By Maggie Stringham
Something about back-to-school season really gets people motivated and productive. Of course, students are geared up for the start of a new year, and college students are anxious and excited to begin adult education or are looking forward to graduation, but other people seem to really pick up on that energy and want to start making plans and setting goals for themselves.
Goal setting is fun to do, but it can also be stressful. Many of us are great at starting our tasks and projects and not so great at seeing them through to the end. Luckily there are steps that can be taken to help us reach any goal we set for ourselves. Here are eight key steps to setting up attainable goals and seeing them through to the end.
Set short-term goals
Don’t look so far forward into the future that it makes reaching your goal seem almost impossible. Instead, set several short-term goals that will help you reach your ultimate destination. For example, if your goal is to buy a house in five years, set a goal for each year or for every six months. Set a goal to review your credit report in one week, save $1,000 in six months, or to meet with a real estate agent. These short-term goals will help you reach your final goal and can help you feel like you are making immediate progress along the way.
Stick to reality
Make sure that you are setting goals that are attainable. No matter how hard you try, you can’t save more money than you make, and repairing your credit report can take a substantial amount of time depending on your current credit score. Allot yourself an appropriate amount of time to achieve your goals or your goals will not be met and your motivation will suffer.
Don’t create goals that don’t excite you
If there is no passion in the goals that you have set for yourself, you aren’t going to have much motivation to work toward them. Don’t create a goal just to have one. Work toward something that is exciting and inspires you.
Get encouragement from others
Do you know anyone who seems to be able to finish what they start? Look for friends who complete DIY projects or really vacationed in another country like they talked about. Those friends know how to set their goals and stick with them. Tell them about your goals, and ask for support and advice.
Reward yourself
Do not forget yourself when you have completed a task or goal, especially a difficult one. Go ahead and give yourself a reward for the hard work you put in to achieving your dreams. You deserve it!
Weekends are not made for slacking
While everyone around you is taking the weekend off, you could have an entire uninterrupted day for working toward your goal. Don’t waste weekend time or early mornings. The more productive you can be each day, the sooner your goals can be met.
Make a list
Don’t set a goal without listing the steps you’ll need to take to complete it. These steps will become a timeline for you to complete your goal. Each step will have a specific timeline and can work as a building block on your journey. Each small step met is one step closer to completion. The closer you get to reaching your goal, the more likely you will complete it and set future goals for yourself. If you need to make a list for each step, go ahead! Set smaller goals for yourself to help meet bigger tasks and projects. Each step that you surpass is an achievement and will help you move forward.
Don’t give up
Don’t stop working. If you don’t make a goal, don’t quit! The point is to work toward those goals and to continue moving forward. Maybe a goal was set and the timeframe for completion was miscalculated, or maybe you had forms to fill out and it took longer to get them approved than you’d anticipated. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you continue with your plans. Make some adjustments in your plan and timeline, and keep moving forward.
Sometimes, realizing your ambitions can mean that you need to make lifestyle changes. This is uncomfortable for a lot of people and can hinder motivation and progress in life. Allow yourself the opportunity for progress and growth in life. Don’t let unfamiliarity scare you into not doing and getting what you want in life. Work hard. Work smart. And grow!
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