Goal-Setting Explained!

Goals give us a sense of meaning and purpose. It is what points us in the direction we want to go in life and gets us interested and engaged, which is good for our overall happiness. While most people naturally have the art of goal-setting, others find it challenging. The truth is, for you to be successful, you need to set goals, because without them, you’ll have no direction.

What is Goal-Setting?

Goal-setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. In other words, it involves the development of an action plan designed in order to motivate and guide a person or group toward a goal. Setting goals involves the intentional commitment of thought, emotion, and behavior towards achieving a desired future state different from the current state, spurring future actions.

Types Of Goals You Can Set

There are various types of goals that can help you focus on specific aspects of your life, such as:

Short-term goals: These are goals you set and achieve quickly, usually within a few days, weeks, or months. They can still be broken down further into yearly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, and daily goals. An example of this type of goal is when you decide to strive to walk 10,000 steps daily to increase physical activity.

Long-term goals: These types of goals usually take more than several months or years before they are accomplished. A perfect example is earning a new professional certification or pursuing a career in a new industry.

Personal goals: goals that have to do with you and you alone are classified as personal goals. These are goals that relate to an individual’s personal life, such as health, relationships, and hobbies. An example of this goal-setting type may be learning how to make effective decisions or practicing gratitude.

Professional goals: These are goals that relate to an individual’s career, such as job performance, promotions, and skill development.

Financial goals: These goals relate to a person’s finances, such as paying off debt, saving for a down payment on a house, or investing for retirement.

Academic goals: These are goals related to an individual’s education, such as learning a new skill, obtaining a degree, and improving grades.

Social goals: These are goals that relate to an individual’s social life, such as improving communication skills, making new friends, or attending social events.

How To Set Goals & Achieve Them

If you consider the following tips below, I can guarantee you that they will help you set goals and achieve them.

Set Goals That truly Motivate You

Try to imagine working day in and day out towards a goal that doesn’t excite you very much; it doesn’t sound much fun, does it? If something isn’t very important to you, chances are you’ll give up easily. When you think about setting a goal, take time to analyze why it’s so meaningful to you. If you’re not truly excited about it, then it’s probably not worth pursuing.

Make Them SMART Goals

There are many variations of what SMART stands for, but in essence, goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Smart goals work best because you can evaluate your progress objectively.

Put Goals Into writing

This physical act makes them tangible and real. They feel important. When you write your goals down, use the words “I will” instead of “I might” or “I would like to.” “I will” rings with power and intention. You’ve set yourself a mission, and you intend to accomplish it.

Establish an Action Plan

By writing out individual steps and crossing each one off as you complete them, you’ll realize the progress you’re making towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding or will take a long time to accomplish.

Stick with it!

Remember, goal-setting is an ongoing activity, not just a means to an end. Set reminders to keep yourself on track, and make time to review your goals regularly.

So, I really hope this article was very informative. You now understand what goal-setting is and why it is important, the types of goals there are, and some important tips to help you set goals and achieve them. Thank you for your time, and I’ll see you in the next one!