How To Set Goals

Posted on December 26, 2009
Filed Under Time Management |

A life goal list can be quite varied. Some people want to improve their health through dietary modifications and exercise routines. Other people want to manage their time better and have freer schedules. Perhaps it’s an unfulfilling job or a dissatisfying relationship that’s bringing an individual down. A simple “want” is different than a goal. It is not enough to desire change, for without a plan of action, little can realistically be accomplished. Here is a quick guide to understanding how to set goals — not just any goals, but goals you can achieve.

It is not enough to learn how to set goals: you must learn to set SMART goals, and to do so you just need to follow some guidelines. First, you must select a goal that is Specific. Instead of saying, “I want a new job,” you can say, “I want to work as a field reporter at WBTV.” Secondly, you need a goal that is Measurable, so you will know when success has been reached. You can choose your measurement by quantity, quality, cost, etc. Thirdly, your goals need to be Achievable. Setting realistic goals is the only way to find happiness. The fourth criterion is about Relevance; the goal must mean something to you and have an emotional tie for you, otherwise you will find motivation difficult. You also want to make sure you have the right resources. For example, you can’t say you want to be a WBTV reporter if you have no college experience. (Your first goal must be to get that experience.) Lastly, your goal must be Timed. With a start date and an end date, you will find added motivation.

One difficulty when people learn how to set goals is finding realistic goals. This requires a bit of research. If an individual wants to be a WBTV reporter, she must look up the job qualifications and see if she possesses them. If she hasn’t completed college, then it would be unrealistic for her to assume she can walk right into the job. If she hasn’t drawn up a resume, she cannot assume she’ll be able to meet this particular goal. In another example, if a person is unhappy in his current relationship, it may be unrealistic for him to set personal goals of finding only professional models to date. While you don’t want to sell yourself short, you need to set attainable goals before raising the bar to achieve even more. Runners don’t try to finish a marathon for their first race — they train, accomplish smaller goals and work their way up to the top!

After learning how to set goals, some people find it hard to pursue the plan. Often times, they have set far too many goals for themselves and don’t know where to begin. Perhaps you hate your retail job, your partner is aggravating you to no end, you want to be more involved in your guitar playing hobby, you know you need better time management skills and you want to spend more time visiting with your family. All these impending goals can actually make you feel unhappy if you feel swamped by them and overwhelmed. Instead, try to focus on which particular area is making you most unhappy. Maybe your job has you ready to pull your hair out each and every day, whereas your partner is a mere annoyance for now. Start with pursuing your job change and begin to work your way toward the other areas once you achieve your first goal. You may find after clearing up one area that the other parts of your life fall into place and you are much happier.

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed treating panic disorder as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medication available at anxietydisordercure.com.

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