What’s the difference between a person who reaches their goals and a person who only dreams about reaching them? Three things: action, accountability and having a plan.
Setting short terms goals is a productive practice. They are the small steps that get you to your bigger dream. Accomplishing your short term goals can exhilarating and will make you want to set even bigger goals for yourself.
Here’s what you need to know to be successful in your short-term goal setting:
What’s A Reasonable Timeframe For A Short Term Goal?
Short-term goals are typically ones that can be accomplished in one year or less. Try
breaking them down to three to six months, or even seasonally, depending on the goal.
Keep in mind: you don’t need to fully accomplish the set goal to be successful. The important part is creating an established pattern of progress or momentum towards the ultimate goal.
Limit The Number Of Goals.
If you’re like many people, then there’s about 1,000 different goals you want to accomplish, and you wanted to have accomplished them last week. Well — that’s never worked out so great. Know why? When you try to do everything, you can’t focus on anything. Pick one or two that are real priorities. Focus on developing in those areas by creating a new habits or routines. When those become second nature, then introduce a new goal.
Write It Down!
It’s common knowledge that writing tasks down ensures it will be better saved in your memory. Mark down your goals in your calendar. Write it on a post-it note on your bathroom mirror. Make a sign, put it on your refrigerator. Wherever you’ll routinely see it — put it there. This will help remind you everyday to make your goal a priority.
Use Personal & Positive Affirmations.
It’s one thing to see your goal written down, it’s another to be reminded of the importance and meaning it has to you. Write a paragraph of what this accomplishment will mean on an index card and carry it with you all the time. This way, when you’re feeling frustrated, you can remind yourself why the effort is worth it.
Make Your Goal Exciting!
Goals can come across as tedious. We start off with the best intentions, but when they become more of a chore, they’re hard to stick with. This is especially true when we feel like we’re missing out, like not eating bacon or not going out with friends on the weekends.
Frame your goal from another angle — what are the advantages? What benefits will you be adding to your life?
Set The Right Goals For The Right Reasons.
Goals can sometimes come from a place of negativity. It could be changing what we don’t like about ourselves or what we think needs to change in order to fit in. You are a unique individual. Your goals should reflect that.
Do some soul searching to make sure your goals come from a place of sincerity. Committing to a goal is easier when it truly resonates with you.
Tell Someone.
When we don’t tell anyone our goals it’s close to self-sabotage. By telling someone, you are making a declaration. You will hold yourself accountable. And when someone asks how you’re doing on your goal, you can answer proudly.
Take Daily Action.
How can you get started tonight? Make a list of actions that will get you to your goal. This way you’ll be able to make continuous progress. Looking to improve your life skills? Sign up for Next Step Academy. Take a course, earn a badge and, more importantly, earn knowledge.
What have you been wanting to improve? Set some short-term goals for yourself this week. You’ll be surprised at how much accomplishing even one small goal will improve your life!
First of all, Happy New Year to all our followers! To kick off 2016, I wanted to start with an uplifting topic—handling rejection. Now, I agree, it might not sound uplifting off-the-bat, but trust me, after reading you’ll be seeing rejection in a completely new and refreshing light.