We’re all for living in the moment. We’re also big on goal setting. How can that be? Aren’t they contradictory? NO! Living in the moment and setting goals for your future complement each other. You can work toward your goals while staying present. The most important thing is starting with clear goals, so that from there you can live each day in the present knowing you’re getting closer to achieving them.
One of the many reasons we’re big fans of goal setting is because it’s the best way to actually get things done. They make you feel more accountable, don’t you think? Goals can be short or long-term, created and achieved any time of the year, and they may require multiple steps, hard-work, and determination to succeed. This is why it is essential to set clear goals for your life.
You might be wondering…how do I live my life to the fullest? Setting clear goals is one of the first and most important steps to achieving whatever it is that you desire! Creating clear goals gives you a sense of direction, helps you see the bigger picture, and provides the motivation you need to keep going. It’s all about learning how to focus on what really matters. So with that being said, today we are sharing tips for how to set clear goals in life and ultimately achieve any goal you set your mind to!
How To Set Clear Goals In Life
First, decide what you want.
There are many different types of goals that you can set for yourself and your life. So first things first, you’ve got to decide what you want! Make a list of things you want to accomplish, experience, become, or learn. Set your intentions and visualize your future self. From there, you can set realistic life goals that move the needle closer to those things. You can set goals related to career or business. Or set personal goals like saving money, exercising more, or eating healthier. Din’t be afraid to set important goals that involve developing better relationships with the people around you. Even more, you can set both short-term goals and long-term goals as well.
Are you one of those people who has no idea what they want, but you know you need a change? We got you covered! For some inspiration about how to figure out what the heck you want from life, we recommend checking out these podcast episodes to help get you started: Romanticizing Your Life, Fitness Journey and Having the Courage to Change Your Mind About What You Want and Where You Want to Be from House Guest with Kenzie Elizabeth.
Set SMART Goals:
As you’re setting goals for yourself, you want to make sure that your goals are smart and realistically achievable. S.M.A.R.T is a well-known mnemonic device and goal setting theory that can help guide you through the creation of good quality goals. In this episode of the Dream Bigger Podcast with special guest Laura Davidson, you can find some great examples of SMART goals. Each letter of SMART stands for a different quality that your goal should have…a SMART goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
So let’s break this down real quick:
Specific:
Goals that are too general can quickly start to feel overwhelming and seem unachievable, so always make sure your goal is specific and detailed. So rather than the goal of “exercising more” shoot for something like “walk for 30 minutes twice per week, take a spin class once per week, and do weight training once per week.” Get SPECIFIC.
Measurable:
Making measurable goals is important because it is easier to set deadlines and track progress.
Attainable:
Of course, your goal should always be attainable. Wild and far fetched goals, while exciting, can be harder to achieve and lead to undue stress and disappointment. To hear more about attainable goal setting, check out: Maggie MacDonald – Alcohol, Personal Growth, Health and Wellness, Motivation for 2021 & Setting Goals from House Guest with Kenzie Elizabeth.
Relevant:
Be sure that your goals are worth-while and relevant to your life and overall state of mind.
Time-Bound (or Time-Based):
And last but not least, it’s important to make your goals time-based so that you can follow your progress and look forward to when you achieve life goals within a specific time frame.
Create a Plan of Action:
Now that you know what you want to achieve, it’s time to create a clear plan of action to reach your goal! Creating a detailed and measurable plan is key to ensuring your success and a great way to do this is by simply writing it down. Get your pen and notepad, write your goal, and then write out the steps it will take to get you there! As you write out your steps, be sure to keep the SMART principles in mind and create deadlines, schedule time to achieve tasks, and create milestones that can help you track your progress. This is effective goal setting!
You may also want to take some time to listen to some podcast episodes that detail how to plan and achieve your goals. Some episodes we recommend are Interview with NYT Best Selling Author Ryan Holiday Who Talks Stoicism, Courage, & How To Set Goals from Real Pod and this two-part episode from The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast: Part 1: Ed Mylett – Peak Performance, How To Achieve Your Goals, Vulnerability, & How To Recover During Tough Times followed up by Part 2: How To Achieve Your Goals, Enjoy Success, Strive For More, & Hold Yourself Accountable, All While Avoiding Burnout.
Track Your Progress:
As mentioned earlier, tracking your progress is super helpful as you set and achieve your goals. Setting deadlines and milestones can help keep you motivated, keep you on the right track, and steer you away from distractions and delays. Check out this episode of What We Said for some great tips on how to stay motivated and self discipline. They also explain why a routine can make all the difference when you’re figuring out how to shift your mindset and stay focused. There are many ways you can track your progress like making lists, utilizing calendars and phone reminders, or even downloading goal tracking apps like Strides or Way of Life. No matter how you choose to track your progress, just remember to make each step clear, concise, and achievable.
Celebrate!
Achieving goals is all about better yourself and learning how to fall in love with yourself and your life. As you achieve each milestone and eventually, your end goal, remember to give yourself some time to celebrate! Congrats – you did it! And now, you deserve a little stress-free, feel good break from all that hard work and determination. As well as celebrating, remember to take some time to reflect, give thanks, and spread the good vibes!
How to Set Clear Goals in Your Life
Setting and achieving goals can seem so much more daunting when your goals aren’t clear and concise. It is so easy to get discouraged and give up when your goals seem so far away and you’re dealing with uncertainty. This is why setting clear goals is key! Creating clear goals in your life can make achieving your goals easier and faster without all the hassle of unneeded stress and emotions. Setting clear goals is also a great opportunity to learn how and why to get out of your comfort zone and try something new!
There is no need to get overwhelmed…accomplishing goals can be a breeze if you simply take the time to make sure your goals are clear, SMART, and achievable! If you have any questions or thoughts you’d like to share, feel free to comment below! And as you work on setting clear goals, you can always feel free to come back and reference the goal setting tips in this blog to help get you back on track. Good luck – we know you can do it!