When it comes to achieving your goals, one of the most important steps is setting meaningful goals. Instead of making vague resolutions like “eat healthier” or “spend less money,” choose specific behaviors that are aligned with your values, and you’ll be more likely to succeed.
Setting meaningful goals is something that can be difficult for many people to do. They may not know what kind of goals they want, or how to set them. Sometimes they are too afraid to even set goals because they don’t want to disappoint themselves if they don’t achieve them.
Look Beyond Business: What work/life balance do you want to have?
If you want to be motivated to achieve your goals, you must first dive into the reasons why. You need to ask yourself “why” so many times that it becomes ingrained in your mind. If you are struggling to find the “why,” try asking yourself these questions: Why do I want this? What will happen if I don’t have this goal? What would I look like if I achieved this goal?
Consider goals around family, community life, service, spirituality and fitness. Once you have found your “why,” then you can develop a plan of action. Think about what’s important to you.
What to Know About Different Types of Goals
Short-Term Goals: These include any type of goal that has a minimal time frame and is often used to help you stay motivated.
Lifestyle Goals: These are personal goals that typically require more effort or longer periods of time to accomplish. They represent changes in your lifestyle and may be related to hobby, fitness, culinary, etc.
Medium-Term Goals: This type of goal can take as long as six months to accomplish and is more about self-improvement. These goals might become the foundation for you to build upon and help you reach your life ambitions.
Long-Term Goals: This type of goal typically entails a change in your life like moving across the country, getting married or starting a new business.
Best Practices in Goal Setting
Setting meaningful goals is not just about the goal itself, but also the process that leads to it. For example, there are many benefits to setting incremental goals and celebrating your achievements along the way. The easiest way to set incremental goals is by doing a monthly review of your progress. You can also break down weekly or daily tasks into smaller, manageable ones that add up to the larger goal.
Get it Done!
Setting goals doesn’t have to feel like a chore! Let yourself dream. Imagine your best, most satisfying life. What do you do each day? What would your perfect day be like? What are you feeling? Who are you with? These are your inspirational goals.
Then, determine specific actions you can take that will lead you to these goals.
Lastly, follow your plan and enjoy the results!
(Photo Credit: Lee Miller, The Arch of Cabo San Lucas at Sunset)
