Goal setting doesn't have to be hard. If you work through some goal-setting techniques, it can set you up for success. Often goals feel unachievable because they are too hard or too broad, but try taking five basic steps to make sure that you are achieving goals weekly, monthly and yearly.
Decide What You Want
The problem with many goals is that people are confused about what they want. First decide where your goals lie with life, health, fitness, career, spirituality and family. Then list two or three goals for each topic to give you balance.
Aim for SMART Goals
Failure rates for achieving goals are high because many goals are unattainable and unrealistic. Avoid this by taking the SMART approach:
Specific: Goals must specifically tell what is to be accomplished. They must be easily understood and unambiguous. Avoid broad statements by setting behavioral goals including time, dates, amounts and details. For example: I want to exercise three times a week. I want 30 minutes to be cardio, 20 minutes to be strength training, and 10 minutes of stretching for 12 consecutive weeks.
Measurable: Goals must be measurable so there is no question of attainment. Examples of measurement would be percent body fat, number of pounds or a specific event like a race.
Attainable: Goals must be attainable, but not too difficult or too easy to reach. Easy goals do not motivate and overly difficult ones my lead to frustration. Goals also don't necessarily have to be big. Keep things small and simple and suddenly goals will be achievable.
Relevant: Goals must be relevant and lead you to your particular interests, needs and abilities. An example would be increasing your cardiovascular endurance because your goal is a 5k race.
Time-bound: Goals must have deadlines for completion. In order for goals to be achievable, they must be broken down into steps. For example if you are at 30 percent body fat and your goal is to lose body fat, your long term goal would be to reach 20 percent in six months and your short-term goal is 27 percent in the next six weeks.
Be Positive and Stay Positive
Instead of saying, "I am not going to miss my exercise routine today," say "I'm really busy, so I'll just make time for 20 minutes on the treadmill." Stating your goal positively will help you view it as a good thing to do, and not as a byproduct of what you had to avoid.
Make It Visual
Writing your goals down confirms your willingness to make them happen. Then hang the list up to remind yourself daily of your direction and dedication. The Mayo Clinic recommends a written list of goals because it is an effective way to remind you of what you need to do and how to do it. Then once you're done, it's a good way to review your accomplishment.
Have Faith
The fear of failure is sometimes to blame for setting our goals too low or not achieving them. Don't let your fears and worries about not meeting your goals slow you down. Instead, believe in yourself and have faith in who you are and where you are going. Michael Angier, Founder of Success Networks, recommends rewarding yourself when your goals are achieved. As you achieve one goal, you can see better and believe more easily in the accomplishment of others.
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