Author:
Frank Hunt
Date Of Creation:
12 March 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
“What am I doing with my life? What do I want? Which direction am I going? ” These are common questions people ask themselves. Usually these types of foresighted thoughts start the process of creating and writing goals. While some people will stop at vague or general responses to these types of questions, others will use such a series of questions to set definable, actionable goals. Taking the time to write clearly defined goals makes it more likely that you will achieve them. And goal achievement has a correlation with happiness and well-being.
To step
Method 1 of 2: Define your goals
Define what you want. If you have a general idea of what you want or would like to achieve, it can be tempting to just start working towards it. But if you don't have clearly defined goals, you may be working or drifting towards a vague goal, or a goal that has changed. Defining a goal can prevent you from wasting time or energy. It can even motivate you to achieve your goals. - For example, an employee may not feel like starting a vague assignment for which there are no clear structure or guidelines. But employees are more motivated to work when they receive clear goals and feedback.
- Examples of vague or general goals include, "I want to be happy," "I want to be successful," and "I want to be a good person."
Be specific when defining terms. This is important to understand what you are really trying to achieve. Define any general or vague terms. For example, if you state that you want to be successful, you have to define what success means to you. While it may mean making a lot of money for some people, others may think it means raising healthy, confident children. - By defining general terms and goals, you help to see yourself as the person or quality that you define. For example, if you see success in the sense of professional success, then you can set goals to get professional training and start a career.
Think about whether you really want this. It's normal to think you want something without really wondering why you want it. However, sometimes you may decide that those goals don't really match the dreams and desires in your life. A good example of this comes from social perception and ideas. Many kids will say they want to become doctors or firefighters when they grow up, not really understanding what it means, or later discovering that those goals have changed. - Ask yourself if your goals have been influenced by people around you, such as the expectations of parents or partners, or by social pressure from peers or the media.
- Your goal should be something like that you want to do for you, not for anyone else.
Think about your motives. Are you trying to achieve or do something to prove something? While the “right” reasons may be different for everyone, you should ask yourself if your goals are right for you. If not, you may feel dissatisfied or burned out. - For example, if you want to become a doctor, is it because you want to help people or because they make a lot of money? If your motive isn't right for you, it may be harder for you to achieve the goal or feel fulfilled when you succeed.
Make realistic goals. It's easy to get carried away when you think about goals. However, there are things that may be beyond your control. Depending on what goals you set, this can become a problem. Your goals must be realistic and achievable. - For example, someone may want to be the greatest basketball player ever, but factors such as age and height can be limited and cannot be influenced by you. Setting goals that aren't achievable to begin with can leave you feeling disappointed and unmotivated.
Method 2 of 2: Write down your goals
Imagine your options. Spend 15 minutes informally jotting down your visions, goals, and dreams. Don't worry about writing down clearly defined goals or putting things in order. Just make sure these goals and dreams match your identity and values. If you get stuck, try free writing exercises. You could describe: - The ideal future
- Qualities you admire in others
- Things you could do better
- Things you want to learn more about
- Habits you want to improve
Break your goals into specific steps. Once you have found your dreams and ideals, choose a few specific goals that can help you achieve them. Try to be specific when describing these goals. If your goal is big or long-term, break it into smaller goals or steps. Think of these steps or goals as a strategy or to achieve these future dreams and ideals. - For example, "I want to be a good runner when I'm 50" is vague and could be a long-term goal (depending on your current age). A better goal would be "I want to train for a half marathon. I plan to run a half marathon within a year and a full marathon within the next 5 years."
Arrange your goals in order of impact. Look at your goals and decide which ones are the most important or most desired. Think about each goal in terms of how attainable it is, how long it will take and the impact it will have on your life to work towards and achieve that goal. You should also ask yourself why you give a certain goal more value than another goal. Make sure goals on your list don't conflict with each other. - By ranking your goals by impact, you can motivate yourself to work towards them. It also helps when you envision that purpose and its potential benefits.
Create reference points and deadlines. Track your progress by creating smaller benchmarks and deadlines for your goals and steps. Passing these will give you a sense of accomplishment, improve your motivation, and give you feedback on what is and isn't working. - For example, if your goal is to run a half marathon within a year, you can give yourself a deadline to train for the next 6 months. Once you hit that goal, tell yourself to run half practice marathons for the next six months. If you realize early on that you need more time, you can adjust the reference points.
- Try to use a calendar as a visual cue to keep you engaged with your goals and the timeline you've set for yourself. It is also extremely satisfying to cross out a goal or objective achieved.
Try the S.M.A.R.T.model for making goals. Look at each of your goals and write down how the goal is specific (S), measurable (M), acceptable (A), realistic (R), and time-bound (T). For example, this is how you can turn a vague goal like “I want to be a healthier person” into a specific goal using S.M.A.R.T .: - Specifically, "I want to improve my health by losing weight."
- Measurable: "I want to improve my health by losing 10 kilos."
- Acceptable: While you may not be able to lose 50 pounds, 10 pounds is an attainable goal.
- Realistic: You can help yourself to remember that losing 10 pounds will give you more energy and make you feel happier. Remember not to do this for someone else.
- Time-bound: "I want to improve my health by losing 10 kilos within a year, with an average of 850 grams per month."
Tips
- Writing down your goals has been proven to increase the likelihood of achieving those goals. A survey of 149 participants by clinical psychologist Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University showed that those who wrote down their goals achieved significantly more than those who didn't write down their goals.
