January is the time for beginnings. This is the time when we vow to transition to healthier lifestyles, start new projects, build better goals, create new memories, and try to start new healthy habits. Back in November of last year, we started a series called “Building Super Habits” As part of that series, we will talk about building the super habit of “Goal Setting.”
To help with all the new things we want to start in our lives, we’re going to talk about goal setting. Goal setting is important because, without it, we would lack focus and direction. Goal setting addresses two points: 1.) setting goals gives us a battle plan on how to proceed and 2.) it lets us see what we’ve already accomplished and what else needs to be done. Proper goals setting is not just writing down a list of things you want. You have to consider each one carefully and how it relates to your well being. How can your goals help you grow as a person? What do you hope to achieve?
Try these two methods:
Motivational goal setting
Reflect on things that motivate you and how they relate to your goals. When you set goals, they have to be attached to something you consider a high priority in your life. For example, the goal is to save money to buy a house; the motivation being your family. You want your family to move into a house all your own. So reflect on your motivations. These are generally things you prioritize in your life. That will ensure that you are fully motivated to accomplish these goals, and there is an extremely high value in going for and achieving this goal.
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting
We all know what S.M.A.R.T. goals are, but just to recap, S.M.A.R.T. goals mean:
- S-specific
- M-measurable
- A-attainable
- R-relevant
- T-time bound
Let’s work with the previous example, the goal of saving money to buy a new house for the family. In setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, follow these guidelines:
Specific – your goals have to be defined and specific. If you set vague goals, you have no way of knowing what you are working towards. So you have to have something concrete in mind. In this case, it would be helpful if you assign a specific amount to your goal. Calculate the cost of owning a house and put some thought into it. Are you working within a budget? Do you already have some money saved off to start with? If that’s the case, how much more should you save up for?
Measurable – if you don’t set measurable goals, you have no way of knowing whether you have achieved your goals or not. So for this example, set dates and assign target amount to those dates. That way, you’d know if you’re on point or need to scale back a bit to save more.
Achievable – be realistic. You have to set goals that are within your capability to achieve. In this case, ask yourself if you can afford that posh home in the exclusive subdivision in the timeframe you’ve set for yourself or if you can work with a cute house in a relatively new and safe neighborhood. Chances are, you would likely find the cute house more achievable.
Relevant – keep your goals aligned with the trajectory of your life. It will not make sense to buy a family home right away if you are just starting a new job. It would make more sense to rent a place out for yourself at this point in your life. Give yourself time to work on other goals that are relevant to the course your life is on right now and prioritize your goals.
Time bound – you can’t have a never ending goal. First of all that will be majorly demoralizing – not knowing when to stop to celebrate your wins. Secondly, that would no longer be called a goal. You have to stop sometime and so your goal has to be time bound. In this example, you have to carefully calculate how long it will take at your present income to achieve your goal of buying a house. Consider if you can get financial assistance or if you can create their sources of income to make a shorter time-bound goal.
Use these methods to evaluate your goals and start writing them down. Now build an action plan and stick to it! Good luck with your goals we hope you achieve them. Remember to stay humble and hustle hard!
Written by Jaie O.- The Help