Why Setting Goals Is More Effective than Planning New Year’s Resolutions
Setting smaller goals is a better approach than setting new year's resolutions. Resolutions often don't last, and you can feel discouraged when you don't achieve them. However, smaller goals are more achievable, and you can feel successful after completing them.
No matter the scope of a goal, setting one can be challenging for even the most seasoned person. There are many different ways to create them, and they all have advantages and disadvantages. So, the best way to set a goal is to decide what you want and your motivation and then figure out the steps it will take to get there.
In the following article, we'll discuss three types of goal-setting frameworks but dive deeply into the most notable--SMART Goals to ensure you hit yours this new year.
Types of Goal-Setting Frameworks:
The "SMART" method is one of the most popular ways to set goals. This strategy stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. A smart goal is a type of goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This means that the goal should be clear about what you want to achieve and how you will know when you've completed it. It should also be something that can be accomplished in a certain amount of time (not too long or short). Finally, the goal should be relevant to your life and work so that it's not just another task on your to-do list.
The "SATISFACTORY" method is another way to set goals that focuses on getting things done as quickly as possible with little regard for how well they are done or how much effort it takes to do them.
The "SCARED" method is another way that focuses on avoiding failure at all costs by setting low expectations and not challenging oneself.
If you need help setting SMART goals, here are some easy yet effective ways to do it this new year.
The first step in achieving goals is to identify the goals.
Knowing what you want to achieve will help you focus on the steps necessary to make it happen. Once you've identified your goals, you need to decide how you will achieve them. The key is to figure out what resources (time, money, people, etc.) you have available and plan accordingly.
For example, if you want to improve the quality of your writing, then you should consider the following steps:
Organize your thoughts and ideas before you start writing.
Develop a thesis statement idea.
Use an outline or a storyboard to draft the content of your article.
Revise and edit your work to ensure it's well-written and understandable.
Set an objective and a deadline.
Setting an objective and a deadline is crucial because it helps you to keep your goal in perspective. It also allows you to focus on what you want to achieve because, with these two things, it's easier to stay focused and maintain sight of your goal.
Some examples of objectives are
Write an essay in 10 days.
Learn how to do something new within three months.
Save $1,000 before March 2023.
Travel to Europe this year.
Some examples of deadlines are
Finish my book draft by the end of the month.
Complete my essay by the end of this week.
Write a business plan by the end of the quarter.
Go to Paris by August 20.
Be sure to set long-term, short-term, and medium-term goals.
You can set short-term goals over a day, a week, or a month.
You can set medium-term goals over a quarter or six months.
You can complete long-term goals over a year or more.
Be realistic with your expectations.
Setting realistic goals when you set a new goal or start a new project is essential. This will help you stay on track and not get discouraged if you don't reach your destination in the time frame you originally planned.
To set a goal effectively, you need to have a plan on how you will achieve it and what resources you will need (time, money).
Prioritize essential tasks to ensure you stay on the goal-setting track.
It's always best to start with the most urgent task and work your way down. This will ensure you do what needs to be done and remember all essential items.
Make sure your goal is achievable but challenging enough to keep you motivated.
The goal should be challenging but possible. You should be able to work hard and achieve the goal you set. Setting small goals and achieving them will help you build momentum and motivate you to do more.
Write your goal down and share it with people you trust.
If you have a goal that you want to achieve, it's essential to share your plan with people you trust. There are many ways to do this, such as writing it down on paper and posting it somewhere prominent so that people will see it every day.
Get feedback from mentors or colleagues on how to achieve your goal better.
Getting feedback on how to achieve your goal is one of the best ways to improve yourself. You can get feedback from mentors, colleagues, or family members. Ask them what they think you could do better and how they would change the way you are doing it now. Additionally, find someone who has reached your goal and see how they did it. Look for patterns and similarities between your dreams and theirs. You might find that you are on the right track but need to tweak a few things.
Keep track of what you have accomplished so far; this will motivate you to continue working towards your goal and give you a sense of accomplishment when it's achieved.
Make a public declaration of your goal.
The general statement of your purpose can make it more real. It's a way to take the idea you want to achieve and make it more tangible. It's also a way to let other people know what you're working towards, and they can help you with your goal.
Find a partner and make a pact to hold each other accountable for achieving your goals.
You can email or text one another weekly to monthly to check in to ensure you’re both staying on track.
Post reminders in places you'll see often, such as the bathroom mirror or on the dashboard of your desk.
For example, if you have to go grocery shopping, post a note on the bathroom mirror. This will help you remember before you've left home and can avoid the inconvenience of forgetting when you're at the store.
It's not always easy to remember things and we often need to remember what we were supposed to do in mid-stride. But, with a few post-it notes placed strategically around your home or office, you'll be able to remember what you need to do and where.
Design a mood board.
Create visual reminders by drawing pictures, making collages, or taking photos of what success looks like to you. A study by the University of Waterloo found that people who created visual reminders of what success looked like to them could perform better in their academic and work-related tasks. This is because they were able to keep themselves focused on their goals.
Ask yourself what you want your life to look like in five years, 10 years, 20 years, etc, and write it down. This exercise will help you create a vision for your life and what you want to accomplish in the future. It is essential to write this down because it can be hard to remember things after a while, so if you write them down, they are more likely to become a reality.
Consider what you would need to do for the next 12 months for your current goal if you were 100 percent successful at achieving that goal.
Make modifications as necessary to ensure you hit your goals on time.
Find a way to celebrate each time you reach a milestone in achieving your goal (even if it's just a little bit).
Get rid of distractions and stay focused on what needs to be done.
With so many distractions, it can be challenging to stay on task. To avoid the temptation of procrastination, you need to make a plan and stick with it. Some ways to keep focused include
Starting the day with healthy habits: a good night's sleep, eating well, exercising, and managing stress.
Having a work routine that suits your personality and being mindful of the time.
Being fearless to take breaks and have some fun now and then.
Set reminders so you remember all of your tasks and deadlines.
Write down your goal as an affirmation and say it out loud every day until you believe in yourself and your ability to achieve this goal.
Affirmations are positive statements or beliefs in oneself. They can be used to help a person accomplish a goal or get rid of unwanted habits. When they are repeated over and over, they start to shape one's perception of themselves. When you say your affirmations out loud, you will notice all the ways in which you already believe it is true and can happen.
Find someone who has already achieved what you want to achieve and ask them how they did it because they have already been through what you are going through now.
It's never too late to learn from the best, so if you're looking for advice or a role model, find someone who has already achieved what you want to achieve and ask them how they did it because they have already been through what you are going through now.
Lastly, take action! The only way that anything will happen is if you do something about it.
The only way that anything will happen is if you do something about it. You need to take calculated risks, try new things, and not fear failure.
Final thoughts:
There are many ways to set goals. You can set goals for yourself, your children, or other people. Plans can be long-term and short-term. Goals can be personal or professional and may be physical, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual. But the key to success is staying focused and consistent to ensure you meet your goals.
