Although at first glance it may not seem like it, there are many people who drift day after day, without knowing where they are going or what they want in life. There are those who even work hard and responsibly, but still they don’t seem to be moving anywhere. One of the possible reasons for this is that they have not bothered to establish their personal goals, which, after all, are what mark the path we should follow.
Having clear goals and ambitions is an important part of life, so we should not take it lightly. In this Psychology-Online article we will explain how to achieve your personal goals so that you can plan the best strategies to achieve what you long for.
Set goals that inspire you
Whether they are personal, professional or any other field goals, it is important set goals and objectives that inspire and excite you. That is, find within yourself what motivates you to act, since only in this way will you not abandon your purposes. Also, make sure your goals are realistic, so you don’t fall into frustration.
Use the SMART method
One of the most effective strategies for setting and achieving goals is use the SMART method, a term in English that translates as “intelligent”. It is a technique in which the proposed objectives are clearly stated and that will help you determine the following parameters, derived from the initials of the acronym:
- Specific: if your goal is specific in terms of when, how, where, etc.
- Measurable: if your goal is measurable and can be verified over time. For example, you want to run 2 kilometers every day.
- Achievable: it is about setting reasonable and achievable goals. For example, there is no point in setting the goal that this year you will go to the bottom of the sea, since that is not feasible.
- Relevant: is establishing the relevance of the goal so that you can identify its benefits. In this way, motivation increases.
- Time-Oriented: it is the time limit that you must set to reach your goal.
The most important thing when using this method is that you are honest and realistic with what you establish, since this will be the only guarantee of success.
Create your action plan
When there is no prior planning, it is almost impossible for plans or projects to come to fruition. However, it is rare for people to spend time writing down their plans, making it difficult for them to focus on a safe path forward.
In fact, to achieve your goals, you must be willing to dedicate time and effort to get there.
View the goals achieved
Do you want to know another way to achieve your personal goals? Create a vivid image of the goal you want to reach, your level of motivation will increase to continue with your actions. For example, if what you want is to have your own home, visualize you and your family enjoying your new home with all the benefits that entails.
Set priorities
Another strategy to achieve personal goals is rank each of the objectives in order of priority and tasks. Establishing your priorities will help you not become overwhelmed and direct your attention to the most important goals.
Be proactive
To make things happen and achieve your goals you must be proactive so thatlearn to live “here and now”. Stop dreaming about your goals being met and start working on them. Likewise, try to be immersed in social networks and go out into the world to fight for what you want.
Leave the negativity behind
The attitude you have towards life is decisive in getting ahead. In this way, yes, you will never achieve what you set out to do. For this reason, flood your mind with positive thoughts that make you see the glass half full at all times.
Be self-disciplined
The self discipline It is the ability that allows you to put your goals as priorities. In fact, when self-discipline does not exist, any task, no matter how silly it may seem, will hardly be completed. The surest way to achieve success is to establish habits and keep them part of your life.
Manage your time
One of the best strategies to achieve the goals in your life is effectively manage your time. Remember that time is a valuable treasure that, when it is gone, will never return.
Therefore, establish a plan to verify the time you have to achieve your goal. For example, if you want to finish a university degree, manage your time between personal and academic activities.
Implement the Pareto principle
This principle also, also known as the 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the results you get come from 20% of your effort. For this reason, focus on small steps what you give to improve results.
Accept failures
While the goal of all this is to successfully reach your goal, you must also accept that sometimes you are going to fail and that is totally valid. In fact, failures are what will help you understand what you need to enhance to move forward with firmer steps. The important thing is that you do not abandon your fight or give up.
Keep perspective
It is not about obsessing over objectives and goals, but rather maintain focus to avoid falling into exhaustion nor in frustration. Furthermore, it is essential to stay calm and be patient, but without stopping your actions.
Likewise, do not forget to lead a balanced life in each of its aspects, which includes recreation, leisure and social relationships.
Identify obstacles
You must keep in mind that along the way you will have to face different challenges. For this reason, one of the best ways to achieve personal goals is recognize that not everything will be easy nor the color of roses. You may have to face problems or obstacles, but this should not limit you or stop your journey towards success.
Evaluate and readjust your plan
Without realizing it, you may be achieving some goals and overlooking these achievements. For this reason, andevaluate your action plan from time to time to check which goals you have achieved and which ones you have not reached yet.
On the other hand, you can also write down your skills and the methods that allowed you to get to that point, since it is a very educational way to see what you have done well and what you need to improve on.
If you need it, ask for help
You don’t have to be a hero and fight alone for your goals, you can lean on trusted people and your loved ones so you don’t feel isolated along the way. It may also be helpful to listen to advice and recommendations from mentors who can help you change your perspective.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Barriopedro, MI, Quintana García-Milla, I., & Ruiz, LM (2018). Perseverance and passion in achieving goals: Spanish validation of the Duckworth Grit Scale.