Goal setting is a process for thinking about the future you want, and for creating a clear plan and path to turn your vision into reality.  In its simplest terms, goal setting clarifies your ideal future, and helps you develop an action plan designed to motivate and inspire you towards achieving your goal.   

The goal setting process involves clarifying and identifying what you want in your future and establishing measurable objectives and a deadline to achieve your goals.  Effective goal setting provides you with both a long-term vision to work towards and the short-term direction and motivation to take action on reaching your goals. 

Setting goals helps you develop an action plan designed to give you the motivation, focus, and direction to turn your goals into reality.  Goal setting is important because it starts with careful consideration of what goals you want to achieve in the future and provides a measurable framework to achieve your goals.

In this article, I’ll share eight goal setting tips to help you set goals and achieve your goals. 

Goal setting definition

Goal setting is the act of setting clearly defined goals and then working towards goal achievement every day.  These clearly defined goals should be something you want to achieve in the future with a clear date to achieve your goals.

Goals provide the framework to achieve everything you want in life, and the way you set your goals can be the difference between achieving your goals or not.

When setting goals, identify something important you want to accomplish in the future that will transform your life.  Ensure your goal setting process gives you the ability to take active steps to achieve your desired outcome.

When you set goals, you are clear on what you want to achieve and have the motivation and direction to make measurable progress towards achieving your goals.  

Why is goal setting important?  

Goal setting helps you choose your ideal future, helps guide your focus, and helps you create a framework for staying on track to achieve your goals.  The process of setting goals is important as goals give you a clear path and plan to work towards every day.  Goals give you focus and direction and make you more productive.

I define goal setting as selecting a specific objective you want to achieve in the future.  Having goals helps you identify your priorities and ensures you stay focused and accountable to your goals. 

The benefits of setting goals are simple.  Goals help you manage your time better, lowers stress, improves focus, and eliminates procrastination. 

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Why set goals?

Setting goals helps you choose a destination in life and helps guide your focus and daily habits.  When you set your goals, you establish measurable objectives to make progress on so you can make your goals happen.

Setting goals helps you decide on the measurable targets to work towards daily.  Goal setting helps you plan your day and provides greater clarity in decision-making.  Goal setting also gives you a sense of personal satisfaction and confidence when you reach your goals.

Discover why writing down your goals is key to achieving your goals.

Goal setting: how to set and achieve your goals 

Here are 8 goal setting tips on how to set goals and achieve your goals.

1. Set specific goals 

The first step in successful goal setting is to ensure your goals are clear and well defined.  Before you decide on your goals, list out all of the goals you want to achieve within a specific timeframe. 

Goal setting is a process that helps you decide what you want to achieve in life, so choose goals that are energising and exciting.  When you choose your goals, ensure your goals are measurable and time-bound.  

When you set goals, imagine what your future looks like having achieved your goals.  This vision gives you a sense of what accomplishing your goals looks like and feels like.

The more specific your goals, the more your mind will take ownership of the measurable objective you want to achieve.  This focus helps you break your goals down and gives you the focus and motivation to achieve them.

Read also: 10 benefits of goal setting.

2. Define your goals 

Setting goals gives your life purpose and boosts your confidence and self-esteem.  When you set goals, define what success looks like when you’ve achieved your goal.  

When you define your goals, put your goals in writing.  It’s also important to define measurable objectives and obstacles for each goal. 

When you make your goal measurable, you set measurements that enable you to see the progress you’re making.  Clearly defined goals also boost your focus and motivation. 

When you set goals, set a deadline for your goals.  When you have a clear deadline for your goal, your goal becomes time-bound and gives you a clear destination to reach.  

Read more about setting short-term goals.

3. Write down your goals

Describing your goals in written form gives you a greater chance of achieving your goal.  Writing down your goals is a crucial first step in choosing your goals. 

When you picture achieving your goals, you’ll take action and stay motivated.  Writing down your goals means you commit to achieving your goals and are emotionally invested in taking action.  

When you write down your goals, the goal is embedded in your mind.  Your brain looks for every opportunity to work on achieving your goal.

Writing down your goals also gives you a place to refer back to when you have to overcome obstacles.  Having written down goals increases your motivation to reach your goals.

Discover the transformation benefits of writing down your goals. 

4. Set measurable goals   

Measuring progress is essential if you want to achieve your goals.  When setting goals, assign measurements and deadlines to your goals to help you track progress and measure success.

To achieve your goals, your mind needs a realistic deadline and measurement to take the goal seriously.  Having measurable goals boosts motivation and also makes you accountable for achieving your goal.

Without measurable goals, you won’t be motivated and emotionally invested in the outcome of your goal.  Having measurable goals helps you set clear intentions of who you want to be in the future. 

This intentionality ensures you stay on track to achieve your goals.  

Not setting measurable goals is a critical goal setting mistake.  Discover 10 other goal setting mistakes to avoid. 

