We all know about goals; football would be impossible to play without goals and if we set short and long-term goals, our focus can remain fixed on these targets, which gets us a little closer to where we want to be.
Show me a successful person and I’ll show you a person who set a path and followed it; direction is everything in life and without it, you could be regarded as a wandering generality, rather than a meaningful specific.
How Goal-Setting Can Change Your Life: Setting life goals
Admittedly, this is where many people come unstuck, they simply don’t have any clear targets ahead of them. This isn’t a test, rather you need to sit down with yourself and explore where your interests lie – where would you like to be in 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years? If the idea of beach villa in the Maldives in the Maldives appeals to you; make a goal to go every year! The high achievers in this world would tell you never to listen to naysayers and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
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How goal setting can change life: life-coaching
Some people need help with creating a plan for personal development, which is something a life coach can provide. You can find a life coach who lives near you with a Google search and most are happy to have a short video call to discuss possibilities.
Short-term goals
Short-term goals are important because they hold your focus and that help you to reach your long-term objectives; without these periodical points on your timeline, you have less chance of reaching your long-term goals. It is very important to set timelines with goals and you should be realistic, otherwise, you might not have the motivation to achieve your goals.
Good examples of short-term goals
- Quitting smoking;
- Getting fit;
- Losing weight;
- Reaching a target bank balance;
- Acquiring a vehicle.
Whatever it is that floats your boat can make for an excellent short-term goal, it doesn’t have to be something that you need, rather it should be something that you have a passion for. If you have your heart set on buying a specific car, for example, work out how long it would take to save the money for the acquisition and set a deadline.
Long-term goals
This needs to be something that lights your fire, examples include:
- Owning a holiday home;
- Being financially secure;
- Being successful at what you do;
- Owning your own business;
- Obtaining certification;
- Getting a promotion.
It is important not to be influenced by others when setting long-term goals; how can someone else make such decisions for you? These should be your goals, regardless of what other people think. Getting a master’s degree would take at least 4 years, which would be integral for landing a promotion or even applying for a top job.
Charting your progress
It is important to keep track of where you are in terms of reaching your goals and create a chart to keep you motivated. Top salespeople have their charts everywhere; on the office wall, on their desktops, and even on their smartphones. Motivation is an integral part of goal-setting, which drives you toward a life of success and happiness; it is very easy to become bogged down with negativity and that can seriously impede your progress.
Where to start?
Start by reviewing your life; are you happy with where you are right now? Are you in a relationship and how is that going? How about your career? The answers to questions like these will help you to find your passion, whatever it may be. Once you have a few long-term objectives, you can start to think about short-term stuff to help keep you on track. One goal might be to switch to eco-friendly holidays, rather than take package holidays.
How goal setting can change life: take a holiday
The best environment for goal-setting would be somewhere idyllic, such as the Maldives, which you can book online and while you are in paradise, you can make an annual Maldives holiday one of your goals. Forget about the world for a while and enjoy the best beach views out there and when you are ready to return home, you will be fired up with your new list of goals.
Crossing off short-term achievements
Some people set monthly goals and cross them off when achieved, which does build self-confidence and motivates a person to remain focused. Take saving money as a good example; you might be saving for the deposit on a new car and you calculated it would take a total of 9 months, you can set monthly pointers to keep you on track, and crossing each one off takes you one step further towards your ultimate goal.
We all need a plan in our lives, otherwise, we have no direction with a list of things you want firmly in your mind, you will be energized to improve your life. One good idea is to review every aspect of your life; career, relationship, hobbies, and finances to see if there are any shortcomings, or aspects of your life that you are unhappy with. This can help you to set goals that will lead to happiness, contentment, and a productive future.
