Progress necessitates that you do more than just hope something happens for you. Unless you have a clear set of smaller, attainable goals and a clear plan of execution and an understanding of why you want to reach them, your chances of attaining the achievement you crave aren't going to be great. Luckily, there are tools that you can utilize that will help you avoid the pitfalls to progress, which will help you to set your goals confidently and grant you the ability to enjoy the satisfaction that comes with accomplishing what you've planned to do. Let's check out some of those pitfalls that you'll need to avoid in order to achieve success!
1. Your goals do not inspire you. It is important that the goals you've set get you energized - you see the importance in them and you feel they are a priority in your life. If you become burnt out, apathetic, or disenchanted with the outcome, or if the big picture to which your goals lead seems far, far away and unattainable, the odds of your ability to conquer your everyday moves toward it become slim to none. Why, you ask? Well, progress requires dedication. So, if you begin to lose your sense of urgency, you become more likely to procrastinate, and the likelihood of your success begins to fade into your everyday decisions to do things that don't contribute to your goal attainment. When you go over your initial goals, do you feel inspired, or frustrated?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Set specific goals. Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way.
Your goals aren't quantifiable. Your goals should be measurable in dates, totals - in numbers. You will find comfort in knowing that your percentages toward achievement are growing gradually each day, so if your goal is something as general as 'learn more', how on Earth will you see when you've achieved this? When your plan of action is devoid of quantification, you will lose out on the feeling of celebration that arises when you make progress.
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Set relevant goals. Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time - and your life - away.
The goals you set need to follow a timeline and have a deadline. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and will further motivate you to keep on track with the steps needed for success. This also means when you hit your deadline and you have been successful, you can celebrate your victory.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You didn't make an action plan. This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.
5. Your goals are all or nothing. When you have set more challenging and long-term goals such as wanting to lose a significant amount of weight or finish a marathon under a certain time, you may be setting yourself up for a negative outcome. It is important to define how you will feel if you get very close to your goal but not exactly meet it. The pass or fail mindset can be damaging and cause a negative spiral of self-defeat. For example, if you want to finish a marathon in less than 3 hours, what happens when you finish at 3 hours and 10 minutes? Are you going to beat yourself up or consider that a success?
6. You have given up too quickly. When times get tough, it is easy to give up. Did you give yourself enough time to achieve your goal? Or did you lose focus and get off track? Set up reminders for yourself on a weekly basis to check in with how you are doing. Even a few minutes to take check of your progress can pay off big in the end. You may find that your deadlines, goal milestones, or action plan need to be modified from time to time and that is okay. The most important thing is to stay focused, motivated, and confident. Don't give up; your success is just around the corner!
1. Your goals do not inspire you. It is important that the goals you've set get you energized - you see the importance in them and you feel they are a priority in your life. If you become burnt out, apathetic, or disenchanted with the outcome, or if the big picture to which your goals lead seems far, far away and unattainable, the odds of your ability to conquer your everyday moves toward it become slim to none. Why, you ask? Well, progress requires dedication. So, if you begin to lose your sense of urgency, you become more likely to procrastinate, and the likelihood of your success begins to fade into your everyday decisions to do things that don't contribute to your goal attainment. When you go over your initial goals, do you feel inspired, or frustrated?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Set specific goals. Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way.
Your goals aren't quantifiable. Your goals should be measurable in dates, totals - in numbers. You will find comfort in knowing that your percentages toward achievement are growing gradually each day, so if your goal is something as general as 'learn more', how on Earth will you see when you've achieved this? When your plan of action is devoid of quantification, you will lose out on the feeling of celebration that arises when you make progress.
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Set relevant goals. Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time - and your life - away.
The goals you set need to follow a timeline and have a deadline. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and will further motivate you to keep on track with the steps needed for success. This also means when you hit your deadline and you have been successful, you can celebrate your victory.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You didn't make an action plan. This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.
5. Your goals are all or nothing. When you have set more challenging and long-term goals such as wanting to lose a significant amount of weight or finish a marathon under a certain time, you may be setting yourself up for a negative outcome. It is important to define how you will feel if you get very close to your goal but not exactly meet it. The pass or fail mindset can be damaging and cause a negative spiral of self-defeat. For example, if you want to finish a marathon in less than 3 hours, what happens when you finish at 3 hours and 10 minutes? Are you going to beat yourself up or consider that a success?
6. You have given up too quickly. When times get tough, it is easy to give up. Did you give yourself enough time to achieve your goal? Or did you lose focus and get off track? Set up reminders for yourself on a weekly basis to check in with how you are doing. Even a few minutes to take check of your progress can pay off big in the end. You may find that your deadlines, goal milestones, or action plan need to be modified from time to time and that is okay. The most important thing is to stay focused, motivated, and confident. Don't give up; your success is just around the corner!
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the best resourcefor learning new study skills, changing your studying habits and discovering the best study tips available. We will help change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Goal Setting Success
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