16 post-pandemic goals to create the life of your dreams

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all our lives, possibly forever. There have been many difficult challenges to face in business, and personally, there have also been positive lessons to learn.

For me, “lockdown” and extended time at home with the family was a reminder that the simple things, the fun of walking the dog, a bike ride to the park, home-cooked cookies and a family movie night, give meaning and happiness to my life.

For many business owners, balance and non-money goals are the true measures of success and happiness, so we’ve put together a list of some goals that could help you move the needle towards balance and the life of your dreams.

Business goals

1. Automate one task to save time

Saving time can be the best way to create the life of your dreams. Automating a task like quote follow up, or automatic invoicing for retainer customers, can help you to have more time to focus on other parts of your business and create the life you dream of.

2. Cut unnecessary expenses

Cutting unnecessary expenses isn’t just about saving money; it’s about saving you stress. Lower costs mean less pressure to earn. Can you reduce your software subscriptions? Do you need YouTube Premium, Spotify, Disney+ and Netflix? Is there a cheaper membership option?

3. Review your processes

Reviewing your processes can help you to highlight inefficiencies. Does your process have you walking from one side of your workshop and back again to complete a task? Do you have to Google the same thing every day, could you bookmark to save time? Many businesses find they save money and time by streamlining processes, even saving 1 min here and there can bank up to substantial time savings at the end of the month or year.

4. Outsource what you hate

Analyse what you enjoy and are best at and outsource what you hate. Outsourcing has considerable benefits in business, saving your time, sanity and your hourly rate (which is often a whole lot higher than what you are paying out). Outsourcing also allows you to do more of what you love and leave the rest up to the experts.

5. Go paperless to save time

Paper may seem like a necessary evil, but doing away with paper can help you save time (and money). There are a range of software options that can help you do away with paper, allowing for electronic signatures and quote acceptance. Think of the precious time you will save printing and scanning.

6. Do a SWOT analysis to understand where new opportunities lie

A SWOT analysis is a straightforward review where you look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to your business and market. With the changes brought about by COVID, a SWOT review may lead you to find a profitable new option.

7. Provide exceptional customer service

Providing exceptional customer service may sound like an unusual goal; however, satisfied customers are your best marketing tool. Great word of mouth can take a business to the next level. So go that extra mile, help a little more and provide real value to your existing clientele.

8. Find a new client in a new industry

The pandemic highlighted the impact of a single industry customer base. For businesses focused on weddings, conferences or even tourism, the pandemic will have long term impacts. To help build the business of your dreams, spend time understanding how your product or service could help a new customer in a new industry. This kind of diversification could help you create the business you have always dreamed of.

Lifestyle goals – Business goals are important, but so are lifestyle goals that protect your family, health, energy, mindset and stress levels.

9. Spend more time doing what I love

Why not spend more time doing what you love? Doing what you love can be great for your business because it can increase energy and improve your mindset. Schedule the time and make it happen.

10. Take a lunch break

It can be easy to think, “I’ll just work through lunch today” or “I’ll eat at my desk and get this done” but taking a lunch break can help you to refresh, refuel and be more efficient. Set a goal to take a lunch break today and then each day this week. The difference it makes may surprise you.

11. Take a holiday

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your business is to take a break. A holiday can help with your energy, mindset and stress levels. It doesn’t have to be a six-week adventure, why not start small with a long weekend. The difference it makes to both you and your business could be incredible.

12. Finish work by 6 pm every day this week

You know you want to eat dinner and be present with your family, why not make it a goal for the week. It could be precisely what you need to reset and enjoy your evenings.

13. Watch the kid’s soccer game/ musical performance/swimming lesson

Do you hate missing your children’s events? Setting a goal to be at one event a month can help you to create the life (and business of your dreams). Create a strategy to help make it happen and watch your stress wash away.

14. Spend 20 mins doing something for you!

A worthy goal for any business owner is to do something for you. It could be a workout, reading a book, gardening, drawing or chatting with a friend. Spending this time on yourself will help you to reset, destress and rejuvenate, filling you with new energy and ideas to help drive you towards your dream life and business.

15. Plan your week

Planning your week, including work, leisure, family time and even meals can be pivotal to success. I find that scheduling time for checking and responding to emails, as well as focus time helps me to ensure a balanced and productive week. Having time for lunch and kids activities is key to productivity and energy levels as well as overall happiness.

16. Get solid sleep

One of the hardest things for business owners is getting solid sleep to rest and rejuvenate for a new day or week. Why not add sleep to your goals? There are a heap of strategies online and professionals that can help you to achieve great sleep. With solid rest comes improved focus, energy and the clarity to think and create the life and business of your dreams.

It is important to remember that goals don’t have to be financial. Life and business are what you make them and implementing non-financial goals could just lead you on the road to personal and professional success you only ever dreamt of. Oh and start small, even small steps lead you in the right direction.

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Any advice in this blog is general in nature and is intended for information purposes only. For personalised advice please contact your accountant.