Striving toward a goal gives us a sense of meaning, satisfaction and control over our own lives. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to lose motivation and give up. If our goal is too easy, we quickly lose interest. If it’s too high, we might feel overwhelmed and quit in frustration. That’s why it’s important to set goals that are engaging enough for us while still being realistic.
Let’s look at a few ways that can help you set achievable goals and stay motivated.
Imagine a ladder that leads you to where you want to go. Each rung is a goal you’ve set—high enough to be challenging, but not so high that you stumble and fall. Climbing the rungs gives you direction and purpose, because you learn and grow with every step.
How to get started?
Think about something you want to work on and write it down. Choose one action each day for a week that brings you closer to your desired outcome. Use the tips below as a guide.
Step 1: Determine what matters to you
What do you want to work on? What truly matters to you? What gives your life meaning? When you choose the right goals, your chances of sticking to them are much higher.
Ask yourself:
- Do my goals involve changing something about myself (building a habit, acquiring a skill)?
- Are these changes within my control?
- Is my goal realistic?
- What will my life look like once I achieve it?
- What are the pros and cons of achieving it?
- How will I know when I’ve achieved it?
And last but not least, set goals because you want them, not to please someone else.
Step 2: Carefully consider the end result
Be prepared for both the drawbacks and benefits of achieving your goal. What will you lose, and what will you gain? For example, if you start going to bed earlier every night, you might miss some social events, but you’ll improve your overall quality of life.
Imagine taking the first steps toward your goal and the entire journey to achieving it—what the end result looks like and how it will make you feel. This will motivate you to keep moving forward.
Step 3: Focus on behaviors, not emotions
Let your goal be to change a behavior, not the feelings behind it. Instead of saying, “I want to be less stressed at work,” say, “I want to prioritize my tasks better” or “I want to learn to say ‘no.’”
Tell a close friend or family member what you want to achieve and promise to report to them on each major step. Sharing with someone who supports you will help you stay on track.
Step 4: Prioritize
If you have several goals, assign a priority to each one. Rank them by importance from 1 to 10 and start working on them one at a time. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and will focus your attention on the most important ones first. Often, difficulties arise because you have too many goals and not enough time for all of them.
Step 5: Plan in small steps
Big goals can discourage you and prevent you from taking action. Break them down into small steps and tasks that you can start working on right away.
Phrase them in positive terms—“prioritize my day/week” instead of “stop dealing with unimportant tasks.”
Step 6: Define your goals
Make your work goals specific and measurable. You need to be clear about exactly what you want to do and how you’ll know when you’ve achieved it. Instead of saying, “Today I’ll spend more time working on my new project,” say, “Today I will spend 2 hours between 9:00 and 11:00 working on my new project.”
Ask yourself some important questions:
- What will I do?
- When will I do it? (day, time, etc.)
- How much time will I spend? How often?
- Where will I do it?
- Who will I be with?
Also think about what you usually do at that time—what will you give up to make time for your goal?
Step 7: Be realistic:
Aim high enough to challenge yourself, but not so high that you can’t manage it. And remember, creating new habits can be tough. So even if it takes extra effort at first, keep going until it starts to feel easier.
Set your goals based on what is within your control, not on what depends on other people.
Step 8: Make the process easier
Think about what can help you achieve your goal. Maybe there are people who can support you; things you’ve done in the past that could be useful now; qualities and skills you have or can develop.
Also, consider what obstacles you might face or what could distract you. These could be certain people or situations; thoughts or feelingsthat stand in your way. Decide in advance how you will handle them if they arise. For example, if you want to go to the gym before work, choose a location near your office and pack your gym bag the night before your workout.
Step 9: Write down your goal
Write down your goals to make it clear what you’re working on.
For example:
End goal – Prioritize my work better.
Work goals – Plan my time each morning from 9:00 to 9:15; spend two hours a day working on Project X; check my email twice a day; decline meetings where my presence isn’t necessary; and so on.
Step 10: Keep learning
It may take a few attempts to reach a goal, so don’t worry if things don’t always go as planned. Use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Periodically review what you’ve done and ask yourself a few questions:
- Is this leading me toward the desired result?
- Is this what I really want?
- Is there something I can do differently next time?
- What have I learned so far?
Both your goals and the steps leading to them can change over time. Be flexible and make adjustments when needed. And don’t forget to celebrate what you’ve achieved!
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