Thinking of a goal is easy. Committing to it and actually achieving it is hard. That’s why so many people have goals & a dream life, but very few get there.
That’s not to say it’s impossible, but you do need to make a commitment and see it through.
So many people go through life aiming, aiming, aiming at their goal but they never pull the trigger.
Be different. Set yourself up for success. Be honest to yourself about what you want to achieve and what you can realistically achieve with the resources you have.
Don’t set goals that are completely out of control. But at the same time, make sure your goals are challenging enough to push you outside of your comfort zone.
Personally, I like to start with some smaller goals that are ‘easy wins’. Achieving a goal builds confidence and momentum to keep pushing towards bigger goals. Instead of setting a goal of losing 10kg in a month, break it down into smaller targets that you can achieve consistently, such as hitting 10k steps per day, eating more veggies, and drinking more water each day.
One of the first steps you need to make is to write your goal down as a SMARTER objective.
SMARTER Objectives
So what is a SMARTER objective? Essentially, it’s how to set a goal you will actually achieve. If you Google ‘SMARTER’ objectives, there are varying definitions, but they all boil down to the same principles:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
Evalute-able
Rewarding
SMARTER objectives hold you accountable & makes it a lot harder to give up. It also makes it easier to gain momentum & increases the chances that you'll actually follow through on the goal.
Creating a SMARTER objective means committing to something and following through, which a lot of people never do.
7 ways to set goals that you will actually achieve:
1. Create 3-5 'SMARTER' objectives, write them down and commit to them.
They don’t have to be perfect, but they do need to follow these basic principles:
- Specific: Decide what you want to achieve. Keep asking yourself ‘why’ until you have a goal that is extremely specific.
- Measurable: What does success look like? Visualise yourself achieving this goal & write down what that looks like.
- Achievable: Do you have the resources and time to dedicate to achieving your goal by a given date? How are you going to do it?
- Realistic: Is your goal realistic? Do you need help achieving it? Be honest with yourself.
- Timely: Pick a date that you want to achieve this goal by. Again, be realistic & allocate yourself more time than you think you’ll need (life happens).
- Evaluate-able: Have your goals somewhere that you’ll see them often (at least a few times per week). Dedicate some time each week or fortnight to assess your progress & make adjustments if necessary.
- Rewarding: Give yourself an added boost of motivation by having something to look forward to when you achieve your goal! Trust me, it will help during those times when you’re exhausted & struggling to stay committed.
2. Pull the trigger!
You know what’s worse than failing? Not even trying. Stop procrastinating and make a start.
3. Know that you’re going to make mistakes.
Literally no one is perfect. Especially when they’re trying something for the first time. If [when] you stumble, take a step back to look at what happened and learn from it. Don’t start making excuses when things going go as planned.
4. Celebrate the little wins.
This is a big one for me. Setting micro goals within your SMARTER objectives can give you a boost of confidence and build momentum to keep working towards your end goal.
5. Have some ‘structured flexibility’.
Find a way to ditch the ‘all or nothing’ mentality. Even the most perfect and well thought out plan is nothing without execution, consistence and evaluation. Just because you committed to achieving something, it doesn’t mean there is only one way to get there. Be flexible, but in a structured way.
If the original plan stops working for you, change the plan, not the goal.
6. Shift your perspective.
Life is unpredictable, but it doesn’t have a vendetta against you. If things aren’t going your way, shift your perspective. Focus on the things that are going right in your life and be grateful for the things and people that you do have in your life. This alone can have a huge impact on the likelihood of your success.
The key to doing well isn't motivation. It’s to stop demotivating yourself.
7. Be proud of yourself.
Working towards goals is hard! Give yourself some credit and be proud of the fact that not only are you taking control over your life, but you’re also setting an example for the people around you.
BONUS tips:
- Get a physical calendar, whiteboard, corkboard etc. & write your goals down so you see them every day
- Create a morning routine that you can commit to daily. I like to start the day with a 20-40min walk, then come home & have a coffee while I read a book and write down 5 things I’m grateful for.
- Reduce time spent scrolling on social media! You already know it, but it’s a massive waste of time. It’s also pretty common to lose hours per day scrolling the ‘gram & not even remember half the things you saw! Spend that time on something more productive, like reading a book.
- Read more. Reading a book in bed before you go to sleep is a great way to unwind & take a break from screens.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is soooo underrated and is especially important if you work full-time, study, have kids or have an irregular schedule. Getting enough rest will ensure you have the energy to put into your own personal goals, as well as your other commitments.
“A river cuts through rock not because of strength, but through tenacity.”