A Guide to Setting Goals
Do you make a new year’s resolution every year? How long do you stay committed to it? Do you recommit to it every year, promising yourself that you’ll ace it this time? If yes, then don’t worry; this is what happens to the majority of people!
Some people find it really difficult to set and stick to their goals. This is because they don’t know the real meaning of goal setting. People start taking casual, everyday self-improvement efforts as conscious goals; however, goal setting is a purposeful and explicit process. It starts with recognizing a new objective, followed by making a plan for achieving the objective, and then finally working on the plan. For instance, let’s say you set a goal of losing weight. What would you do? Just start running or exercising? No. First of all, you will calculate your present weight and BMI and specify a particular target that you want to achieve. Then, make a plan about how you can do this. Make a timetable for workouts and a diet plan. Start following it with sincere efforts. You’ll see the results coming soon.
Importance of goal setting
Setting goals gives you control over life and work. It gives you particular directions and provides you with focus. Your decisions and actions bring you closer to your goals, and a sense of achieving your target empowers you. You feel happy and motivated about life. Setting goals is like creating a vision about your life and work. All this is possible if you set effective and achievable goals.
Tips for setting goals
Many people don’t know how to set goals. They are unaware of the process of crafting their path towards their destination. This is why they fail at achieving them. Here are some quality tips that can help you in setting goals. So, let’s begin.
· Evaluate the efficacy of your goals
Before you set a goal, take a closer look at what you’re trying to achieve. Ask yourself if this is something you truly want to achieve. Is it worth your time and effort? Creating a long list of goals and planning to pursue them at the same time is a bit difficult and not really recommended. Prioritize your goals by their importance. What would you like to focus on first?
· Set SMART goals
SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-restricted. Make sure that the goals you make are reasonably SMART. Be specific in your choices and track your progress regularly. The more specific the goals, the higher are the chances of achieving them.
· Write your goals
Writing your goals makes them real and tangible. They are not in your head anymore. Try to write them down on colorful papers and paste them somewhere you will see them every day. Read them every day and evaluate your progress. Always remember that good things take time, so don’t lose hope and keep striving toward the goals. If you experience a setback, that’s okay! You can get right back on track!
· Set milestones
It is always better to divide your goals into milestones. Set proper deadlines to achieve the milestones and stick to them. Most goals cannot be achieved overnight and require time. A timeline can help you schedule things properly and motivate you to finish your goals in time.
Sources
https://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/the-ultimate-goal-setting-process-in-7-steps
Photo by Ronnie Overgoor, Unsplash