Goal Setting: Myths, Mistakes, and Tips

This week we will be discussing goal setting. Setting good goals is one of the best ways to ensure that you are successful in what you want to achieve. We will be sharing some tips and tricks to make sure that you can set attainable goals.

5 Myths:

MYTH #1: It isn't for everyone. TRUTH: Goal setting can work for everyone. Everyone can make goals, it isn't just specific people that can. You can make goals about anything from work to hobbies.

MYTH #2: People don't need goals. TRUTH: Goals are a great thing to have in your life. They can really help to keep you on track. Goals are a need as they can be extremely helpful.

MYTH #3: Once goals are written down, they cannot be adjusted.

TRUTH: Goals can definitely be adjusted. Just because they are written one way doesn't mean that they cannot be modified. Goals can be reworked to make them more suited to your needs at the time.

MYTH #4: You need to wait until everything is perfect to make your goals. TRUTH: There is never going to be a perfect time to start working towards your goals. If you are waiting for that perfect time, it isn't going to come. The time you spend waiting to create your goals is time you could have spent working towards completing them.

MYTH #5: They don't have to be specific. TRUTH: Goals should be specific. Goals being too broad can make them harder to achieve. Specific goals allow you to really hone in on what needs to be accomplished to be successful in whatever you are trying to attain.

3 Mistakes:

MISTAKE #1: Making your goals way too broad. Not having specific goals can really hurt you in the long run. Goals that are too broad are hard to complete which can discourage you from completing your other goals.

MISTAKE #2: Setting unrealistic goals. Unrealistic goals are also discouraging. Again, it is hard to complete unrealistic goals which will be demoralizing. Set realistic goals that you know you will be able to complete.

MISTAKE #3: Underestimating how long it will take to complete the goals.

Some goals will take a long time to accomplish. Thinking that you will be able to accomplish something in one month that really should take a year will set you up for failure.

3 Tips:

TIP #1: Set SMART goals. SMART stands for: • S – Specific

• M – Measurable

• A – Attainable

• R – Relevant • T – Time-bound Keep SMART in mind while creating your goals and make sure they hit all of these points. Using SMART will allow you to have the most productive goals.

TIP #2: Make each goal a positive statement, not a negative one. Use positive wording when creating your goals. Have goals that tell you to do something rather than having goals that just say "don't mess up". Be kind to yourself when creating your goals.

TIP #3: Create an action plan. An action plan is an organized list of things that you need to do to achieve your goals. An action plan has a timeline for when each item on the list needs to be completed by and is a great way to keep you on track to completing your goals.

General Advice:

Be specific. When creating goals you have to be specific. Goals should not be broad, they should be hone in on a particular aspect of your life that you want to improve upon.

Keep your priorities straight. You also must keep your priorities straight when creating goals. Make sure your goals line up with what you want to achieve in life. Don't create goals just to say you have a goal in mind.

Write your goals down. Writing your goals down is a big help. This makes the goal more real and will serve as a reminder to complete it. Writing down your goals can help keep you accountable for them.

If you would like more information about goal setting, click here: https://www.mindtools.com/page6.html.