How to Set Goals and Actually Achieve them This Year

January 20th, 2020

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Table of contents

Are you someone who is great at setting goals, but not so great at achieving them?

If you’re someone who has no clue where to begin when it comes to setting goals, let alone achieving them, then this post is for you.

It’s crucial in life that we have some sort of goals set, as it gives us a sense of direction.

The sense of achievement also gives brings happiness to our lives. Without some sort of target or prime focus, how do you expect to hit anything.

People who do not set goals lack direction and believe things in life usually just happens to them, as if they have no control.

The funny thing is, we are the ONLY ones who have control over our lives.

In order to live fulfilled we cannot just ‘go with the flow’.

You may want to achieve success in any area of life – love, business, finance – well setting goals plays a major role in this.

Firstly, you should know the difference between a goal and a wish.

A wish is for you to own an amazing dream home but a goal is for you to save $1000 a month to be able to afford this home.

Time management and productivity are crucial to achieving your goals and I talk about it more in detail here.

If goal setting seems a little intimidating for you or you just need that extra nudge, I got you covered.

If you want to know how to set killer goals and actually achieve them, then read on..

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN 2020

1. Figure out what you want

Approach your goals with positivity.

This isn’t just a hippie dippie theory telling you to only be positive and happy. Or wait maybe it is?

Make sure you have motivation to complete these goals otherwise they’ll never get done.

Not only do your goals need to be motivating enough for you to stick at it but they need to be stimulating enough for you to complete them.

Work out why you want to complete these goals and how you’ll feel when you do.

Bringing the emotion into it will help because every time you work towards your goals you automatically associate the feeling with it.

If you think of your goal and think negatively towards it, question why you really want it.

Start with one area of your life.

Thinking about goals in every area of your life can be overwhelming.

You can think of big goals you would to achieve but a key here is to start small.

Use vision boards to record these goals, if it’s easy for you to lose track. Put up pictures of a wedding ring, the house of your dreams or that car you never thought you’d get.

Picture the life you want to see yourself in.

2. Break it down

If your an over-thinker like me, it would be useful for you to get everything that’s in your head out on paper.

This allows to you to break your goals down and determine which goals are bigger/more important than the others.

When you separate the big from the small, hard from the easy, you have an opportunity to then focus on the main goals you want to achieve.

You can either focus on short term goals or long term goals or both.

What would you like to achieve in a months time, where would you like to be in 6 months time and why do you want it?

If there is a goal you really want to achieve but your struggling to see how, then break it down even further and start small.

Work out small steps you can take to eventually get to this big goal.

If your dream is becoming financially free and working for yourself but right now you earn minimum wage, you can start by working on a side hustle.

No step is too small and you’ll be surprised how much this helps.

3. Use your calendar

goal without a plan is just a wish, set goals and achieve them this year reach your goals life of your dreams

Now, start to think ‘what am I going to do to achieve the goals I set’.

In step 1 you have figured out what you would like to achieve, Step 2 allowed you to sort your “goals” by priority, now is time to use your calendar to set it into existence.

For example, ‘In 2 months time, I would like to have saved $500’.

So set your calendar for 2 months and begin to work backwards.

Start scheduling things each day or week that you will do in order to reach your goals.

This is called commitment and it doesn’t have to be scary.

Once you have committed to something with time or money, it hurts to lose it doesn’t it?

Think of your goals this way.

Rather than type something on your computer, print out a monthly/yearly calendar and physically write it out.

There is something rather powerful about feeling the words as your writing it.

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4. Don’t fall off now

You’ve come such a long way to setting and breaking down your goals!

Now you need to stick to the plan and follow through.

Here are my very best tips for doing exactly that:

Tell a partner or family member

Setting a goal that nobody knows about will make it so much easier for you to let yourself down.

If you confide in somebody close, they will also hold you accountable for your goal and you will feel an even greater need to complete it.

Telling your family and friends about your goals gives you a sense of responsibility and automatically links that goal to a person, giving you an even bigger incentive to complete it.

Make sure you surround yourself with people who you know will look after your best interest. You’ll get constant encouragement from those who are following your progress.

Make your goals visible

Whether it’s a screensaver on your phone or massive vision board on your bedroom door, you need to keep your goals visible at all times.

Some forget how easy it is to forget about goals when they aren’t right there in front of them.

Review your goals

Each week take time to sit down and review your goals.

This gives you an opportunity to add steps, see what you’ve completed and reward yourself!

Analyze your performance so far, then adjust accordingly.

5. Be prepared for roadblocks

There will naturally be bumps along the way, whether it’s people or things that happen.

But it is important that your prepared for this and you don’t allow it to throw you off when you are so close!

“If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail”

Anticipate what roadblocks you may encounter and have a plan for getting around them.

Find another route and continue onto the destination.

Never focus on the things that may hinder your progress but always be mentally prepared for the possibility.

Ready to Crush Your Goals this year?

Make sure you specify exactly what you want and more importantly why you want it.

If you don’t do this, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure from the start…

Remember:

Make a Plan for everything you want to achieve
Stay motivated by rewarding yourself
Find another route around roadblocks

Hold yourself accountable

Think about what can you do with your goals today that will make looking back to today feel really amazing.

Good luck this year!

I created this blog to provide super helpful information and advice regarding all things health and wealth. I love creating content related to making money online and also ways to live a happy and healthy life. Enjoy!