Why do we need to set personal goals? Setting personal goals helps trigger new behaviors and keep you engaged in achieving them. Nowadays, the word “goals” is misused such that it has become challenging to know which goals you should set. Many people nowadays feel disconnected from the world and consistently work hard, but in the end, they are stuck in the same place with no progress. This results from not having goals and failing to understand where they want in life. Below are top tips on how to set and achieve your personal goals.
Always write down your personal goals in your journal.
If you have never had a journal book, it is time you got one. Avoid setting your goals verbally, and always clearly write them down. Set precise goals and have a set time, dates, and amounts to measure the achievement. Writing down your personal goals will give you clarity about what you want to achieve and a sense of accountability for yourself. Research has shown that people who write down their personal goals have a 42{d2597cb026819e7ac0781244a63955ad958802f85a54728389c42ffeea78f471} higher probability of achieving them than those who do not.
Be specific and direct to the point on what you want to achieve.
Avoid being vague with your goals. Give each goal a clear label, such as academic, financial, long-term, professional, or social goals. For instance, you want to lose. Be clear on how many pounds you want to lose by which time of the year. Maybe you want to dispose of your old cooker and buy a new one. Expressly state the type, brand, and amount of money the new cooker will cost. Before disposing of your electronics like the cooker, always ensure you follow the WEEE directive on disposal of electrical appliances.
Set goals you can control
People are advised to aim higher, but at the same time, do not aim for goals that you can’t control. You should be in control of whether you achieve or fail to achieve your goals. Avoid setting goals that are reliant on external factors you have no control over and are dependent on other people. Set realistic goals. Unrealistic goals will make you uninterested and demotivated to achieve them as they are way above your reach. Assess your current situation and consider the time and effort you can realistically allocate to a goal.
Review your goals regularly.
Set time once a week to review your goals and keep track of your progress. Consistently reviewing your goals will create a cycle of continuous improvement, allowing you to learn from your experience and refine your strategies. Your current approach may not be practical or yield the expected results. Reviewing your goals will also help you avoid procrastination, which is a significant barrier to achieving goals, by creating a sense of accountability. You can also identify any expected challenges you may face in the future. Accepting these challenges allows you to brainstorm and implement solutions to prevent major setbacks.
Always ensure that you set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. SMART goals set you up for tremendous success and achieving goals that will positively impact your life; hence, each goal should have these five aspects.