5. Commit to your goals

Achieving your goals takes courage and commitment.  It also takes accountability to stay on track to achieve your goals.  When goal setting, accountability means holding yourself responsible for achieving your goals.

Accountability provides the structure and support to ensure you stay on track and make progress on your goals.  When you are accountable to your goals, you are committed to taking action to reach your goals.

It can sometimes be hard to achieve your goals by yourself.  Accountability accelerates your progress on your goals, helps you overcome obstacles, and helps you achieve your goals.   Weekly accountability meetings to discuss progress on your goals increases your confidence and motivation.  

To stay on track to achieve your goals, you can work with an accountability, accountability partner, friend, family member, or colleague.  Staying accountable to achieve your goals provides the support and motivation to push you forward.  

6. Break your goals down

Before breaking your goals down into actionable steps, you need to choose the right goals and measurable objectives.  Defining your goals, and putting measurements and deadlines in place makes it easier to break your goals down. 

Breaking down your goals into short-term, measurable tasks and objectives helps you manage your time better, be more productive, and plan your day effectively. 

Making progress on your goals builds confidence and motivation.  When you break bigger goals down into smaller goals, your goals feel more manageable and achievable.

Setting a big goal can feel overwhelming and cause procrastination.  Having smaller goals to work towards enables you to plan out your day more effectively and stay focused. 

Breaking your goal down also helps you identify the obstacles that stop you from reaching your goals.  Overcoming obstacles can accelerate your path to goal achievement. 

Read also: 4 steps for working towards a goal

7. Prioritise your goals 

Setting goals gives your life direction and helps you define who you want to be in the future.  Goals also provide the framework to turn your vision of this future into reality.

To achieve your vision, it’s important to prioritise your goals.  When you prioritise your goals, you focus your time and energy on your most productive activities.  When you prioritise your time, you increase your focus on the activities that help you reach your goals faster.

This helps you manage your time better, increase your focus, and lower stress levels.  Prioritising your goals also reduces overwhelm and procrastination, giving you greater direction and purpose.

When you prioritise your goals, you direct your time and resources to your most important work.  This helps you manage your time better, which can reduce distractions and multi-tasking.

8. Set goals for all areas of your life

Setting goals helps you improve every aspect of your life that is important to you.  Life goals give your life purpose and meaning and define who you want to be in the future.

Goals help align your focus and promote self-improvement and personal growth.  To achieve the life you want, set big and small goals that motivate and inspire you.  This could be setting big life goals, health goals, financial goals, and fitness goals.  You can also set relationship goals, personal growth goals, and business goals.   

When setting goals, get clear on what achieving your goal means to you.  Understand how you will feel when you achieve your goal and the difference achieving your goal will make in your life. 

When you have this clarity on the outcome of your goal, it becomes easier to set goals that align with your bigger vision.  

Conclusion

Goal setting helps you clarify exactly what you want to achieve in life and provides a specific plan and path for achieving your goals.  When setting goals, it is important to choose goals that are important to you so you can set clear measurements and deadlines for your goals.  

When setting goals, ensure your goals are specific so you have a long-term vision and short-term focus.  If your goals are real and exciting, you are motivated to take action on achieving your goals.  When you set deadlines to accomplish your goals, you maintain focus and increase productivity.

Get a clear path and plan to achieve your goals 

What difference would it make in your life if you clarify your most important goals and get proven, practical strategies to make those goals a reality in just 60-minutes?

If you want to achieve everything you want in work and life, it all starts with getting crystal clear on what you want in your future.  In this 60-minute “Goal Achievement” coaching session, you’ll gain clarity on your vision for your future and what has to happen for you to feel happy with your progress.

During this focusing experience, you’ll:

• Gain clarity on your most important goals
• Put measurements and deadlines to these goals
• Get the motivation to achieve your goals 
• Gain clarity on what’s holding you back from achieving your goals 
• Get clear on opportunities to achieve your goals faster and easier
• Come away with a clear plan and path to take action

To learn more about this “Goal Achievement” coaching session, simply email me at mark@lucemiconsulting.co.uk, use the contact form, or book a free 30-minute clarity call.

Now I’d love to hear from you.

What’s your best goal setting tip?

What is your number one obstacle to achieving your goals?

Let me know in the comments.

Goal setting articles 

How to set goals that matter 

SMART Criteria: How to set smart goals 

Productivity: Tips on how to be more productive

7 time management tips to manage time effectively

A simple guide on how to be more productive 

About Mark Pettit 

Mark Pettit is a time management coach based in Colchester, Essex, UK.  He provides time management coaching programs and accountability coaching programs to business owners and entrepreneurs in the UK, US and Canada.

Mark also writes about time management, productivity and goal achievement.  Each month, over 19,000 people read Mark’s articles to help them achieve their goals faster.  Mark also speaks on goal setting to business owners, leaders, and teams.

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