Setting Goals, Getting Results

Goal setting is important. It’s one sure way to help you accomplish meaningful things in your life that are high priority.

Goals can be short or long term. Long-term goals – or lifetime goals – may seem overwhelming to some and are often best broken into many smaller goals. For instance, if you have a long-term goal of losing 50 pounds, it would be better to shoot for small milestones such as losing 2 pounds per week for 25 weeks. You will reach the goal of 2 pounds per week sooner than you will the 50 pounds. This is called setting “realistic goals.”

Each time you meet a goal, give yourself a treat! You deserve it. But plan ahead. Tell yourself in January that if you reach a particular goal by March you will treat yourself to a special reward, such as a pedicure. Acknowledging to yourself that you can accomplish goals will raise your self-esteem and encourage you to continue meeting future goals.

When setting your goals, focus on them by writing them down in your calendar and making other people aware of them. Having others involved will give you much-needed encouragement and support.

Some tips for goal setting include:

Be specific. Clearly state your goal and why you want to reach it, be it long term or short. List the exact details, dates and rewards. An example would be: To improve my health, I want to lose 5 pounds by August 10 and when I do, I will get a manicure.

Number your goals. Everyone generally has more than one goal they want to achieve. Give your goals numbers, in order of importance, on a list and keep the list in your calendar, organizer, PDA, the refrigerator or wherever you’re most likely to check every day. An example of this is:

My goals for 2007:

1. Buy a house

2. Finish six college courses

3. Pay off one credit card

4. Update my resume

5. Take a computer class

Be sure to list goals that you know you can meet. If, for some reason, you find trouble meeting your goals, review them periodically to see if they are still relevant for you or if there is something you can do differently to make the goals attainable. If the goal is no longer valid for you, then remove it from your list and replace it with another goal.

Reaching your goals can sometimes require multiple steps. For instance, the goal of buying a house can be a daunting and complicated task. Before you actually buy the house, you will need to complete several steps. Write them down.

Let’s say January 5, you write “Obtain my credit report,” then January 12, write “Look at different neighborhoods.” By February 1, “Get pre-qualified for a mortgage” and by February 5 “Find a Realtor.” And go on from there. Remember, the first thing to do is write your goals, then break them into small steps. You will find it easier to attain what you want.

There are different areas in your life for which you may want to set goals. Those areas could be career, family, financial, mental, physical and spiritual. You may decide to pick one goal from each area or choose two or three areas and go from there.

What do you do when your goals change? In your search for a new home, you may start looking for a neighborhood and decide you don’t like any of the choices. You may no longer wish to buy a house. Aren’t you glad you looked at neighborhoods before becoming pre-qualified for a loan and finding a Realtor? When this happens, simply update your list. If you listed steps in your calendar, simply delete them and move on to your other goals!

Setting your goals is the easiest part. Mapping the steps to reach the goals takes just a little bit of creativity and time. Furthermore, don’t set yourself up for disappointment by not allowing yourself adequate time to achieve your goals. Be realistic.

For more information on motivation and more, see the Hot Topics in Health message board.