5 Steps to Setting Achievable Goals
There are certainly other ways to set goals, yet THESE 5 STEPS are what I use to help me to set achievable, meaningful goals. Download the PDF version here.
1. START SMALL – Considering where you want to be with this goal, where are you right now? Starting where you’re at right now will help you maintain a present-centered perspective rather than trying to achieve all the steps all at once.
What is one small action you can take today that will get you moving in the right direction?
What is the first step?
What can you do TODAY?
2. BE INTENTIONAL & SPECIFIC – What is it exactly that you want to do? When we outline our goals in terms of specific actions, it’s often easier to get started because you know exactly what it is you want to achieve, how you want to do it, and by when. (Think SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound)
What do you want to do?
How long do you want to do it for? How many times?
How will you do this?
When will you complete it by? How will you know you achieved it?
How many steps are there? What goals could I set for each step?
3. SHARE YOUR GOAL – Who supports you and wants you to succeed? Sharing our desires, goals, ambitions, and passions with the people closest to us does so many things: (1) people might get excited for you & encourage you, (2) sharing our goals shows us that this really matters and is important to us (a form of investing in ourselves!), (3) gives us a sense of accountability, (4) helps us to connect & inspire others who are working toward their goals.
Who are 5 people you could tell about your goal?
What kind of support could you ask for?
What kind of energy do you want to bring to the conversation about your goal?
What social media platforms could you post your goal to?
Where could you post a reminder about your goal? (at home, in the car, on your desk?)
4. KNOW THE VALUE – What makes this goal so important to you that you want to take action? Knowing the ‘why’ behind our goals can help us to persevere when it gets challenging. If it turns out that the goal has no value to you, perhaps it’s worth re-evaluating your goal and creating one that aligns with your values. [NOTE: setting goals to achieve feeling a certain way OR to avoid feeling a certain way is often quite disappointing since we have a very small amount of control over our feelings. Feelings are temporary states, so you might achieve your goal and feel the way you wanted for a little bit, yet you likely won’t feel that way for long since feelings come and go like the weather. Instead, focus your goal around the direction you want to take your life and/or the type of person you want to be.]
What matters to you about achieving this?
What kind of person do you want to be?
What impact will achieving this have on my life?
What will achieving this goal make possible for me?
5. ANTICIPATE BARRIERS – Stuff happens. Unexpected events can arise that make reaching our goals more challenging. It’s helpful to consider the obstacles to reaching this goal that means so much to you and then brainstorming ways you will overcome these challenges IF they arise.
What could get in the way of reaching my goal?
What will I do if I encounter barriers?
How can I still achieve this goal if these barriers come up?
How can I adjust my goal if something out of my control interferes?
RATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING THIS GOAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(1 = not committed at all) (10 = absolutely committed)
***If your commitment to the goal is less than an 8, you might consider modifying it to increase your commitment.
