Goal setting tips -
Where do you want to be tomorrow?
These extra goal setting tips will help inspire you to get started today. Remember, self development is not about "getting
it right", it is about getting it done.
The goal of this page is to offer a selection of goal setting
tips that will help you to create a achievable and valuable
life goals.
When you have found some tips or suggestions on this site that meet your needs, I encourage you to put them into action
right where you are. What you will find on this page is a collection of great goal setting
tips gathered from the wisdom of many different contributors.
Doing something today, even if it is not "perfect", is better than doing nothing.
These tips have been tried over and over again and found to be valuable in
many different personal circumstances. They can all be used to help
with your self development.
The S.M.A.R.T. way to set goals is covered in detail here on the SMART
goal setting tips page. If you haven't yet read that page
it is worth a quick look.
The ideal goal issimple yet powerful. It may be a
short-term goal that is achievable in less than one day or it may take
many years.
When you are ready to create your goal, you may want
to download the
Goal Setting Template. Scan through these goal
setting tips pages to help you set yourself up for success.
Whatever the time-frame, goals big and small can act like sign-posts that help us successfully navigate through life.
10 Goal Setting Tips
1. Do something right now
The first and most important step is to decide that you will create
a goal AND do something about it right now.
You may not completely work out what your goal will be today, but
you can make a start. It may take some time to get
it just right, but the time you spend right now will be some of the
most valuable time you ever spend.
As a word of warning though - don't wait until your goal is 100% perfect. Delaying action until you have it "perfect" can use up time you could otherwise spend on making progress towards your goal.
2. Seek advice
When you are deciding on longer term goals, seek
the advice of family and trusted friends. They can be a great source
of wisdom and inspiration. Some can also be a distraction! If you
believe in God, ask Him for advice. You can, of course, go it alone
and there is nothing wrong with that, but keep in mind an old saying:
"The advice of many secures victory.".
We all see life from a slightly different viewpoint. It can be very
helpful in goal setting when our friends help us to see things we
didn't notice.
3. Prepare for change
There is a great video on YouTube called "Shift
Happens" <- Click on it and watch it if you have 10 minutes
to spare. It is a thought-provoking story about how certain things
in the world are changing.
Just like the world around us, we too need to change
but not just for the sake of it. There is good change and there is
bad change. Good change comes from careful planning with a healthy
set of goals for our lives. Bad change is often linked to
lack of planning and no goals.
By setting goals you can have more influence over
the change that influences your life and you are set up to enjoy a
more successful life.
4. Own the goal
Make the goal yours. Personalize it. Know how achieving the goal
will take you further along your journey in life and contribute to
your life purpose. Decide today to take ownership
of the rest of your life. What you plan now can and will affect the
rest of your life. Choose to make that time the best years
of your life.
Be sure to use "personal" statements when you are setting goals.
- In three months time I will be (...)
- I want to finish (...) by the end of summer.
- By the end of June I will have ...
5. Set the bar just a little higher each time
Not too high or you may become discouraged when it all seems too hard. Not too low either as without some challenge there is often not much change. Set the bar at a challenging height.
You might want to reduce your golf handicap. There is not point in aiming for a pro score by the end of the month when you are playing off a handicap of 19. Aim to reduce your handicap
consistenly by just one or two over the next few months. Then really think about what it feels like to be playing off 18 or 17.
When you achieve that goal, assess how it fits with your life purpose. If another reduction in your handicap is within
the scope of your journey through life, then adjust the bar and do it again.
Whatever is your goal, set yourself up for success along the way,
as well as success in the long term, by keeping the
bar at a challenging height.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out the SMART
Goal Setting tips page.
- return to top of Goal Setting Tips page -
6. Enjoy the journey
There are usually many paths that can be taken on any journey. When
you have a choice, choose the paths that you like the most. Do
those things that appeal to you and you will enjoy working
towards achieving your goal.
Self improvement is a life-long journey. There are many places along the way where you can spend some time and enjoy all that life has to offer.
Choose people you like to work with and who can help you along the
way. Build friendships with those you do not know
very well and deepen the friendships with those you already know.
