Successful goal setting

Lots of people are super confused about how to set goals and see them through – often to the extent that they give up altogether.

If this sounds familiar, there’s a ton you can do to switch things up.

If you’ve got absolutely no idea how to achieve what you want in life, it’s time to get clear on how to set goals and make them a reality.

Successful goal setting helps you get a whole heap closer to the life you want to have and your ideal version of yourself.

So let’s talk about what’s involved.

Don’t Be Super Ambitious

Trying to set and achieve too many goals at once can be overwhelming and ultimately, it’s a whole heap more likely to lead to failure.

Sticking to just one or two goals at a time is super smart. You’ll find it a ton easier to make progress and stay motivated.

Once you’ve ticked these off, you can start working towards any new goals that are still on the to-do list.

Set SMART Goals Every Time

If you’ve never heard of SMART goals, you’re missing out on a great way to set successful goals.

SMART goals are perfect for creating goals that work out. Whenever you set goals, try to make them tick these boxes: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Specific.

A) Get Specific

Getting super specific with the details of your goals is hugely important. Drill down into the details and talk targets.

Keeping things vague can make it harder to know when you’re making progress and that can have negative effects on motivation.

Highlight why you want to achieve your goal(s) and how you’ll go about it. Thinking about your why is hugely effective for keeping you on track.

B) Include Measurable Outcomes

Lack of progress is one of the big reasons why people give up on their goals.

You can avoid the potential for this by setting outcomes that are super easy to track.

C) Stay Attainable With Your Goals

Tempted to be super ambitious with your goals? Keeping them realistic and attainable may seem more boring but its hugely important.

Ideally, you want your goals to challenge you but not to the point they are hard or impossible to succeed at.

D) Keep Things Relevant

Your goals should also be hugely relevant to your life and what you’re trying to achieve.

A couple of things to think about here include:

• Whether it’s the right time to work towards a specific goal
• Does the goal align with your wider values?
• Does the goal feed into long term goals you have?

E) Give Yourself a Deadline

Nothing gets you more motivated to tick off a goal than a deadline. Knowing your back is against the wall (metaphorically, at least!) is super effective for taking your motivation to another level.

Make Your Goals Emotionally Charged

There’s another element to consider when you’re setting goals and this one is super important for giving them a purpose.

Forming a strong emotional connection with your goals is a hugely underrated secret weapon for successful goal setting.

If you want to lose weight, think about the effects on your health and the people around you. Being a whole heap more likely to see your children and grandchildren grow up is a lot more compelling than saying you want to lose 14 1bs, right?  Most people will have a ton more willpower to stick with it when there’s an emotional connection involved.

It helps build a mental picture you can hold onto whenever you need motivation. This is super effective for seeing goals through.

Visualise Your Goals

Visualisation can be hugely powerful for setting goals.

To get the effects, picture yourself after you’ve achieved your goal. Zone in on how you feel and what life is like. Go deep on this and focus in on even super small details.

Imagine yourself starring in a movie of your life, with the lead role set in the future after you’ve achieved your goal.

The more you do this visualisation, the stronger the effects. Doing it at least once a day can be super helpful for setting successful goals.

Write Down Your Goals

Writing down your goals is super powerful, not least because it brings your subconscious mind into play.

One study from the Dominican University in California found that you’re 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.

Reward Your Progress

Rewards are hugely effective for staying motivated. Most goals fail because they’re heavily based on willpower (which can quickly get depleted), but an effective rewards system can counteract this. The secret? Choose rewards that motivate you without taking away from your efforts.