How To Set And Achieve Your Goals

It is that time of year when we all tend to talk about goals and what we would like to achieve. Looking back on the past we may see that we have not always achieved our goals and therefore need to start thinking about what we need to change so that we get different results. What do we need to do to set and achieve last year’s goals?

I for sure have not achieved all my 2017 goals. In 2017 I decided I wanted to walk ‘The Great North Walk’, however, I had a small setback and needed to change the goals posts for that walk. I also said ‘I’d lose weight, yet my focus was not solid enough and once again I’m starting the New Year knowing losing weight should be a goal of mine. In November 2017 I commenced a 90-day challenge which included health, personal development and business. Therefore I’ve already started taking positive steps towards my 2018 goals by creating new positive habits.

In my post ‘Consistency Is Key To Success‘ I shared the importance of taking consistent action towards your goals and also mentioned that habits may need to change if you plan for success. There are many different ways to go about setting and achieving your goals, each goal-setting system can be split into multiple actions to help you achieve your goals.

8 Tips To Set And Achieve Your Goals

1) Your goals must be your goals.

This may sound like common sense, however, all too often goals are set that you don’t own. The goal is to be yours, not your partners, children, friends or employers. For the goal to be something that you want to strive for, you need to own it. It must mean something to you. The more meaning the goal has the more inspired you are to take action and stay committed to your goal. Review your list of goals and identify your life goals.

2) Your goals must be smart.

A smart goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.  When goals are S.M.A.R.T goals they are clear goals. By setting S.M.A.R.T goals you are giving yourself a focus and a blueprint to help you set and achieve your goals.

3) Visualise your goals.

The power of visualisation is a technique that has been used for centuries. Many successful people like, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Robbins all visualise achieving their goals. The power of visualisation is also within you. Daily visualisation of you achieving your goal can accelerate your outcome.

Close your eyes and start to visualise your goals. Visualise your success.

4) Break your goals down into smaller tasks.

Break the goals down into small chunks. When your goal is broken down it is more attainable. If you plan to run a marathon, you wouldn’t get up and run a marathon without training, without preparing for it. Each day take small steps towards the bigger picture, take daily steps towards your goal and track the steps you take.

Related post: 90 day habit tracker, reach your goals.

5) Track your habits.

Track your habits. To achieve your goals, it is essential to track. You need to track so you know what to change.

I track many ways, in a diary, with a rhythm register and also on Excel, especially when I’m working on multiple targets with many mini tasks. I like to track this way as I can see at a glance what I’m failing at, so I know what to improve. 

6) Review your wins and losses.

When you track, you can see what you are achieving and failing at. Fails are good. You learn from failures, as it is during failures that you adjust your goals. It is important to review your wins and losses and adjust your actions to align with your goals. You made a plan, the review assists you with keeping to your plan and assessing where you are and what changes you may need to make to achieve your goals. By reviewing your wins and losses, you can also see if any bad habits are setting in; for example, if you were practising golf daily and not improving, you can adjust and make changes so you can set and achieve your goals.

7) Work with an accountability partner.

Accountability partners are great for brainstorming ideas, sharing your successes, discussing your options and outcomes and supporting you when you feel too tired to proceed or just want to give up. Working with an accountability partner is a rewarding way to work towards your goals. When you work with an accountability partner, you will find that you prove to yourself that you can set and achieve your goals and that when someone holds you to your goals, you raise your standards and become more accountable to yourself.

I walk a few times a week with an accountability group. This has been great for me as I don’t want to let myself or others down. When I started walking with the accountability group. I knew no one. Now I communicate with the accountability group regularly in a Facebook group between walking sessions.

It is important as you learn new skills to be resourceful and expand your resources.

8) Reward your successes.

You need to reward yourself for your successes. A reward can be a simple shout-out and share about something you have achieved, time out to spend on self-care or a special treat, like a day trip out or a massage when a milestone is hit.

Every week, I get to take part in a motivation call where I can share a milestone I have had that week. Everyone loves to talk and share their successes. A motivational call where everyone supports and encourages each other is a fabulous way to acknowledge your success.  I love listening to other people’s successes and always learn from these motivational calls.

Plan for success by implementing the 8 tips to set and achieve your goals.

1. Own your goal.
2. Set SMART goals.
3. Visualise your goals.
4. Break your goals into smaller tasks.
5. Track your habits.
6. Review your habits and goals.
7. Work with an accountability partner.
8. Reward yourself.