There will often be one or two friends who can offer help with achieving
your goals. Do not hesitate to ask when you need help.
Getting help can be the difference between enjoying what you are doing,
and giving up out of frustration.
7. Keep on moving
In many areas of our lives there can be rough patches along the way.
You will need to push through when you get to these less desirable
parts of life. When you hit a rough patch, keep the goal in mind and
focus on completing this step. Maintain your momentum
and you will be through it sooner than you think.
Life is not a journey to be taken at high speed, rather a journey
of many steps, each of which provides an opportunity for growth,
happiness and a better life.
8. What is your intention?
Your thoughts form a powerful image of who you are and who you can
become. Be sure to keep your thoughts lined up with your goal.
Do you really want to achieve what it is that you are saying?
If you say that you want to build up your fitness levels in order
to compete in your region's annual marathon, yet you secretly hate
running, then your thoughts will be undermining your plan. It may
also help to read the R=Relevant section of SMART
Goal Setting tips page.
Work out what you are thinking, toss out what is working against
you and keep the rest. When you and your thoughts are on the same
page you will make progress. If you have a nagging
thought that seems to be more powerful than your desire to achieve
your goal then check it out. It might be a sub-conscious warning that
your goal is not aligned with your life purpose.
9. Pay it forward
As you experience success each step along the way
towards achieving your goal, help and encourage others
in their own journey through life. If they do not seem to work with
goals, suggest to them setting goals is a very beneficial
activity. Share with them your success stories. By building
up the lives of others you will help to increase your own growth and
development.
10. One step at a time
That one giant leap for mankind (making it to the moon) started out as many smaller steps by thousands of men and women - smaller and achievable steps along the way to an otherwise impossible leap.
If it all seems too much right now just remember that man first stepped onto the moon after many smaller steps were taken on the journey towards successful space travel.
Break your goals into smaller steps, one or more of
which can be started right now, written into your diary for first thing
tomorrow or woven into your daily routine. For example, there is little
use in having a one step goal that is "lose weight". You may
start out with that as your overall goal, but smaller steps
are needed to make progress achievable. Such as:
- decide on your goal weight
- make two charts - foods I want to consume more of and foods to be consumed less often
- find recipes that mostly use the foods on the "more" chart
- sort through the pantry and make a shopping list based on this information
- practice staying on track when shopping - if it is not on the list then it doesn't go in the shopping basket
- invite friends around to try out your new recipes and to encourage you
- find a new recipe every week or so to keep meals interesting
- read about healthy eating and living
- walk short distances instead of taking the car
- drink sufficient water
- and so on...
Use the example above for ideas on how to convert your goal into a
series of small steps. Initially, "lose weight"
seems like one giant leap. Once it becomes a series of smaller steps
it can be scheduled into your diary or built into your daily routine.
This will greatly improve your level of success with any goal.
All goals can be organized as a series of small steps which, when taken
in order, will be easier to implement/achieve and most assuredly move
you towards achieving your overall goal, much sooner.
Make your steps small and achievable and you can experience success every step of the way.
Just like it says near the top of this page, the goal of this page
is to offer goal setting tips that will help you to
create achievable and valuable life goals.
Your next move...
Your next move is to create your goal. If you haven't
already, read through the goal setting tips above. See also the
SMART Goal setting tips page. You might also want
to download the Goal
Setting Template to help you create your goal.
Additional resources
Make a point of reading some good self-help books. That link will take you to the resources page. On it you will find books, videos, CDs and other material that come highly recommended. You may see some items in more than one category. That is because some resources cover a range of topics and others are very specific.
Thanks for reading these goal setting tips. I know it is a long page
but I do think the effort is worth it. If you would like any help with
setting goals, or any other aspect of self development,
read about
online life coaching.
Where do you want to go now?
>> SMART goal setting tips. A smart way to make goals.
>> Goal setting template. A downloadable resource to put your goal in writing.
>> Self development resources. If you are still deciding whether or not there is any benefit in creating
a personal development plan, you may find it useful to browse through some available titles from the self development category.
Return from Goal Setting tips to the Personal Development Plan page.
|