The new year is the perfect time to take stock of where you are, where you want to be, and how to achieve your goals.
In the article below, we shall explore how to set effective goals and how to achieve them without burning out.
You have probably experienced the benefits of goal setting before.
Or perhaps you may have felt a jolt of energy, self-confidence and fresh motivation as you pondered new possibilities for the future.
Have you written your aspirations down, or perhaps decided to hold those thoughts in your head?
So how do you set some inspiring goals for the new year?.
Carve out a chunk of time and think about the three pillars of goal setting: why, what and how.
Why you want it
Many of us have some idea about what steps to take, however, we have not crystallised why we want them.
Is it more financial rewards you are drawn to?
Do you want to land an exciting new job?
Do you want new challenges and variety?
There is no right or wrong reasons for your rationale.
Financial rewards can indeed be exciting, however, people often forget to consider that higher level jobs may come with longer hours, weekend work, and an increased workload.
Meeting new challenges can be motivating, however, the learning curve can be steep at the start.
What you want to achieve
Firstly, think about things you always wanted to try.
You could apply for a promotion, take up a new language course, start volunteering, mentor young people or learn public speaking.
New experiences can move you out of your comfort zone and give you fresh perspectives.
They could provide you with opportunities to experience the world at a richer and deeper level.
Did you know that people are 33% more likely to achieve their aims if they record them, according to research?.
Remember to write down your aspirations as this simple act can contribute to your success.
How to achieve
1. Do one thing a day
I received a remarkable piece of advice nearly 20 years ago.
A university lecturer shared an off-the-cuff remark in a seminar which forever changed my way of working.
My lecturer suggested that people can generally learn almost any subject or accomplish seemingly impossible goals if they just do one thing about it daily.
Rain or shine, you would come up with a simple action and just to do it.
This principle works magically because daily practice boosts motivation.
Additionally, you create momentum.
You eliminate precious time spent on recalling information.
2. Share your aspirations
Goal setting can work miracles for those who share their aspirations with others.
Instead of telling everyone about your new objectives, it is wise to carefully pick a couple of supportive friends.
The more ambitious your goals are, the more you might need to ‘protect’ them at the initial times.
Criticism, doubt and judgment can quickly destroy your enthusiasm and could lead to giving up on your cherished dreams.
Alternatively, you could think about finding your own mentor.
A skilful mentor will be able to listen to you carefully, challenge you gently (if needed) and share some hints and tips with you.
The right mentor would certainly believe in your ability to succeed and help you see things in refreshingly new ways.
3. Avoid procrastination
Take a good look at your overall actions.
E.g.: Are you wasting time to avoid getting started?
Are you checking and liking, and commenting on social media just to distract yourself from the task?
If you find yourself regularly procrastinating, ask yourself why you keep putting off the task.
You might feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work, feel physically exhausted, lack crucial skills or do not believe that the work is meaningful.
Use a journal to acknowledge your feelings.
Express your concerns to an empathetic friend.
Look deeper into the cause of procrastination with curiosity.
4. Set SMART goals
Throughout your professional life, you may have been asked to set some SMART goals.
SMART will help you to become more clear on your objectives and will increase the likelihood of achieving them.
If you have not used this tool for a while, you may find it helpful to revisit it.
S – Specific. Is your goal focused and clear? If it is a big goal, do you need to break it down to small segments? Have you written it down?
M – Measurable. How would you know that you have achieved it? How would you know that you are making progress? What would be the sign of success?
A – Action. What steps do you need to take to accomplish your goal? Are these steps clear and specific?
R – Realistic. How feasible is it for you to achieve this? Would you need to adjust the time frame to make it more realistic? Do you believe that you can accomplish this objective, given your skills, knowledge and the resources available to you? How do you feel about this goal? Do you feel excitement, overwhelm, anxiety or any other emotions?
T – Time bound. Have you set a clear deadline for accomplishing it? Do you need to set any further milestones?
5. Project manage your time
There are wide range of applications which could help you to structure your time more effectively.
Here are some apps which you might like to try:
Trello – this tool would help you to divide your tasks into 3 categorises: to-do, doing, and done. If you prefer a kanban-style format and being able to visually track your actions, this may be an excellent option for you.
Passion Planner – this app offers a calendar so that you will be able to schedule some of your activities and track your progress. This is a great tool for becoming more productive.
Evernote – are you looking for a note taking app which you could use while completing research or meeting with your peers? This app will help you to keep your notes in one place and develop a more organised study approach.
Explore other articles related to goal setting:
- How to navigate career progression
- Taking the Next Steps in your Career
- Considering a Career Change? Your 5 Step Plan for Success
Leave a Reply