It’s human nature to want to feel progress in our lives. To achieve this we set goals for ourselves and to work towards them. The journey towards our goals might not always be easy, but having dreams is what keeps us motivated and engaged. Having goals helps us choose between the options presented to us daily (do I get up now or sleep in longer, will I eat a salad or a burger?). Having goals helps us make choices that move us along the path towards achieving our goals.
Aristotle was onto something when he said, “Well begun is half done.” This is especially true when it comes to setting and achieving goals. By investing effort when we establish our goals – to consider, and map, the path we need to follow – we are more likely to achieve success making us feel good about ourselves and our lives.
So, let’s take a closer look at how to set goals that will increase our chances of success.
1. Begin making a decision
Consider something you would like to achieve or work towards. It can be anything as long as you want to do it – it would be ideal if it’s something you’re passionate about or feels exciting. Make sure it’s something you want to do for yourself, not because of someone or something else. It could be a big thing or a small thing – often, it’s simpler to get started with something small. Additionally, it typically helps if the goal is slightly out of reach – this will help keep you motivated!
2. Write down your goals
Putting our intentions on paper improves our chances of really achieving them. Simply putting our aspirations on paper helps us visualise the steps we need to take to make them a reality. Include information like how you will recognise success and the desired completion date when outlining your objectives. Expressing something like, “I want to do some gardening,” isn’t as specific as saying, “I want to plant cauliflowers, radishes, and legumes in the empty patch in my garden by the end of May.” You’ll feel more in tune with your mission and be able to track your development more quickly.
3. Tell someone
Telling others about our goals makes them real and increases the likelihood that we will see them through to completion. None of us likes to say we gave up, and telling others keeps us motivated to succeed. Having people who support you also helps when the road gets tough, as they can provide support and encourage you to keep you going.
4. Break down your goal
With grand ambitions, it’s essential to have a plan of action with more manageable chunks that will get you closer to your end goal. Big dreams, such as “I want to be healthier,” can be challenging to achieve if they’re too vague and not well thought out. Breaking them down into smaller goals allows us to focus better on what we need to do.
For example, if your goal is to run around the park in 20 minutes without stopping, an excellent place to start would be by setting a goal to run for one minute without stopping. Write down your short-term objectives and give yourself a deadline to stay on track. Having a series of smaller goals makes the larger objective less daunting. Also, success is a habit like any other, so having small goals that you achieve regularly gets you into the habit of success. This also builds self-confidence, and helps us feel more accomplished.
5. Establish timeframes for the smaller goals
Setting timeframes can seem frightening as none of us want to fail. However, I encourage you to consider timeframes differently. Instead see them as an essential tool to motivate you to prioritise your time, ensuring you put in the effort needed to meet the dates you set for yourself.
6. Determine your next move
Moving forward, even just one step at a time is better than staying stagnant in the same spot. It can be helpful to think about what the first step looks like on your journey – even if you don’t plan on walking a thousand miles, thinking about that first step will help you to take action. If you’re unsure of where to begin, ask yourself “what action can I take today that will help me achieve my goal?” It doesn’t need to be a big thing as any movement is progress, and everything is better than standing still.
7. Determine your next move
It’s essential to keep going even when the going becomes tough on the path to our goals. If you find that a particular action isn’t yielding the desired results, attempt to devise another course of action that will still achieve progress, even if it’s only incremental.
Talk to people you know for advice if you’re at a loss for what to do. They could provide you with new perspectives. Success is more likely to happen if we are flexible in the actions we take to achieve our goals. If you’re stuck, stop for a while and read over your original plan. Making a course correction is expected as your knowledge grows the more you move along your path to success. With more knowledge comes greater understanding of your goal which may change the best way for you to achieve success. It is smart to keep focused on the outcome, and be flexible in the path you take to reach your destination.
8. Celebrate
When you succeed with each smaller goal, reward yourself and others who aided you. Enjoy the moment, reflect on the good times and the lessons you learned. Then commit to achieving the next goal on your journey and look forward to your next celebration – even decide what that will be if you wish!
Conclusion
Achieving personal goals is important. They build confidence and help us feel we have control and are progressing in our lives. As with everything, practice makes us better, so keep persisting even if you stumble. Unfortunately, life doesn’t reduce its demands to let you focus on an area, so you will need to be organised in your approach. But please see this as fun, a challenge to conquer!
What are you planning to do next, in terms of an objective or undertaking? If you have a goal but aren’t sure how to achieve it I encourage you to investigate our Setting Your Goals Workbook today.
Author Bio
Deborah Knight is the founder of Xsead Lead with a background in organisational and individual leadership and executive coaching.
As a coach, Deborah aims to create an inclusive and respectful space where individuals and organisations can do the work necessary for growth and change. She is also passionate about helping women be valued for themselves while also contributing and being successful.
Apart from her company which she is deeply passionate about, Deborah also loves bushwalking, reading, travelling, and learning new things.
For any coaching or organisational support enquiries Deborah can be contacted via email: info@xseedlead.com.au or via her company website which is www.xseedlead.com.au.
