Three Simple Steps to Strengthen Goal Setting

Recognizing the need for change and reassessing goals in just a few steps.

Organizational and motivational tips from some of my previous Medium articles range from setting specific goals to simplifying to-do lists. Though I made progress with my personal goals, at one point, they needed more improvement.

After several months, the lack of progression, if not almost a stagnant feeling, prompted me to review my goals and accomplishments. It was time for me to consider a change.

I did, and the process was pretty simple, summed up in three steps.

The three simple steps I used to review, revise, and strengthen my goals were:

1. Read and re-read: Read articles/books for motivation, goal setting, and similar topics for inspiration and ideas. Re-read a book or article that has helped in the past. I’ve even re-read some articles that I’ve written here on Medium.
2. Review goals for changes; make new ones: I reviewed and revised existing goals that needed an update. Sometimes, a simple decision to shift a path’s direction is the inspiration we might need. I expanded some goals, eliminated any that were no longer of value, and created a couple of brand-new ones.
3. Do your best: I reminded myself that even the best efforts over time may not always bring the desired results. It’s okay to take more time than expected, or to change direction if it’s in our best interests.

I’ve included some examples below: two goal revisions, and one brand-new goal.

Goal Revisions

• Problem: Sorting clothing several times a year wasn’t effective. I found my closet feeling cluttered as soon as a month after sorting and organizing.
• Revision: I’m going to sort my closet out every two months instead of seasonally. (A specific time frame change).
• Problem: My goal of writing daily and publishing one article weekly, instead of every two weeks, rarely occurred, so I tried every ten days, and it worked once. Then I went to every 12 days and then ended back closer to two weeks again.
• Revision: First: I changed the goal to writing three days a week (or more if I can) for a few hours rather than a little every day. So far, it’s working better. (It’s more achievable with my particular schedule). Second: I decided to stay with publishing every two weeks for now. Sometimes it’s good to keep something as it is. In my case, it also left time to work on new goals.

New Goal

I talked with my two daughters about making changes, got their views and ideas, and created two new goals. One is creating a website. Starting small, I’ll take a couple of hours researching and beginning a blog each week.

Some people use the SMART method (which was first proposed by George T. Doran in Management Review issue November 1981) as a guide to set their goals. The five SMART objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

For me, specific, achievable goals are two of the most important objectives with goal setting; time frame being the next, and measuring results and relevance last. That’s just what works for me using these objectives.

If any minor changes give us more chances for better results that enlighten our spirits and increase happiness, they are worth exploring.

We might be a slight turn away from a remarkable life change. Like a swan gliding across a lake with ease and grace, confident of her direction and when to change course, we can gracefully glide along on our joyous life journey!