Valuable steps for achieving your goals
How to achieve your goals, step 1: Prioritize
Most of us have hundreds of things on our wishlist of things we want to do,
from losing our muffin top to buying our dream home. However, if you want to
effectively tackle an important goal, it is important not to overload yourself
and to go after one ambition at a time, starting with the goal most important to
your overall happiness. Also, while it is good to aim high, it is also
important to choose a goal that is attainable and which fits with your talents,
lifestyle and who you are as a person – don’t go after a goal just because it
is something you feel you should do.
How to achieve your goals, step 2: Get specific
We often make broad declarations about what we want out of life, such as “I
wish I was fitter”, “I’d love to have more money” or “I want to make a
difference to the world”. However, these vague, intangible goals are hardly
ever accomplished as, in order to achieve your goals, you need to be specific
about what exactly it is you want;
how do you want to make more money?
What could you do to make a difference? Set specific and measurable goals such
as “I want to start exercising three times a week” or “I want to become the
manager of my company” so that you have something to aim for and can measure
your progress.
How to achieve your goals, step 3: Research your goal
In order to get where you want in life, you need to understand exactly how
you can get there, and the best way to do this is to ask those who know.
Whatever your ambition, there is bound to be someone out there who has already
achieved it, and their advice and experience could prove invaluable. Browse the
internet, take a course, read books on the subject and get in contact with
people who have achieved your goal. By getting a clear of understanding of how
others have achieved the same ambition, you will be well equipped to follow in
their footsteps.
How to achieve your goals, step 4: Break it down
When you first look at your goal it may seem slightly overwhelming. How on
earth are you ever going to score your dream job/run a marathon/write that
novel? However, by breaking your overall ambition down into ‘mini goals’ (such
as completing a 5K race or writing 200 words a day) you will not only make your
goal seem more achievable but you will give yourself specific things to aim for
along the way. Write down your plan of action – what you want to achieve and
how you can get there, step by step. Then tick off each ‘mini goal’ as you
achieve it to give yourself a visual representation of your progress.
How to achieve your goals, step 5: Take action
Often the reason we don’t achieve our goals is because we keep putting them
off until a “better time” in the future. However, this better time may never
come, and in actual fact the best time to start chasing your dreams is right
now. Ask yourself what you can do this week to make your dream happen. What can
you do right now? Also, evaluate what it is that is stopping you from going
after your goal (such as lack of time or financial restraints) and see how you
can work around these things. Don’t leave your goal as a distant dream; take
action and start pursuing it right now.
How to achieve your goals, step 6: Believe in yourself
It may sound cheesy, but to achieve your goals in life
you have to get in the right frame of mind, and that means believing you can do
it. Confidence in yourself and your abilities can get your far, and setting out
with a positive mind set is important. However, while many of us start out
brimming with confidence, setbacks and perceived failures can soon diminish
this, so it is important to take measures to stay motivated. Reward yourself
and take pride in every little achievement, and remember that everyone who has
achieved anything difficult has had little setbacks from time to time, so don’t
let this take away from your successes
How to achieve your goals, step 7: Share your dream
To help boost your motivation and stay on track towards your goal, it can
help to share your ambitions and tell people about your goal. The more people
you tell the more committed to the goal you will be, and the more people you
will have to help you. Not only can friends and family offer you support when
you need it, but they may be able to keep their eyes and ears open for
opportunities and people who can help you to achieve your goal. Also, if you
know someone else who is striving for the same goal, sharing your experiences
and offering each other support is an even better way to boost your motivation.
How to achieve your goals, step 8: Clear your schedule
It can be easy to get so caught up in day-to-day life that there’s no time
to strive for anything out of the ordinary. However, if you want something
enough, it is important to make time for it. We often spend far too much time
on things that aren’t that important to us or that don’t really need doing, but
by cutting back on these times you will give yourself more time to go after
your goal. Write down all the things currently clogging up your schedule and
then identify those things you can cut back on. You can also maximize your time
by getting up earlier or using your lunch hours more effectively.
How to achieve your goals, step 9: Be flexible
Sometimes, no matter how much background research you do, how many hours you
put in and how meticulously you plot your route to success, things just don’t
quite go to plan. However, the key to achieving your goals is to be flexible
and ready to come up with a plan B (or C or D) when this happens. Rather than
focusing fixatedly on minor setbacks in your plan, try to formulate several
backup plans to help you bounce back from any setback and stay on track towards
your ultimate goal.
How to achieve your goals, step 10: Remind yourself why you want it
While rewarding your progress and striving towards mini goals is a great way
to stay motivated towards your overall dream, if you still find yourself
feeling disillusioned from time to time it is important to remind yourself why
you want to achieve this goal. Picture yourself having achieved this goal
already and consider what it means to you. What will you gain from achieving
this goal? How will it make you feel? If you do find along the way that you
have forgotten why you want your goal at all, then perhaps this is a good time
to reassess your goals and strive for a new ambition.
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