Having trouble completing your goals? You’re not alone. We often tend to set big, broad goals that we can’t really achieve. And that’s not motivating, right? The good news is that there is an easy process to follow to break that cycle! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to become excellent at setting goals that you will reach.
1. Think about the results
Before you set a goal, you need to be sure it is something you really want and that it’s important enough to put a lot of time and effort into. So, pick out a few essential goals that you want to achieve this year, and just focus on those.
2. Set S.M.A.R.T goals
Have you decided what you want? Great! The next step is to ensure your goals meets the S.M.A.R.T criteria:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
A goal that meets the criteria could be as follows:
“I want to be able to run 10km by April 1st.”
Your goal needs to be specific for you to be able to track your progress – the more specific you can be, the bigger the chance you’ll complete your goal.
3. Write it down
Write your goals down and keep them somewhere visible, for example on your mirror or computer screen. By doing this your goals are easy to access and always top of mind.
4. Create an action plan
How will you achieve your goals? Create an action plan that contains the all the steps you need to take to get there.
An extra tip! Don’t be afraid to get creative with your action plan. Bring out crayons, stickers and glitter and start putting it together. This will activate a different part of your brain and cement the goals in your mind.
5. Set a timeline
In you action plan you should also include a timeline with deadlines. Once you’ve set those dates, try to stick to them as much as possible. It will motivate you to complete your goal!
6. Take action and evaluate your progress
Once everything is planned out, it’s time to take action! Evaluate your progress as you go along to make sure you stay on track. You can do it!
