How To Effectively Set Goals (And Crush Them)
We are 6 months deep into the year, and we know for a fact that the general population isn't reaching their New Year's resolutions, or at least not so far.
In fact, only about 2-3% of people are successful in following through with their goals.
If you're in the 97% of people who fail to meet their objectives, don't fret - setting and reaching goals is a process that can be mastered with a little bit of effort.
In this article, we’re going to go through our take on this topic to help you set goals… and crush them!
Start With The Mind
The first step is to get rid of the phrase "I should" from your vocabulary when it comes to setting objectives.
When you have the mindset of "I should do X thing more," you immediately put yourself in a position of defeat.
Instead, switch your perspective to something like, "I want to do X thing three times a week because it makes me feel good."
This small change in language sets the tone for success by making your goal feel attainable and desired rather than like a dreaded task.
And don't fool yourself into thinking that setting any old goal will suffice; your objective needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant!
Nebulous goals like "lose weight" or "get in shape" are doomed to fail from the start because they lack direction.
Get as specific as possible - specificity is key when trying to achieve something.
Make It Time-Bound
You've probably heard many people say things like, "I want to get in shape" or "I need to save more money."
But did you know that these types of goals are actually far less likely to be achieved than if they were time-bound?
That's right, setting a deadline for your goals makes you not only more likely to achieve them but also more likely to exceed your expectations.
So why is this? Well, it has to do with the way our brains are wired. When we set a deadline for ourselves, we activate an area of the brain responsible for things like organization and planning, and it's also where our sense of self-discipline comes from.
In other words, making your goals time-bound gives you a mental boost that can help you overcome any challenges that come your way.
Of course, this doesn't mean that every goal you set needs to have a strict deadline.
Some goals may be more flexible in nature, and that's perfectly fine. The important thing is to find what works best for you and to use deadlines as a tool to help you achieve your goals!
So remember, don’t just throw random, badly framed goals into the mix because, more often than not, all you do for them is a burst of random, short-lasting actions.
First Principle Analysis
When it comes to setting goals and creating a plan of action towards them, most people often rely on a "shoot for the stars and hope for the best" approach.
But as anyone who's ever tried this knows, it's not exactly the most effective way to achieve success.
A better approach is to use something called first principle analysis. This involves breaking down your goal into its component parts and then coming up with a plan of action that takes each of these factors into account.
By taking this more systematic approach, you're much more likely to achieve your goal in a timely and efficient manner.
So if you're looking to set some goals that you can actually achieve, remember to use first principle analysis to create your plan of action.
Oh and don't forget, make every little step of your plan time-bound!
Monitor Your Thoughts!
It is quite often that we set goals, only to ditch them in a couple of weeks. And this is not because the goal is impossible to achieve.
The fact of the matter is that many times, we just have patterned, hard-wired trains of thought that lead to certain actions that ultimately sabotage our goals!
For this reason, it is important to monitor yourself throughout the course of action, on your way to the goal, whatever it may be.
Watch out for intrusive, self-sabotaging thoughts, and correct your course of action if needed!
Stay Consistent
Why is it that some people always seem to reach their goals while others never even come close?
While there may be many factors at play, one key difference is that successful people are consistent in their efforts.
They don't just work hard when they feel like it or when they're in the mood; they make a commitment to themselves and they stick to it.
This doesn't mean that they never have off days or that they never miss an opportunity to work towards the goal, but they understand that these mental setbacks are temporary and that they need to keep moving forward if they want to achieve their goals.
This is why staying consistent is the most important thing when it comes to goal setting.
Final Thoughts
Setting goals is essential to success, but it’s not enough to simply write them down.
You also have to take action and put in the work. Use these tips to set effective goals and crush them like a boss. Thanks for reading!