How to set goals and achieve them: a simple guide

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Set goals so that they depend on your practical actions.

When defining a goal, we usually only think about the end result. For example:

• accumulate a million by the end of the year;
• lose nine kilograms in three months;
• find a soul mate within a year.

Yes, all of these goals are specific, measurable and time-limited. It is only unlikely that you will achieve them. They describe the result you are striving for, but the result itself is beyond your control. You cannot influence him directly. You will not create your million out of thin air, remove excess fat from yourself and materialize the other half with the power of thought.

Set action-oriented goals

Reframe your goals so that they depend on your immediate actions. For example:

• spend an hour and a half a day on additional earnings;
• exclude all processed sugars from the diet for three months;
• go on dates and meet ten new people every month.

Now you don't have to wait for the desired results to just appear. You yourself will start working on them.

Measure progress

Evaluate your daily activities and weekly progress. Any habit tracking app or a regular spreadsheet is fine for this. You will notice what is better and what is worse, which needs to be worked on.

This approach is much more effective than measuring an end result like money. Of course, you can track the income and expense of funds for a month on a bank statement. But this will not do much, because you do not control how much you are paid.

Adjust your approach

You can only guess what actions will lead to the desired results. Even if you 100% fulfill a practical goal (for example, completely change your diet), this does not guarantee the result (weight loss).

Therefore, you need to constantly monitor and adjust your actions. If one approach doesn't work, try another. Continue until you find the best one.

• If your job doesn't make the money you need, look for another one.
• If a diet with less sugar doesn't help you lose weight, try a different meal plan and add exercise.
• If new acquaintances do not have the qualities that you need in a partner, change the environment.

Get rid of what doesn't work. Repeat what works. Over time, you will identify the most effective actions for yourself.

Make a comprehensive strategy

Some results are quite simple to achieve; one or two practical goals are enough for them. For example, to learn how to ride a bike, you need to train every day for half an hour. But for complex results, you will have to plan a lot of lifestyle changes. This will be your strategy.

Let's say you want to lose weight. You have tried to give up sweets, but that alone is not enough. You need to develop a strategy with several practical goals and test them in action.

Plan out several ways to achieve the result and divide them into groups.

For example, to lose weight, you can change your diet and exercise.

Nutrition:

• exclude all processed carbohydrates (sweets, pasta, flour);
• exclude carbonated drinks;
• eat only plant foods for a month.

Workout:

• 30 minutes of cardio every day;
• strength exercises 4 days a week;
• CrossFit classes 3 days a week.

Note that all of these goals are action-driven. Just do not combine them: it is very difficult to do everything at once. In addition, you will not be able to determine which particular action led to a positive result.

Pick one goal and stick to it for a month. This way you will know for sure if this approach works or not.

Summarize

1. Set action-oriented goals.
2. Track your progress daily.
3. If you are doing everything according to plan, but not getting results, adjust your approach.