Many individuals set New Year’s resolutions only to find themselves fallen off the wagon come February. This may be because many resolutions are vague or unattainable, or what a person thinks they should be striving for instead of what is truly most important to them. In light of this, maybe we should shift our focus towards defining short and long term goals that are detailed and in alignment with our true priorities and objectives. In this article, we will discuss the connection between setting goals and motivation, as well as strategies for more effective goal-setting.
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The Value of Goal Setting
Goal setting is often an essential part of attaining success, whether in the workplace or in other pursuits. Setting goals enhances motivation, as it helps to focus a person or groups’ attention on what needs to be done. Setting goals serves to energize people to meet the demands of a task, sustain focus on productive behavior, and persist on a task over time.
According to research, it is important for goals to be simultaneously challenging and attainable. A challenging goal can motivate an individual to explore new possibilities and skill-sets in order to accomplish it. Anticipating the attainment of a goal, even when it’s difficult to get there, can be very motivating.
How to Develop SMART Goals
To start brainstorming goals, you might consider what you would like to achieve in various areas of your life, including career, financial, family, creative, health, spiritual/emotional, or any other category that is important to you. Aim to generate at least one goal in each area you’d like to focus on. However once listing this all out, you might decide to focus on only a few goals overall that are the most important to you at the current time. Trying to commit to numerous goals at a time can quickly become overwhelming, and can prevent you from fully dedicating the time and energy into what you most want to focus on.
It is also important to assure that you are selecting goals that are authentically aligned with your personal values and dreams, that support the direction you want to move in life. Just because you feel like you should do something like start running or write a book, does not mean it has to be a priority for you. It is infinitely more difficult to commit oneself to a goal if it is something that you don’t feel a genuine drive to do.
When setting goals, many people express vague desires such as “losing weight” or “exercising more.” However, such broad goals prove not to be very helpful, as an individual lacks a specific plan and way of measuring their progress. The SMART acronym breaks down how we can create intentional goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
If your goal is to eat healthier (for example), expand on it by assuring it is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. A SMART goal might look like ‘I will eat fish for dinner 3 times a week.’ That way, you’ve narrowed down a specific action that will support healthy eating- incorporating more fish into your diet. The addition of three times a week gives a clear way to measure whether you completed your goal- either you ate fish three times or not.
The achievable component emphasizes whether it is something that can be reasonably accomplished. Meanwhile, making sure a goal is relevant assures that it is something that is meaningful to you and in alignment with your values and long-term goals. For many goals, it can be helpful to set an intended end date. In the example of writing a novel, you might set the goal of completing 200 pages by November 30 (six months away).
About The Author
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
