Setting goals is just like sitting down and choosing a destination for your life’s journey.
It’s about deciding what you really want to do and who you want to be.
Research has found that when we set goals, we do better in life (Latham, & Locke, 2007).
And your goals can be about more or less anything, your career, money, relationships, or personal growth.
The key is to have a clear process to pick and achieve these goals, focusing on what truly makes you happy.
Goal setting theories provide valuable guidance on how to set and achieve goals effectively.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
Identify What Benefits You: First, figure out what’s good for you and what you really want or need.
Set Specific Goals: Once you know what’s beneficial, set clear goals to achieve these benefits.
Plan Your Approach: Decide on a strategy or steps you’ll take to reach these goals.
Take Action: Put your plan into action. It’s not just about planning; you have to actively work towards your goals.
How to Set Goals the Smart Way
There’s a popular method called SMART goal setting that can help.
This method asks us to think about our goals in a detailed way, making sure they have certain qualities.
A SMART goal is:
S - Specific
M - Meaningful
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T - TrackableSo, when you’re setting goals, try to make them SMART.
The questions and guidelines below can help to guide you in this process.
Is Your Goal Specific Enough?
When you set a goal, it’s important to ask: does my goal have some clear limits?
James Clear, known for his book “Atomic Habits,” suggests that our goals should have both minimum and maximum boundaries.
For instance, you might aim to hit the gym at least twice a week but not more than four times.
By doing this, you define your goal more precisely and avoid wearing yourself out.
Approaching it this way helps in making your goals clearer and more manageable.
Does Your Goal Matter?
It’s important to ask yourself the question: why does this goal matter to me?
And think about whether your goal matches your personal values and the lifestyle you are looking for.
If a goal clashes with your values or the way you want to live, sticking to it and turning it into a habit becomes a tough task.
It’s about making sure that your goal resonates with what’s truly important to you.
Is Your Goal Achievable?
When you’re setting a goal, another important question to ask is: can I really achieve this?
Some people might tell you that just wishing for something can make it happen.
But while being positive can indeed boost your chances of success (Rasmussen, Scheier, & Greenhouse, 2009), and aiming high can push you to do better than expected, it’s not realistic to set goals that are too far out of reach.
Take, for example, a goal to make a million dollars.
It’s crucial to think about how much effort you can realistically put in and what the outcomes of that effort might be.
If your goal is too far-fetched, you might end up feeling a bit deflated.
Your goals should be challenging, but still within the realms of possibility.
How Realistic Is Your Goal?
When setting a goal, consider if it’s realistic, especially considering its time frame.
Ask yourself: is the timeline I’ve set really doable?
Think about the hours you’ve got available in your day and whether you can achieve this goal within the expected timeframe.
It’s essential to set goals that can fit properly into your real life and schedule.
This helps ensure that your goals are attainable and gives you a better chance of success.
How Trackable is Your Goal?
Think about whether or not your goal can be tracked.
We’re more likely to reach our goals if we can monitor our progress.
Keeping an eye on how far we’ve come not only boosts our motivation but also helps us notice if we happen to be straying off course.
So, it’s important to set goals that you can measure.
For instance, if your goal is to make the world a better place, think about how you would track that.
Could you count the number of kind words you say to people you don’t know, how often you volunteer, or something else?
Whatever your goal, break it down into small, measurable steps.
This makes it easier to follow your progress and stay on track.
References
● Latham, G. P., & Locke, E. A. (1991). Self-regulation through goal setting. Organizational behavior and human decision processes. 50(2), 212-247.
● Latham, G. P., & Locke, E. A. (2007). New developments in and directions for goal-setting research. European Psychologist, 12(4), 290-300.
● Rasmussen, H. N., Scheier, M. F., & Greenhouse, J. B. (2009). Optimism and physical health: A meta-analytic review. Annals of behavioral medicine, 37(3), 239-256.
