Goal setting is a process for thinking about what you want to achieve in your future, and for directing yourself to turn your future vision into reality. The process of setting measurable goals helps you choose a measurable destination you want to achieve in life.
Measurable goals help you identify exactly what you want to achieve when you reach your goal and gives you the measurable criteria to track your progress. Having measurable goals allows you to break your goals down into measurable elements so you have a clear focus to direct your attention to.
With measurable goals, you select a measurable target or objective you want to achieve and establish measurable criteria to see clearly what you’ve accomplished. These measurements provide clear direction and motivation to reach your goals.
Measurable goals are specific and time-bound, allowing you to track your progress towards reaching your goals. When your goal is measurable, you see the daily progress and improvements you make towards achieving your goal.
In this article, I’m going to share the importance of setting measurable goals and provide 7 benefits of setting goals with measurements.
Read my guide to learn the benefits of goal setting.
What are measurable goals?
Measurable goals are personal goals and professional goals that have a number or an event attached to the goal and a deadline to achieve the goal.
Measurable goals are important to identify exactly what it is you want to achieve and when the goal has been achieved. Having a measurable goal can improve excitement and motivation because you know when you’ve reached your destination and achieved the goal.
Learn more about setting measurable goals with my guide to setting SMART goals.
Why is it important that goals be measurable?
It is important to create measurable goals so you can measure your progress and performance. When you set measurable goals, you can track your progress, celebrate your achievements and improve areas that aren’t performing as well.
Assessing your performance builds excitement and motivation and helps build momentum towards achieving your goal. Having measurable goals gives you the motivation, focus, and accountability to achieve your goals.
Discover the benefits of accountability coaching to help you achieve your goals.
7 benefits of setting measurable goals
Here are 7 benefits of measurable goals.
1. Clear destination
Having measurable goals gives you a clear destination to reach for your goal. Having a measurable goal to reach ensures you know exactly when you’ve achieved your goal. If your goal isn’t measurable, you won’t know when you’ve achieved your goal.
When you set a measurable goal, your goal is specific and time-bound, which increases motivation and focus. Having a measurable objective to work towards also builds confidence and self-esteem as you can see the progress you’re making
Read my guide to goal setting to set better goals.
2. Greater direction
Having measurable goals gives you clear direction and focus for your daily life. When you have a clear path and plan to follow, you feel clear, confident, and capable.
When you set goals, you identify exactly what you want to see, feel and do when you reach your goals. This helps to clarify your future and give your life a greater sense of purpose. Read my guide on how to set goals to get a greater direction on your goal setting.
3. Greater clarity
Setting goals that are measurable give you greater clarity on what’s important to you in your life. This clarity gives you the ability to set a clear and specific goal that you can work towards daily.
When your goal is undefined, it is harder to make progress towards achieving your goal because it has no clear destination. Setting goals with a deadline gives you the clarity to take action on your goals and understand the benefit of reaching your goal.
Read also: 11 goal setting mistakes and how to fix them.
4. Increased motivation
Setting goals gives your life purpose, and boosts motivation and self-confidence. Measurable goals should be exciting and motivating enough that you want to take action on reaching your goals.
When your goals are exciting and inspiring, you have long-term direction and short-term motivation. If your goals aren’t motivating, you simply won’t take action.
There are always bumps and obstacles on the road to achieving your goals. Having goals that are measurable ensures you have the motivation to stay on track, and a way to measure your progress.
Get motivated with my guide to increasing motivation.
4. Measurable progress
Motivation is what drives you towards a goal, but it is the measurements that help you track your progress towards achieving your goal. Having measurements in place gives you a clear process to measure the progress you make towards your goals.
Setting measurable criteria gives you a clear path to follow. This path helps you tangibly and effectively track your progress towards achieving your goal.
Making measurable progress towards your goals boosts confidence and self-esteem. When you see daily gains and improvements, you stay motivated and want to take action.
5. Improved focus
Goal setting helps align focus with your actions because you can see the measurable progress you’re making. Goals help you clarify the measurable objective you want to achieve within a specific time.
If you want to make progress, you need to set goals. Without goals, you lack focus and direction. Goal setting allows you to take control of your future, and also provides measurable criteria for seeing the progress you’re making on your goals.
When you set goals, you have a clear target to reach which helps you focus your time and energy on the activities that will help you reach your goals.
Read my proven tips on how to stay focused.
6. Guides daily actions
Goal setting helps you get clear on the outcome you want to achieve. But, having goals you can measure provides the framework to break down your goal into daily actions that will help you achieve your goals.
When you outline your action plan to achieve your goals, you can see the measurable progress you’re making towards your goal. Having a clear strategy to reach your goals ensures you set better weekly plans and daily plans.
This helps you prioritise your time and ensures you eliminate distractions and overwhelm. When you feel focused and productive, you can make faster progress on your goals.
Plan your day effectively with my guide to productive daily planning.
7. Greater confidence
Goal setting is the most effective way of building your self-confidence. When you make measurable progress on your goals, you boost self-confidence and increase self-esteem.
Having goals gives your life direction and purpose. Achieving your goals increases your feelings of self-worth and self-value. You can experience higher levels of self-worth when you set goals and achieve your goals.
When you achieve your goals, you have the confidence to aim for bigger and better goals. Increase your self-confidence with my 10 self-confidence tips.
Summing Up
When your goal is measurable, it is more likely to be achieved. Setting goals that are measurable gives you greater direction and focus. Measurements help you track your progress and boost your excitement and motivation.
When you make measurable progress towards achieving your goals you increase confidence and self-esteem. Defining the measurements of your goal or objective makes it clearer, and simpler to reach.
Further reading
The importance of writing down your goals
8 time management tips to manage time effectively
How to achieve goals: 8 tips to help you achieve your goals
About Mark Pettit
Mark Pettit is a time management coach and accountability 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 10,000 people read Mark’s articles to help them achieve their goals faster.
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