how to set goals that mean something
We all know that we need to plan to reach our goals, to set steps in place. But, what does that actually mean?
I think that the first thing is that you need to set goals that matter to you. Set goals that motivate you. For goals to work, they have to have value to you.
An example would be the popular New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. But, without context it really doesn’t have any value to motivate action and achievement.
Set goals with high priority or you could end up with too many goals all at once. When I’m overwhelmed I tend to do nothing. Goals require commitment, the WHY, is so important.
- Create a value statement: If you could convince anyone to join you on your goal journey, what would you tell them?
ex: weight loss
“ I want to spend more time with my children this year. My goal is to lose weight, so that I have more mobility and energy to play with my children after work.”
You don’t want a goal that’s incredibly vague. You’ll need something to reference to when it becomes challenging. You want to be able to remember your WHY.
Use that as your value statement to motivate action and achievement.
2. Create SMART goals that are relevant to your life.
S — Smart
M — Measurable
A — Attainable
R — Relevant
T — Time Bound
In my experience, goals are challenging because sometimes they don’t align with my habits. All of my goals require focus and sacrifice. I had to figure out how to integrate them into my life, so it felt like a part of my routine. I found that adding them in bite size pieces was the best route, so it wasn’t immediately overwhelming.
ex. weight loss
Instead of: “ I’m going to work out everyday for 2 hours at the gym.” If you have never been to the gym before, just getting up and going could be challenging. So maybe start small… “My goal is to go the the gym everyday.” I find with that flexibility, you’ll have really good days where you want to stay at the gym for 2 hours. But, there’ll be bad days were you’ll workout for 10 minutes. But, at the same time you’ll hit your goal of (getting fit for your kids) and still feel fulfilled.
Bite size, doesn’t seem like a whole lot at first, but building consistency helps with confidence. It’s about getting 1% better each day and building that long term compound interest. (For more information related to that: I recommend checking out the book Atomic Habits by James Clear)
The 1% rule can be applied to anything: writing, reading, work goals, biking… and habit or goal that you’re shooting for. Little by little works wonders. It may not seem like you’re making any progress at first, but over time you’ll hit a breaking point into greatness.
3. You have to write your goals down.
Writing down your goals makes them real — tangible.
Sometimes when you have an idea in your head, it’s easy to just let it go. To forget about it. To brush it off and not hold yourself accountable because it was just an idea that no one knew about.
When you write down your goal be sure to frame it in a positive and motivating way.
ex. weight loss
Bad Example: “I don’t want to gain any more weight or eat like crap because I’m slow and lethargic all the time.”
Good Example: “ I’m going to lose x amount of pounds by x time because I want to live a healthier life style. Where I’m at now, isn’t my best, but I know that I can do it. I plan to eat better foods that not only make my body happy, but me happy. I know that with some hard work, I’ll feel better and that’s my goal.”
4. Make an Action Plan.
Don’t get caught up in the process because everything starts with step one. Making progress is the ultimate goal.
Usually when you first have a goal, you go out of your way to buy all of these products, equipment, gear, apps… to reach this goal. But, be strategic in what your plan actually is vs. what you need to actually get there. The “newness” wears off very quickly.
5. Stick with it even on days when you don’t feel like it.
Goals are things that stick with you for a while. It continues on, even on your bad days. But, you can’t define your goals based on your feeling of the day — rather focus on the entire picture. Setting a goal is so much more than simply saying you want something to happen. You have to define what exactly you want and make sure it’s relevant and has value to you.
Why do you want it in the first place?
Envision what your life will look like reaching it. Talk about your goals with people who support you. Share your goals with people you trust who are willing to call you out or remind you when necessary. Having someone to assist with accountability can be a great resource.
Keeping goals to yourself make it really easy to dismissed or pushed back on the back burner. It’s okay if you’re your number one supporter at the end of the day. You need to be the main driver, motivator.
There are so many benefits to setting goals. They help with developing new behaviors, to guide our focus, and help sustain our momentum in life. I think goals help us to align into how we see ourselves, as we grow and evolve.
Whatever your goals are, I hope this inspires you, helps you. Wishing you the best!
-Precious Pioneer
