Strategies for Long- & Short-Term Goals
Objectives related to matters such as health, career and finances are more achievable when set up as short- and long-term goals. Long-term goals may take five to 10 years to achieve. Short-term goals may be accomplished within weeks, months or a couple years. When setting goals, keep in mind that those that are clear and measurable have a greater chance of being achieved.
Other People Are Reading
-
Brainstorm
-
Use basic brainstorming techniques to discover short- and long-term goals. To help you think about short-term goals, give yourself five minutes to create a list of things you would like to do if you were told that you only had six months to live. Don't inhibit yourself by liming this list to things you think are "reasonable." What may not be achievable within six months may be achievable as a long-term goal.
Milestones
-
The most effective way to achieve important long-term goals is to break them down into smaller milestones. Milestones are stepping stones that measure how far you are from long-term goals. For instance, if the tasks and activities required to complete a particular training program include timely submitting of the entrance application and written essay, this becomes a milestone along the road to achieving the ultimate goal of successfully completing the program.
-
Prioritization
-
Prioritization is important when setting both short-term and long-term goals. A daily to-do list that has no priority setting strategy will ineffectively use your time. Look at your to-do list and create a number ranking for each listed item based on what is most important or lends the most value to long-term goals. If you are not able to complete everything on your to-do list in a targeted time-frame, completing the most important of the listed goals provides the most effective use of your time.
Timelines
-
Goals without a timeline is no more than wishful thinking. Break goals down into the tasks required to complete them, and then create reasonable deadlines for each of these activities. Developing realistic end dates increases your commitment level for each goal.
-
