Is it hard for you to achieve your goals?
How often do you tend to set yourself goals?
I usually do it once a year, in summer, when I usually have more time.
Sometimes I get what I propose myself, but others, my goal is so great that, simply, I just approach it a little bit.
However, I would like to give you some advice, which I think are important, to make getting what you proposed easier.
6 tips to achieve your goals
Every year we make a list of resolutions, and often, it stays in your mind a few days after writing them, and then we simply forget all about them.
So to make sure you don’t forget them, here are some suggestions:
1. Make a list of your UNachieved goals
To achieve your goals, first of all you need to know what you set yourself to do previously, and which you didn’t do.
Make a list.
That will give you a clearer perspective.
2. Reflect on what you haven’t achieved
Once you have made your list of unachieved goals, it’s time to think about it.
Do you know why you didn’t do them?
It’s important to differentiate between:
a) having done NOTHING at all
b) having done SOMETHING, even a little bit
because even if it doesn’t seem to be, there IS a difference.
The fact that you did nothing of your goal, could indicate a few things:
- It’s actually not that interesting
- It’s too difficult
- It’s too easy
- You don’t have a clear vision of what awaits, once you achieve it
- Maybe the benefit you’ll get, won’t compensate for the effort you had to invest to do it
- The goal depends on what others have achieved before
- Achieving it doesn’t depend entirely on you
- Etc.
This reflection will give you more information on whether that goal isn’t well-formulated, or if it’s not a goal for you anymore.
Also, try to figure out what you did to move yourself closer to your dream, and what pushed you away from it.
In my case, I’ve noticed that many of my goals, depend on other goals, so if I don’t do the first one, the second one is almost impossible to achieve.
Interestingly, I don’t usually notice this great little detail until I reflect on it.
So what’s your case?
What has prevented you from achieving your goals?
Do you already know what moved you closer and what pushed you away?
What do you need to continue doing and what should you stop doing?
Once you’ve reflected on this, let’s delve a little further.
3. Make another list of objectives that you DID achieve
Sure, you did do some things.
If not fully, at least partially.
So write down what you did do.
All done?
4. Reward yourself
Well, now I want you to think about how you’re going to reward yourself for your efforts and results.
I challenge you to commit to doing this.
Think of a gift that you’re going to give yourself for having achieved your purposes.
Even if you only achieved one, or a small part of it, it doesn’t matter, you did it.
And it required effort, time, energy …
So…
What’s the prize?
Do you have something in mind?
It doesn’t have to be something material, but if you want to, it can be.
The important thing is for you to reward yourself.
For you to celebrate your successes.
Wait… stop reading… you have to think of a prize.
Ok, now I want you to set a date for that prize.
When are you going to give it to yourself?
Set a date, a place, decide if you’ll do it with company or just by yourself and for how long your gift will last.
Keep it simple, make it easy, and it’ll be easier to accomplish.
Enjoy your gift.
Now it’s time to,
5. Make a list of your next targets
To achieve your goals and avoid having to include them in your unachieved goals list, you can follow the S.M.A.R.T rules.:
S – Specific: Find the most specific definition for your goal
It isn’t enough to say “I want to feel good”. Define what “feeling good” means to you through concrete things.
M – Measurable: Find ways to measure whether you’re achieving it or not
You have to stop from time to time and assess whether what you’re doing, is moving you closer or away from your goal.
If instead of moving you closer, it’s diverting you, you’ll need to take all necessary actions to return to your goal.
A- Attainable and R-Realistic: Purse a realistic goal
If you set too big a target, you’ll quickly think it’s impossible and give up.
If you set too small a target, you won’t be motivated enough, and may not even lift a finger to get it.
You have to find something that is large enough to motivate you, but that doesn’t generate any stress or guilt if you leave it.
T – Time-limited: set periods for different actions.
Clearly, every objective has a defined dimension and time.
But it’s important to fix dates.
If necessary you can also divide your target into different goals, this will facilitate achieving your goals within the defined time.
6. Keep your goal in sight
It’s pointless to think of a goal if you forget it within a few days or weeks.
So after all the work you’ve done creating your goals, you need to make sure to keep them in mind.
To keep your goal alive you can do some of the following things:
- Imagine how you’ll feel once you’ve achieved your goal (once a week at least)
- Write your goal on a paper and hang it on the wall
- Each week, write the actions you’re going to take to move closer to your goal
- At the end of the week, check what worked and what didn’t
You need to feed your mind with the image of how it’ll be once you’ve achieved your goal to keep your motivation hungry, so you won’t stop acting towards it.
I hope these tips helped give you a better idea of how to achieve your goals.
But now I want you to return to point number 4: Can you tell me how you’ve planned to reward yourself?
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