How to Set Goals and Stay on Course

Organizing your goals can help you accomplish them.

Goal setting is a skill that is useful throughout your life. Both short-term goals and long-term goals require you to evaluate what is important to you and what you would like to accomplish. Setting goals ensures that you have a specific plan toward your desired accomplishments over the course of your life. Setting smaller goals that ultimately lead to your lifetime goals is a key component in staying on course to accomplish your personal goals.

Instructions

Setting Goals

1. Brainstorm what your possible goals will be. Write a list of the areas in your life where you would like to set goals. For example, some possible areas for goals are education or career advancement.

2. Examine the areas of your life in which you would like to accomplish goals over a significant period of time. In this example list, let's say you'll plan to accomplish your long-term goals in 10 years.

3. Determine your long-term goals. Narrow the list of goals you made during brainstorming and determine which goals are most significant to you. They will shape the outline of your short-term goals.

4. Set short-term goals that will gradually lead to accomplishing your long-term goals. For example, if you plan to accomplish your long-term goals in 10 years, set your short-term goals along time frames that will lead to your long-term goal. The time frames to accomplish your goals in 10 years are a one-month plan, a six-month plan, a year plan, and a five year plan.

5. Create daily to-do lists that have gradual steps toward your long-term goals. Review all of your goals to be sure that they match with your desired lifestyle.

Stay On Course

1. Update your daily to-do lists regularly.

2. Complete your goals every day. Ensure that they are steps to accomplishing your short-term, and thus, long-term goals.

3. Review your long-term goals periodically.

4. Modify your long-term goals as you achieve your short-term goals.

References

• Mind Tools: Personal Goal Setting