How to set your goals and plan to achieve them
There are tons of books and articles on the topic of setting goals and achieving them, but what many people don’t realize is that goal setting can be boiled down to five easy steps that you can work through in five minutes. This article will walk you through these steps, which you can use again and again to set your goals and reach them in no time.
Why should I write down my goals?
A goal is not a dream with a deadline, but rather a dream with a map. Writing down your goals will not only make it easier for you to achieve what you want, but it will also give you peace of mind in knowing that no matter what happens in life, at least you tried. Although they are not concrete—and we are often unrealistic about how quickly we can reach our goals—once you have written down your ambitions, there’s nothing stopping you from working towards them. So if there’s something on your bucket list that has been in limbo since childhood or if there’s an opportunity knocking at your door, go ahead and write down exactly how close you are willing to get before deciding whether or not it's worth pursuing.
Write Down Your Goals
The first step in achieving any goal is to write it down. The physical act of writing down your goals helps reinforce their importance by imprinting them on your mind. It’s also an important way of stopping yourself from getting sidetracked on other tasks that aren’t as important. As we age, our ability to remember things diminishes—so it’s a good idea to have a written reminder of what you want. Keep a paper or digital list updated with your personal and professional goals, including long-term, short-term, and daily objectives. This will help keep you on track throughout each day, week, month and year.
Break Down The Biggest Goal Into Steps
The first step is always figuring out what you want. Create a list of everything you want, even if it’s unrealistic or unrelated. This list will help you figure out what really matters to you in life, which is an essential part of setting goals that matter. Once you have everything on paper, focus on breaking down your biggest goal into manageable steps. For example, writing a book might be overwhelming at first glance, but actually breaking it down into smaller chunks makes it seem more manageable. Decide when you want to write each chapter and what topics you’ll cover within each chapter.
List Other People Who Can Help You
When it comes to setting goals, many people only think about themselves. While that’s a good start, you can boost your chances of success by listing other people who can help you meet each goal. For example, if one of your goals is to attend an industry conference, list yourself as one person who can help make that happen. Then consider others: Is there someone in your network with an in at a company that sponsors these events? Someone who works at a nearby hotel or restaurant you could use for free? (Yes, both have happened.) You might also see if anyone else is interested in attending—and has skills or connections that would add value—and check out our Guide on how to ask for what you want .
Write Out What Tools You Will Need To Achieve The Goal And Where These Tools Can Be Found
Going after a goal is pointless if you don’t have what you need to accomplish it. This is why it’s so important to figure out exactly what tools are necessary for success. If you have any doubts or uncertainties, making a list will help clear them up. For example, if you want lose ten pounds in one month, you need a place where you can exercise at least three times per week (gym membership) and somewhere that sells healthy food (local supermarket). Chances are, there will be other tools involved as well—perhaps books on weight loss or free workout apps for your phone—so don’t stop at two items on your list; keep writing until everything is mapped out.
Make A Deadline For When You Have To Complete Each Step
It’s easy to lose motivation if you have a goal that’s way off in the distance. This can cause people who do start pursuing their goal to abandon it partway through. Instead, break each task down into actionable steps and give yourself deadlines for when you need to complete each one. One mistake is not giving yourself enough time: there are things you’ll want or need to do that will take more than a month, so don’t make your deadline something unrealistic like 10 days away! So, how long is enough time? It depends on what you need done—and how much of it you want/need help with—but setting aside 2-4 weeks should be plenty of time for most projects.