Take Time To Focus On Self-Improvement Goals For August
As we enter the final stretch of the summer season, it’s time to focus on your August goals.
Like other monthly goals and goal-setting initiatives, setting objectives that are important to you is essential. But, on the other hand, think about digging deep and accomplishing something you have been putting off for a while.
Thus, it’s time to put last month’s July goals behind us and dive right into today’s good examples of August goals to set.
August Goal Ideas To Wrap Up Summer On A High Note
Take advantage of the new month with new goals for August. Thus, here are some monthly goal ideas for your consideration:
- Complete a 30-day challenge
- Complete your back-to-school shopping
- Clean out the basement
- Discard summer clothes you didn’t wear
- Complete a home improvement project
- Disconnect from work one day a week
- Enjoy summer evenings on the patio
- Listen to enjoyable music
- Forgive someone
- Focus on needs, not wants
Next, let’s discuss the ten items on today’s list of August goals. And before you leave, be sure to check out this article about 15 tips for effective monthly goal setting.
Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
1. Complete A 30-Day Challenge
Any time is suitable for a 30-day challenge, a short-term goal you commit to completing in 1 month.
Here are some possibilities for your August 30-day challenge:
- Walk one mile every day
- Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- Read for one hour every day
- Save $50 per week
- Go on three dates with your partner
The key is to focus on small, achievable goals that can easily incorporate into your daily routine.
2. Complete Your Back-To-School Shopping
For anyone with kids, you know what time is fast approaching. That’s right, back-to-school time.
One of this month’s goals is to be proactive and get your back-to-school shopping done in advance and at a reasonable cost.
Here are a few suggestions to make this year’s shopping for school items go smoothly:
- Make a list of everything your kids need
- Start early
- Research items online
- Comparison shop
- Buy used
- Check things off your list after purchasing
More reading: Examples of goals for every month
3. Clean Out The Basement
Next, choose one area of your home each month and target it for decluttering. For me, August is my go-to month for cleaning out the basement.
Keep your basement from becoming a dumping ground for stuff you can and should eliminate.
First, choose a day or two when it will be too hot to be outside. Second, go through each area in your basement. As you go, identify anything that should be:
- Trashed
- Sold
- Given away
I recommend using the “one-year rule.”
Simply put, the one-year rule states that anything not touched in a year should go. Or, have a good reason for keeping it.
More reading: 50 Personal Goals That Are Tough To Beat
4. Discard Summer Clothes You Didn’t Wear
Next, as long as you are decluttering, look hard at your summer clothes. Can you identify anything you didn’t wear this summer?
Well, I’m sure you can.
Once you do, make the hard call on the summer clothes you did not wear. Specifically,
- Give to charity
- Sell for extra cash
- Toss in garbage
5. Complete A Home Improvement Project
Set the last two good goals for the month of August; then, you will have a decluttered basement and a freshly optimized clothes closet.
So, how about taking things one step further and checking a home improvement project off your list?
First, if you have something you have been putting off, make it a goal to get it done. Furthermore, August is a great month to prepare your home’s exterior for the fall and winter.
Several intelligent home improvement and maintenance projects for August include the following:
- Power wash exterior siding
- Paint wood surfaces
- Complete fence repairs
- Remove deadwood from trees and shrubs
- Rejuvenate hardwood floors
- Deep clean carpets
Okay. Up to this point, I have had you working hard on your monthly objectives. Next, let’s move on to some lighter ideas to make the month of August a little more enjoyable.
6. Disconnect From Work One Day A Week
August is a popular month for summer vacations. If you have upcoming vacation plans, I hope you can relax and have a great time away from work and the pressure of everyday activities. Doing so should be one of your priorities for the month.
Furthermore, whether or not you are taking a vacation, choose one day a week and disconnect from your workplace.
You know what I mean. With 24/7 connectivity at the tips of our fingers, it’s easy to get sucked into work activities every day of the week.
7. Enjoy Summer Evenings On The Patio
One of my favorite parts of summer is the evening hours after dinner and before sunset. It’s when the day’s heat starts to subside, and the world seems to slow down and get a little softer around the edges.
So, take some time to enjoy your deck or patio. Relax with family or reflect on your own. Feel the warmth of summer in your body and listen to the sounds of nature around you.
Or, speaking of sounds, get your groove on.
8. Listen To Enjoyable Music
One thing that puts me in a pleasant mood is good music. Furthermore, music is a great way to relax, destress and unwind after a busy day.
So, as part of your top priorities for this month, play your favorite streaming service. Or, grab one of your favorite discs and fire up your stereo that’s been gathering dust in the family room.
Next, turn inward. How about you and I try to be better and more successful people as we work through the month?
First, here’s a MasterClass I recommend. The course is perfect for all of you high achievers in the audience!
How to Develop a Winning Mindset
And to put that winning mindset to the task, consider setting the following two goals for August. They are numbers 9 and 10 on today’s list.
9. Forgive Someone
This August goal is crucial to me.
Why? Because over the last month or two, I’ve had to deal with someone that gets on my nerves in a big way.
So, I need to forgive them for being who they are. Because when we let people get under our skin, we give them power over us.
Here are some of the best ways to deal with people who have done you wrong or have rubbed you the wrong way.
“If selfish people try to take advantage of you, cross them off your list, but never try to compete or get even.”
“To be wronged or robbed,” said Confucius, “is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
“No one can humiliate or disturb you and me unless we let them.”
“Take no time to quarrel or regret; let no one force us to stoop so low as to dislike them.”
Source: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
10. Focus On Needs, Not Wants
Lastly, to be the best you can be this month, focus on your needs, not your wants, and be grateful for what you have.
Prioritize necessities, be mindful of only what you need to thrive, and seek to lead a simpler life. As a result, you may experience the benefits of reduced stress and a greater love for simpler things.
Okay. That’s my ten suggested August monthly goals examples. How about I offer a few final words of wisdom before signing off?
Furthermore, before you read on and depart, please save this image to Pinterest so you can return to the site later.
Setting Goals For August
I like to seek balance in my life. So, as I look back over today’s August goals, I see a mix of goal types that include the following:
- Self
- Others
- Home
- Work
- Recreation
You can seek balance like me by setting goals across these categories. Or, you can choose one or two areas and focus your efforts on those for the month. Either way, take care of August and prepare to set goals in September.
Goals For Each Month
As you look out long term, you may also like to have plenty of ideas for monthly goals to support whatever it is you are trying to achieve.
To assist, here are ten goals for all the other months of the year.
Good luck with your August goal-setting. Before you go, you might enjoy checking out more of my:
Goal Ideas and Goal Setting Articles
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.