Goal Setting

The following are a few tips on how to create reasonable and realistic goals.

• When setting goals, look at recent success instead of comparing yourself to others or the way you used to be.
• Take small steps. If you have a large goal you want to accomplish, break it down into little pieces that you can finish. Working one step at a time, you’ll come closer to reaching your larger goal.
• Moving ahead one small step at a time from where you are right now. For example, if you are thinking about going back to school, start with one class then add more if you do well. Taking one small step at a time will provide more changes for success. Success will make you fell more confident to handle the next step forward.
• Remember that most people expect too much and set their goals too high. Scale your goals back from what you initially plan.
• Ask people you trust for their help about whether your goals are reasonable.
• Whose goal is it anyway? Check in with yourself to be sure the goal is something you want. Often, people feel pressured to reach other people’s goals for them. Balance what you want and what others expect of you.
• Remember that some goals are too big for one person to handle on their own. They may take the help of lots of people. Realize your limitations and ask for help reaching goals when you need it.
• Build on your strengths. Don’t lose sight of the good things you have to offer. Learn to recognize what you do best, and use those strengths to help you get what you want. Ask for help with the things you don’t do as well on.
• Congratulate yourself and give yourself credit for small successes.
• Keep in mind that no one is perfect. Remember that no one can reach all the goals that they set. You may find you set a goal too high. If you don’t reach a goal, re-evaluate your progress and try to decide if the goal was reasonable. It is wasn’t try to set a new, more reasonable goal. The try again!

Remember that setting reasonable goals increases the changes of getting what you want.

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We also wrote about goal-setting in our New Year’s resolution blog post! (click here)