Three Ways to Set and Achieve the Goals That Matter

"A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar, American author and motivational speaker

Have you ever wondered why it can be so difficult to reach your goals, even when it’s something very important to you? This happens to everyone! Embarking on a new task, starting a new journey, or setting a new goal can be daunting, especially if you’ve started out with lofty aspirations in the past and found them to be crumbling much faster than you expected.

Setting and meeting goals requires plenty of thought and purpose, and that’s where the SMART method comes in handy. Think of it as a well-known and research-backed life hack that really works.

Ready to learn more? Download this SMART goals worksheet and read on:

Make a Plan

This study found that 76% of individuals who wrote down their goals, made a list of action steps, and provided weekly updates to a trusted colleague or family member ended up achieving their goals. Start this process by asking yourself why you want to achieve this objective. One way to do this is by completing the sentence: “I want to...so that I can...” This approach will allow you to prioritize where to start and become aware of a clear vision.

Another way one can develop a plan is to engage in the SMART goal framework. SMART goals have five components to help you focus and reevaluate your goals. The SMART framework can be helpful at home, in the workplace, with yourself, your family, or colleagues. The framework allows you to create Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-bound goals.

Allow for Opportunities for Reevaluation and Feedback

Sometimes large-scale projects, tasks, or goals can shift while we are working on them. Understand that you may encounter failure, and that is okay. Building resiliency is essential throughout your journey to achieve your ambition. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, think about what has previously worked and what has not. What were some of the things that got in your way? How can you navigate those roadblocks in the future?

Also, don’t be afraid to ask trusted friends, family members, colleagues, or supervisors for feedback. They can help us generate new ideas and be important social resources to reach out to if you need help.

Be Kind to Yourself

We’ve all heard the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Remember, when working on your goals, things can take time. When we set an ambition with only self-improvement in mind, we can begin to treat the current version of ourselves as not good enough. This can bring up feelings of self-doubt, judgment, shame, and anxiety. We are more likely to procrastinate when we feel more anxious about completing a task. To help ease this anxiety, think of your goals as a continuation of something you have already begun working on and engage in moments of positive mental wellbeing.

While setting and achieving goals can feel intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. We at Invest EAP are committed to helping you succeed in all your endeavors. If you could benefit from talking about your goals with an Invest EAP counselor, we are here to help you. Please contact us today!