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How to Set Goals That Really Count (and You’re Likely to Keep)

How to Set Goals That Really Count (and You’re Likely to Keep)

Goals are a useful way of setting our intention for the future and supporting us to create our best life. To help simplify the process, I’m sharing some tips and ideas on how to set goals that really count (and you’re more likely to keep) in the hope they might help you plan for the year ahead.

WHY I LOVE GOAL-SETTING

You’ll read more about the benefits of setting goals and exactly how to do it in this article, but I wanted to share exactly why I love goal-setting.

I enjoy doing things, trying out new ideas and learning more about myself and the world around me.

However, I find it all too easy to add ideas and opportunities to my mental and paper To Do lists. I then feel very overwhelmed about all the possibilities and how to go about getting all these things done with the time and energy I have available. I’m my own worst enemy!

For example, I’d like to re-learn the piano, grow my own vegetables, read one book per month, do a few weekend breaks, take an online course in psychology and write 50 new articles for the blog – all alongside running my home, going to work and supporting my growing kids. Hmm, it sounds like a lot to fit into the next quarter of this year.

And so, enter goal-setting. In a nutshell, this is where I break down these ideas into realistic, actionable steps with timescales.

This creates a kind of To Do list which is then broken down, according to priority, into a series of smaller To Do lists. Long-term goals, medium-term goals and short-term goals – all aligned with my vision for the future and how I’d like to get there.

This, even to me, feels much more manageable, realistic, motivating and something that will keep me on track.

In this article I’d like to help you explore goal-setting for your own life if you also feel overwhelmed by overthinking and buzzing with new ideas or things you want to achieve – but usually struggle to put them into action and/or see them through!

WHAT ARE GOALS?

Goals are specific targets or objectives that we identify and set out to achieve in a specific timescale.

They help us get clarity over our life now, where we’d like to be in the future and any changes that we might need to make along the way.

Goals are statements of intent to help us decide what we’d like to happen over time, broken down into little steps to help us make that happen.

Goals are one way of simplifying our busy lives and intentionally creating a life of purpose rather than drifting along on autopilot. And, they help us stay on the trajectory we want to be on – for as long as it’s the right path for us.

Richard L. Evans quote

WHY ARE GOALS HELPFUL?

Here are a few of the benefits of setting goals and how goals can be helpful to keep you motivated and aligned with what you hope life will look like for you.

1. Goals help you achieve things

No matter what season of life you’re in or who you have in your life, if you want the best for your family and yourself then setting goals can be very helpful. Goals will help you create opportunities, learn new things, try out different experiences and show up for your life in the best and fullest way possible.

Goal-setting means you’re not willing to settle for a life that happens to you. Instead you might be ready to embrace and take on the challenges of life with an open heart, mind and arms and live to your full potential.

2. Goals stop you wasting time

It’s so easy for time to slip by when we’re caught up in the daily routine of life. We get hung up on our to-do lists and managing our schedule so that one day drifts into the next and the months slip by. We feel like we never have time or were always busy doing something else.

  • Don’t put yourself in the position where you wish you’d done something differently. Don’t think about the ‘what if?’.
  • Don’t regret what you’ve done, but even more importantly, don’t regret what you haven’t done.

Goals stop you getting too caught up the minute details of daily life and instead help you identify and prioritise what’s important to your bigger picture.

3. Goals help you set a direction for your life

If you don’t set goals then you might well still achieve a lot, but how can you be sure that what you’ll achieve is actually what you really wanted to achieve in life?

  • With a bit of thought and planning, would you have chosen a different path in life?
  • Could you have created a different set of opportunities or new direction for yourself?
  • Did you just take what was on offer at the time because you weren’t looking further than what was right in front of you?

As Stephen Covey says, “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster”.

I don’t think you or I have enough spare time or energy to be climbing up the wrong ladder. What do you think?!

Setting goals helps you determine what YOU want out of life and take the necessary steps to get there.

You can decide what you want to make happen, when and how. You can set the direction for your life, rather than a life that just happens to you.

4. Goals help you be more accountable

If you don’t set goals, then you’ve no tangible record of what you’ve got planned for your life and your family. It won’t matter if you don’t get to where you wanted to go, or do what you wanted to do, because you never properly determined what your goals were going to be in the first place.

You probably didn’t write them down anywhere and you might not have told anyone else that you’ve set them. So, who would know if you didn’t achieve them? There’s no-one and nothing to hold you accountable, so you’re less likely to have the encouragement and motivation (that we all need from time to time) to achieve them.

Setting yourself clear goals and going through the goal-setting process creates a visual record of what you’d like to achieve and some helpful action-steps to help you do that.

You’ll know when you haven’t met your goal and (most importantly) why, so you can work out what needs to change in the future to help you achieve what you’d like to achieve.

5. Goals help you focus and prioritise

When you set goals you’re forcing yourself to think about your life and what’s most important to you. You determine your priorities, take an aerial view of your life and the little distractions and daily clutter falls away. If you don’t already know what you want from life, then setting goals will help you find out!

