Though you may not realize it, goal setting is a crucial part of your life. From fulfilling your New Year’s resolution to getting that one mark on the exam you have been working towards your whole life, goal setting is what makes this all possible.
Goal Characteristics
You may be wondering, What should my goal look like? How do I know if it is unrealistic? The characteristics of a typical vision includes the following:
They challenge you.
When planned out, they are achievable with hard work and determination.
They are specific.
They are measurable.
Provide relevance to your life.
Achievable within a reasonable period.
If you follow these steps, your goal will be challenging and not bore you, it will be achievable with passion and hard work, which acts as a motivator. It will be specific and measurable for you to understand how much you have to work towards it and define success. The goal will also provide relevance to your life to ensure excitement and set priorities. Lastly, you will know your deadline without the mindset of ‘I will reach this someday! since that someday will never come. If the goal does not meet the criteria, it would be best to look it over and find ways to modify it.
Here is an example of a good versus bad goal.
Let us say I want to grow an online business: I want my business to have happier customers, opposed to, ‘by the end of this year, my business will obtain an average of five stars for customer reviews.’
Which goal is more appropriate? The first is less specific and provides relevance, but it does not give a deadline, nor does it define what success means here, which is required for a specific goal. However, the second fulfills the six characteristics mentioned above, and therefore is doable!
Planning
Once you come up with your goal, it is time to plan! Firstly, make sure you are looking at the big picture. You do not want to be too detail-oriented; you will never get it done. The first step to planning is to understand what you need to do to achieve your goal before the deadline.
There are several different ways you can plan it all out:
Using a planner or notebook
Using calendars
Making an everyday to-do list
Here are some of the next steps to take:
Brainstorm what possible actions you will need to take to achieve your goal.
Based on the remaining time until your deadline, divide the amount of work based on a general time frame.
The amount of work in a given time frame (weeks, months, year) needs to be realistic and doable.
If I know I will be busier one week than the other, I could move some work from one week to the other to ensure maximum productivity.
Plans need to be flexible in case of external factors!
After planning out what needs to be done in a general time frame, go into more specific times.
Create a reminder.
You can print out a calendar or a to-do list, use sticky-notes, etc.
Additionally, make sure your plan motivates you. If it solely consists of one type of work, you will not find the jubilance in doing your work everyday!
Tips for Tracking Your Progress
Here is a list of tips to help you track your progress:
Using a planner or paper, make a weekly checklist for what you need to accomplish to keep yourself on track.
Keep a journal or notebook to track daily or weekly progress.
Set up a rewards system to reward yourself upon completing a time frame’s worth of work.
Use a mobile app or a website to track timely progress!
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Once you have reached your goal, log it in a journal and compare it to your original plan. This will help you further understand your planning habits!
Final Words
In my experience, following these steps to achieving your goal works. In previous years, I did competitive provincial gymnastics. Without a goal, I did not know what I wanted and what to work towards. As a result, I just trained and trained until provincials, where I competed. I did not know how to feel after placing in the top ten, since I did not have a specific goal. Yes, I am guilty of inappropriate goal-setting too. My original goal was simply to ‘do well and be happy.’ It was not effective though I worked to my fullest extent, I did not know what I wanted and what to work on to achieve a specific goal. The year before I stopped gymnastics, I set a better goal. I wanted to place in the top 6 in Ontario and worked hard, following the steps I have provided here for you! I ended up achieving my goal and was satisfied, happy with my successful measured vision. So I urge you, whether this is for maintaining a tidy room or getting into your dream school, follow these steps! It does change lives, and I am one to testify.
Edited by Ally Chan.
Anne is a grade nine student from Ontario. Some of her favourite subjects are English and science. She enjoys debating and running, along with various other sports. She loves spreading awareness of important issues and helping others in any way possible.
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