By Sarah K. – It’s happened to so many of us. We try to set goals, but then we can’t think of any good ones. Or maybe we do set goals that we like, but then we forget about them or can’t find a way to complete them. This can be really frustrating, because great goals are actually really helpful. A well-planned set of targets can motivate you, keep you focused, and lead to some achievements you can be proud of. But a poorly-planned goal is just a source of disappointment.
It took a long time before I learned how make better goals for myself. And I didn’t just learn this on my own, I was given a lot of helpful tips from nice people. Sharing information is just so helpful, so I thought I would share a few things I’ve learned with you! So, here’s a quick list of my favourite tricks for setting great goals.
1. Make sure it’s goals you really want to achieve
Something I did wrong for a long time was turn passing ideas into goals. One day, I would suddenly think “I would love to learn a new language.” And then I would say “Ok, let’s see if I can learn Spanish this year.” But it wasn’t long before I lost my motivation. That wasn’t because I was lazy. It was because I actually didn’t really want to learn a new language, it was just a little idea I had one day. When you set a goal, make sure it’s something you really want. When I eventually decided I wanted to learn yoga, it was because I really wanted to achieve the health benefits of yoga. With that motivation, I was able to take a yoga course and stick with it!
2. Make it a progressive goal with rewards
Having a reward in sight is a great source of motivation, so try to set goals that can be achieved in pieces. If you want to lose weight, try to lose a certain amount per month. If you want to learn a language, try to master one grammar point every two weeks. Whenever you achieve that little part of your overall goal, give yourself a little reward. If no part is too big then every part will be achievable. And when you’ve completed them all, you’ve achieved your goal!
3. Keep your goal secret from everyone else
Did you know that if you announce your goals publicly you are much less likely to achieve them? This is a strange psychological trick your brain plays on you. When you announce your goals you often feel proud of yourself. That premature pride (you haven’t completed your goals yet) can actually lower your motivation. So when you are setting your goals, tell your close family at most, maybe just your partner or best friend. Then, keep it a secret!
4. Plan your time immediately
Part of setting a great goal is figuring out if you can fit it into your schedule. Before you say “Ok, this is my goal” make sure you can actually make time for it. Something I used to do a lot was think “I am going to do this” and then realise later that I definitely did not have the time for this. Time management is crucial here, so a short bit of time management training can really help you not only set great goals, but complete them as well.
I really hope you find this helpful. And if you know of anyone who might benefit from this info, do share the post with them!