You’ll need to think about your life in its different stages. You look at the whole picture, from what you do day-to-day to the legacy that you leave behind at the end.

Goals encourage you to focus on what’s truly important and a priority to YOU.

How to set goals that count

HOW TO SET GOALS

The process you use to set goals is vital to making sure that the goals you set are realistic, achievable and in line with what you REALLY want. How you set goals is a personal choice but I’m sharing a few thoughts below that you might find helpful!

To get you started, here are a few things for you to think about…

THE GOAL-SETTING PROCESS

  1. Choose a quiet 20 minutes to sit down and reflect on what you want from life.
  2. Grab a notebook and pen and sketch out three sections – short-term goals, medium-term goals and long-term goals.
  3. Underneath each of these goals, list three action points per goal to break down exactly how you’re going to achieve these.
  4. Now put a timeframe against each of these action points and go put them in your diary or calendar. Set a reminder and, the most important part, actually GET THEM DONE!

So, that’s the basic process of goal-setting but I didn’t want to just leave you there because it’s not always that simple. Sometimes lack of time and motivation get in our way.

There are other things you can do, not just to set your goals in the first place, but to set goals THAT REALLY COUNT and – that you’re GOING TO KEEP!

We’ll explore some of these extra goal-setting tips now and I’ll give you some examples of various goals you might want to set for the different areas of your home, time and life.

How to set goals that count

WHAT ARE SMART GOALS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

As you sit down to think about your goals, keep in mind the acronym S.M.A.R.T. to help you set goals that you’ll be more likely to keep to.

S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Achievable within a Time Frame (Time Bound). You can read more about 6 steps to setting S.M.A.R.T goals in this article by Tony Robbins.

Let’s explore why SMART goals are the key to more successful goal-setting.

You know how setting goals can sometimes feel like a nice idea, but actually sticking to them is another story? That’s where SMART goals come in. They’re a brilliant way to get clear about what you want and create a plan to make it happen. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

It’s a method that really works because it forces us to get crystal-clear on our vision and have something specific to work for and tick off. Our brains often love a challenge with a clear end result.

1. Specific

A vague goal like you want to get fit doesn’t give you much direction, does it? But if you say, you want to run 5km without stopping, then suddenly, it becomes totally clear what you’re aiming for.

2. Measurable

You’ve got to be able to track your progress. It’s so motivating to see how far you’ve come. For example, you might aim to run 2km by week three and 4km by week six. It keeps you focused and gives you a reason to celebrate milestones along the way.

3. Achievable

This is all about being realistic. Setting a goal to run a marathon in two weeks if you’ve never jogged before is setting yourself up to fail. Start with something challenging yet doable and you can always level up later!

4. Relevant

Your goal needs to matter to you. Why do you want to run 5km? Maybe it’s to boost your fitness or feel more energetic, not so you can say you’re fitter than you were, but so you can run around with your young kids or stave off the difficulties of old age and remain independent at home for as long as possible. If it’s meaningful, you’re more likely to stick with it.

5. Time-bound

A deadline gives you that gentle nudge to keep going. Without one, it’s easy to keep putting things off.

So, whether it’s fitness, saving money, or learning a new skill, try turning your goals into SMART ones. It’s such a simple tweak, but it makes all the difference in helping you stay on track.

How to set goals that count

HOW SHOULD YOU WRITE YOUR GOALS?

  • Goals are things to set for yourself. You should start them with ‘I’ wherever possible. For example, I will …, I want …, I shall …
  • Goals are statements that require you to take action. Try to use words that invoke positive action, for example, I am going to … or I will …, rather than ‘I hope … or I will try to …’
  • Goals shouldn’t be based on other people or circumstances as you are only in control of your own decisions and choices, not those of other people. For example, ‘I will lose weight when my family eats healthier’. Change this to ‘I will lose weight by choosing healthy meal options for myself.’
  • Goals usually have a specific timescale. Try to decide when you want to have completed your goal or a timeline for the different action points.
  • And, of course, you should write down your goals so you have a visual record. Keeping them in your head means they could be forgotten about!

EXAMPLES OF GOALS YOU COULD SET

Now we’ve looked at the goal-setting process and why goals can support an intentional, simpler life, here are a few examples you could think about…

1. Goals for your body and mind

You probably have some, if not many, people relying on you. It’s vital that you stay strong – physically, emotionally and psychologically, to withstand the stresses and strains of life and you can be there for those who need you for as long as possible.

Don’t set yourself up to fail by setting goals that aren’t realistic or in line with your current life and commitments.

Choose to improve your body and mind in ways that you know you can carry on, even if it’s one baby step at a time. If you set unrealistic goals that are just too massive or far off, then you’re more likely to give up.

