How to Set and Achieve Goals
Setting goals and working to achieve them makes sure that we are motivated, driven and do not waste any time in getting what we want out of life. Achieving goals is another matter altogether, and many people find achievement harder than setting the goals themselves. Learn how to do both by reading on.
Write Down Your Goals
Got a pen, paper and something to write on? Write down your goals in life. What are your dreams and aspirations? What problems would you like solved? Expressing your goals will help you remember, keep track and fully express how you would like your goals to be achieved.
List everything and be as specific with each goal as you can. If you want to save money, ask yourself how much money you want saved within a period of time. If you want to buy a house, you can be as specific to what kind of house in what neighborhood. Listing specific goals helps these goals become more tangible and more real, hence more doable. After listing them, try to prioritize your goals in numerical order. You can also add more notes to make your goals more specific. If you have a family, their needs should also factored in your goals; however, you can make a separate list for your family goals and try to harmonize the two lists later on.
Make sure that the goals you have listed are the goals you want, not just goals you think you should have.
Bite-Sized Pieces
Big, important goals may look daunting, but the trick to achieving big goals is to cut them down into manageable tasks. Be ready to make some sacrifices and take chances. For example, your goal is to become a published writer. You should first build up your skills by attending classes, workshops and honing your craft. Taking it one step at a time makes achieving your goals more manageable.
Be Realistic
Your goals should also be realistic and healthy. For example, losing ten pounds in two weeks in a crash diet may be possible, but not healthy. Similarly, keep away from schemes that are shady and probably illegal. You may want to have cash quick but for what in exchange? To achieve a goal, several paths are open to you; make sure you choose one that won’t jeopardize you in any way, whether it is your health or your clean record!
Being realistic is also knowing when to stop. You may want to become a famous singer, but you may not simply have the chops for it. Knowing when to give up on something entirely depends on you, but be warned that being obstinate and stubborn may limit you from other things that you can be great at.
Don’t Be Inflexible
Life is unpredictable, and even the best-laid plans do not go exactly as you expected them. No matter how specific you were in setting your goals, there are situations that may deter you from your planned route. What to do when this happens? Take a breather, recoup and review the situation. Choose an alternative method of obtaining your goal, and consider the pros and cons versus your original plan. If the alternative is acceptable, then pursue it. If not, you have the option of dropping the goal altogether, or wait for another opportunity to come your way.
Failure in achieving goals can also be viewed as an opportunity for setting new ones. Don’t tie yourself too closely to your goals, and be open to the new ones that may come along in the future.
Don’t Procrastinate
Your biggest enemy and obstacle in obtaining your goals is usually yourself. Laziness and procrastination can prevent you from pursuing your goals right here, right now. Putting off your tasks for tomorrow will invariably lead to you not doing your task at all. Keep in mind that “tomorrow” never comes, and before you know it, another year is over. Your tendency for procrastination is the reason why you’ve broken down your goals into simpler tasks or short-term goals to make your goals easier to pursue day by day.
Don’t Give Up
Goals pretty much embody where we want to be in the future, or what we want to do with our lives. Don’t let anyone or any situation tell you that you are not capable of achieving your goals. Consistency, determination and steadiness are key in achieving the things you’ve always wanted to do.