If you’ve been struggling to pursue your goals and achieve your dreams, it doesn’t mean they aren’t attainable. And even if you’ve heard this a million times, the last thing you need is self-doubt. Take advantage of these few steps today and learn how to improve the pursuit of your goals.
Set Meaningful goals
The first thing you want is a good approach to your pursuit. Use the SMART goal acronym to strengthen your resolve.
SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-based.
- Specific: State your exact goals in detail and avoid being vague.
- Measurable: If you don’t quantify your targets, how can you tell if you’ve achieved them or not?
- Attainable: You have to set goals that you can see yourself achieving. Be very subjective.
- Realistic: Set goals that are practical and doable.
- Time–based: Both your long- and short-term goals should have timeframes.
Steps to Improve Your Goal Setting
While it is true that the same approaches work differently for people, some steps are proven and traceable in most real-life success stories. Let’s check them out.
- Set Goals that Inspire You
If your goals are personal to you, you’ll have a lasting motivation to attain new heights. That’s why you must reflect on what your goals really are and be certain you aren’t just doing what others are doing or what you’re “meant” to do. Be inspired!
- Break Them Down
Irrespective of how inspirational your goals are to you, at a point, you’re likely to lose focus or get overwhelmed. Everyone goes through this stage. To prepare and avoid this, the best thing to do is break down your goals and follow them a step at a time.
- Tell Someone
Even if you’re used to keeping things to yourself, which at times can be the best option, telling someone about your goals and how you plan on achieving them is a great way to draw motivational pressure. If you tell your goals to people that are willing to listen, you might receive insights as well.
- Remain Proactive
Goals take time to materialize, and if you keep wishing and “planning” without actually doing anything, nothing will happen. Things happen when you make moves. The more time you waste, the more likely it is for you to sleep on it! Instead of wondering if you can, take the first step and do something today!
- Anticipate Setbacks
Don’t expect all your plans to run smoothly. There are always bumps, shortcomings, disappointments, or failures. However, the sooner you expect this, the better prepared you are. Anticipating setbacks also means having backup plans for each task you set to handle.
- Visualize Your End Result
Have you pictured yourself celebrating after you finally win? As soon as you begin to lose sight of the target, you begin to drop momentum and lose motivation. The best way to keep moving is to keep in mind what you set out to achieve. If it fuels you enough, you can practice daydreaming – think about what you want and how bad you want it until it’s yours. Yeah, you guessed right – ‘fake it till you make it!’
Final Thoughts
To enjoy a remarkable life, you have to make consistent moves regardless of your doubts and fears. And when you finally reach that ribbon, sit back and give yourself a treat; you’ve earned it!