Here are some examples of goals you could set to benefit your body and mind (remember these are just ideas to get you thinking):

  • To get fit so you can run a certain distance in a certain amount of time
  • Losing XXX amount of weight in XXX timescale
  • Walking XXX steps or distance per day
  • Attending an evening class once a week
  • Reading XXX books per month
  • Taking up meditation and practicing this daily

2. Goals for your family

Goals are usually personal targets and objectives that don’t rely on anyone else being involved in their success. However, I believe that it’s possible for YOU to set goals for yourself that benefit and affect your whole family and loved ones.

Some examples could be:

  • Trying to be more patient or calm with your children
  • To stop shouting so much
  • To implement strategies for everyone in your family to have less screen time
  • To work towards a better work-life balance
  • To find ways of spending more time together as a family
  • To help your kids argue less and be kinder to each other
  • To establish regular mealtimes where you can all sit down together to eat

Depending on the goals, you’ll need to think about what kind of timescale or measure of success you’re going to track your progress with. For example, if it’s to stop shouting so much – maybe you could try to stop shouting for 30 days in a row! Can you do it?!

These are just a few goals for your family that YOU can take the first step in implementing. Can you think of any others?

3. Goals for your home

Home is where the heart so why not start there!?

Think about ways you could declutter and streamline your home, run it on auto-pilot and free up your time and energy for working towards some other goals on your list for the coming year.

Here are some goals for your home that you could think about setting:

  • Declutter your entire home – have a major clear-out, set yourself a timescale, and come up with an action plan
  • Don’t buy anything new for your home that’s not essential for a set period of time
  • Get rid of some of your excessive storage space and only keep what items will fit in the storage space you have kept hold of
  • Set yourself a challenge to declutter one room or area of your home per month
  • Get on top of your cleaning and household routines (and resolve to stick to them) to make maintaining your home quicker and easier

4. Goals for your finances

Setting goals for your personal finances depends very much on your personal situation. However, as we all need money to live, setting goals for your money management is something that most of us can benefit from. Here are some examples:

  • Make a plan to become debt-free by a certain timescale
  • Resolve to become more intentional about your shopping and spending habits
  • Cut down or cut out credit cards and only spend what you have
  • Create a monthly household budget and stick to it
  • Set a target for putting aside a certain proportion of your household income each month into a savings account and watch it grow

5. Goals for your relationships

It’s so easy to forget prioritising our relationships when we’re busy with our own lives. Relationships come in lots of different shapes and sizes. So, here I’m talking about all your relationships. Your relationships with your children, your partner, your parents, your family, your friends, your work colleagues and so on.

Each different relationship requires something different from you, but they all need work (and some more than others!). Set yourself a goal to prioritise the main relationships in your life with action steps on how you’re going to work on them!

REMEMBER!

All the goals above are just examples I’ve brainstormed to help you understand the different areas of your life that could benefit if you set goals.

Remember that each goal you set will need to be in the form of a positive visual statement, with an actionable step and a definite timescale!

How to set goals that count

REVIEW YOUR GOALS REGULARLY

Once you’ve set your goals for the next week, month or year, make sure you come back to them again in a while. Set a review date and write in your calendar or set a reminder on your phone.

One of the reasons we don’t stick to our goals is that they might not feel so relevant over time.

After all, life doesn’t stay the same, does it? We grow, circumstances shift, and what felt like the perfect goal six months ago might not be as relevant now. That’s why taking the time to check in with your goals is so important.

Here are some reasons why you should review your goals regularly…

1. To Stay Aligned With Our Current Priorities

For starters, it helps you stay aligned with what really matters to you. Maybe you set a goal to save for a dream holiday, but since then, you’ve realised you’d rather focus on paying off debt or saving for a home. That’s okay! Goals aren’t set in stone – they’re meant to guide you, not box you in.

2. To Adjust To Changes

Life throws curveballs, too. Perhaps a new job, a big move, or even a health issue has changed what’s realistic or important to you. Reviewing your goals gives you the chance to adjust without feeling like you’ve failed. Instead of beating yourself up, you can refocus and move forward.

3. To Chart Our Progress

It’s also a great way to celebrate your progress. When you look back, you might realise you’ve already hit a target or come closer than you thought. That’s a confidence boost right there!

4. To Stay Motivated

Finally, regular reviews keep you motivated. Stale goals can feel like a chore, but tweaking them to match your current priorities keeps things exciting and meaningful.

So, grab a notebook, a cup of tea, and spend some time checking in with yourself. Are your goals still lighting you up? If not, it’s time for a refresh. Life changes, and so should your goals – it’s all part of staying aware of what we’re doing in life.

Further Reading: How to Refresh Your Goals and Why It Matters for an Intentional Life

RESOURCES FOR INTENTIONAL LIVING AND GOAL-SETTING

If you’d like to explore intentional living and how to get the most out of your life, here are some resources which you might find helpful:

GET YOUR FREE GOAL-SETTING TOOLKIT

To help you set goals in your own life, I’ve created a free Goal-Setting Toolkit to guide you through the process step-by-step. I know that setting goals can feel BIG and you want to get it right and not waste your precious time and energy.

Pop your details in the box below so I know where to send it…