include things like: “I am going to exercise for 20 minutes” or “I will be 15 minutes cleaning my closet.”

Make your goals a clear action in your life, they can be small steps or quite ambitious, but what matters is that you keep your expectations reasonable every day and that you are also able to carry them out.

Get ready to do things right

You have to be prepared for success because that will make you feel great when you meet your daily goals. If, for example, you want to exercise before work, pack your sports bag before going to sleep and leave your running shoes next to the bed.

If you want to write a book, schedule a time every day to write it and mark it on your calendar. If you are tempted to lie on the couch and watch TV instead of writing your book, set an alarm to start writing your book, and then just lie on the couch and watch TV. Preparing for success can increase your chances of reaching your goals.  A few strategic changes might be all it takes to increase your capacity for success.

Not everything always goes well

You must bear in mind that not everything always goes well … there are times when the objectives do not go as you want. Perhaps you are dieting and suddenly you have a time of anxiety and you can not do it as you would like or you simply forget it for a while so as not to overwhelm yourself. You may also take several weeks with much work and that you are taking time to spend with family.

Think about the problems that you must face each week and develop a plan to resist the temptation to do the wrong things, you can overcome those challenges. When you have a clear plan on what to do in the face of daily obstacles, you will be better equipped to reach all your goals, both weekly and daily.

Take responsibility

Responsibility is a key aspect of staying motivated and there are many different ways to take responsibility. It is important to find the strategies that will work best for you.

For example, marking each day that you go to the gym in a calecido can help you stay on track. You can also have an application on your mobile that allows you to see what your daily progress is and keep yourself motivated to continue doing things well.

There are people who discuss their goals with others so that it helps them to be more responsible for the things they want to achieve . You can discuss your goals with your close friends so that in this way you feel compelled to do them and not disappoint yourself.

How is progress going?

Reflecting on your progress is important, so you will need to think about this for a few minutes a day. Think about what you have done well and how you could do better tomorrow. Keep a journal because it is a way to track your progress and understand your emotions . Thus, at the end of each week, or once a month, read all the steps you have followed and the ones you have achieved. You will realize how hard work will help you have fewer regrets in your weeks … and you will achieve better success !

Don’t forget to celebrate your successes and if something doesn’t go well … look at those mistakes and how you could improve.