A Quick Guide To Setting Goals
It doesn’t have to be complicated
I love goal setting.
There is something really exciting and encouraging about goal setting. I love the idea of setting things to achieve for the year. I know this isn’t true for everyone, but for me, I have achieved many goals over the years.
What I have found is that the more I set and achieve goals, the more I love to do it. But, it hasn’t always been this way. For years, I struggled. I would set goals and then never accomplish any of them.
It was the worst. Until…
I found a quick system that has helped me set, achieve, and love goals. It doesn’t take a lot of work. Most of all, it is something that you can do today and start to chase goals and dreams over the next year.
If you have struggled with goal setting and achievement, this post is for you. It will help you set goals the right way and help you actually achieve them. This is why I write this post, to help you realize your dreams by achieving your goals.
How to Set Goals and Achieve Them This Year
I have shared this before, and I will continue to share it with you because it is exactly how I set goals so I have clarity of vision, create direction, and focus on taking consistent action. The SMARTER goal-setting system is the beginning of achieving our goals.
Below, I will share exactly how to use the SMARTER Goal Setting system to set goals that you can achieve.
Specific
We must be specific about our goals in order to have clarity about our goals. But what does this mean? Being specific about goals means knowing exactly what it is you want out of achieving this goal. Here is an example for writing a book:
“I will write a full-length historical fiction novel by December 31, 2022.”
Measurable
Goals must be measurable. Otherwise, we won’t know how to track and celebrate our progress as we go. The more measurable it is the more likely you will achieve it and the easier it will be to create direction to achieve your goal. Here is an example goal for losing weight:
“I want to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year and weigh 200 pounds.”
Actionable
Goal setting is about moving forward. However, many times we will jot down goals that are simple and “pie-in-the-sky” in nature. If we can’t identify how we are moving forward, it will be difficult to achieve a goal. Many times it is simply in how we write our goal. Here is an example for reading books:
“I will read 24 books by the end of the year.”
Relevant
Our goals must be relevant to our lives. They cannot be something that is impossible to accomplish in your current circumstances. This is where a lot of goals fail because they don’t take into account your current priorities. If you are a father of three kids, working a job, and writing on the side, you may not be able to do some goals. Here is a goal for serving others while living a busy life:
“I will serve on a week-long mission trip by the end of June this year.”
Time-Bound
You may have noticed every goal example previously has a deadline. That is because goals need deadlines otherwise you will never complete them. Sure, some of us like to check the boxes, but most goals fail because they don’t have a definite timeframe. An example of this kind of goal:
“I will pay off all of our debt by December 31, 2020.”
Evaluate
This is the turning point in accomplishing goals. This is where we start taking our action steps and making progress. Many times, people will set a goal and then forget about it. Evaluating should be done on a weekly basis. When we set our goals, we also need to set regular appointments with ourselves to actually evaluate our progress.
Reward
We love to be rewarded for our work. And a reward can help those of us who don’t simply enjoy accomplishing things. Plus, it is a positive reinforcement to continue to chase your dreams in the future. An example for rewards after reading your book goal:
“And once I accomplish this goal, I will purchase a new Kindle.”
Final Thoughts on Setting Goals
Every year, I see these complicated and long posts about setting goals. But the truth is, it's not a hard thing to do. There are a few simple steps that help you write better goals.
Once you write those better goals, you can actually take action toward accomplishing them and achieve those goals. But, it takes the right type of goal and the preparation to make sure you take action.
After that, you are steps away from seeing that goal realized and achieving your dreams. So, try this quick system and set your goals today!
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