Sunday, September 24, 2006
Goal Setting Tips
Setting and achieving goals can be stressful. Start out with a goal you just about know for certain you will achieve. For example, if you actually want to lose a total of 20 pounds. Set your first goal to lose only 10 pounds. Once you celebrate reaching this first goal, then go for the maximum of weight loss goal you wish to achieve.
Each new year brings new resolutions. People make unrealistic promises to themselves knowing that many of them are sure to be broken. But we do it anyway, because it is a tradition that has been passed down through many generations. When we make these unrealistic promises and goals we only set up ourselves up for failure and unhappiness.
There are several ways to plan for reaching your goals that can greatly increase your chances for success and reduce the amount of stress involved.
First, goals should be written down. They need not be etched in stone. For example, say if you want to lose 20 pounds in the next two months, and two months later, you have only lost 15 pounds, don’t punish yourself as being a failure in reaching your ultimate goal of losing 20 pounds. Celebrate that you almost made it. Then set your next goal for losing that last 5 pounds. You can do it!
Many people would see this as a failure, get depressed, and go back to their unhealthy habits. The results are predictable. They gain back the weight they lost (or more) and end up back at square one. You don’t have to be one of these. Achieving part of your goal is still a success. You just need to realize that perhaps the first goal you set for yourself was a little unrealistic at the time. All is not lost. You at least achieved “almost” what you set out to achieve. Don’t stop now. Set another goal and go for it.
Achieving a goal is like driving to a different city. You never travel in a straight line. You make turns, take detours, and sometimes get lost (although most men would never admit to this). Do you go back home and start over? Of course not. You just make adjustments from your current location.
Taking the above example once again, losing 15 pounds instead of 20 is not failure! You need to make the necessary adjustments in your goal and continue on. Instead of dwelling on your inability to lose 20 pounds, consider that you now only need to lose five pounds. Since you just lost 15 pounds in two months, losing five more in the next month should be a snap. But if you do not, you simply make the necessary adjustments once again from that point. Each goal gets easier and easier.
You should also make reasonably achievable goals. If you need to lose 100 pounds, do not plan to lose it in the next six months. That is not only unreasonable; it can be dangerous to your health. However, losing 100 pounds in 12 months breaks down to slightly less those two pounds per week. That is certainly within reason.
If your goal is to earn a million dollars in the next year, that is admirable. But have you thought about how you are going to do that? If you are starting from scratch, that may not be a reasonable goal. Perhaps you should start by building a foundation first and shooting for your first million dollars next year.
Of course, if you plan on making a million dollars next year and only make 20 bucks, you only have $999,980 to go. Try not to have an all or nothing attitude when working toward your goals. If you make some progress, give yourself credit for it. Sometimes people set goals unrealistically for themselves without even realizing it. Setting unrealistic goals is almost always setting you up for failure. So try things in small steps. Celebrate each achievement as you go. Keep looking forward to that higher mark and the ultimate of what you are really after in your life. Eventually, you will win.
Author: Connie Limon. Please visit us online at: http://www.selfimprovementbook1.com We are an article and resource directory all about self improvement. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter. Our mission is helping you overcome the difficulties in your life and turning those difficulties in strengths.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
Each new year brings new resolutions. People make unrealistic promises to themselves knowing that many of them are sure to be broken. But we do it anyway, because it is a tradition that has been passed down through many generations. When we make these unrealistic promises and goals we only set up ourselves up for failure and unhappiness.
There are several ways to plan for reaching your goals that can greatly increase your chances for success and reduce the amount of stress involved.
First, goals should be written down. They need not be etched in stone. For example, say if you want to lose 20 pounds in the next two months, and two months later, you have only lost 15 pounds, don’t punish yourself as being a failure in reaching your ultimate goal of losing 20 pounds. Celebrate that you almost made it. Then set your next goal for losing that last 5 pounds. You can do it!
Many people would see this as a failure, get depressed, and go back to their unhealthy habits. The results are predictable. They gain back the weight they lost (or more) and end up back at square one. You don’t have to be one of these. Achieving part of your goal is still a success. You just need to realize that perhaps the first goal you set for yourself was a little unrealistic at the time. All is not lost. You at least achieved “almost” what you set out to achieve. Don’t stop now. Set another goal and go for it.
Achieving a goal is like driving to a different city. You never travel in a straight line. You make turns, take detours, and sometimes get lost (although most men would never admit to this). Do you go back home and start over? Of course not. You just make adjustments from your current location.
Taking the above example once again, losing 15 pounds instead of 20 is not failure! You need to make the necessary adjustments in your goal and continue on. Instead of dwelling on your inability to lose 20 pounds, consider that you now only need to lose five pounds. Since you just lost 15 pounds in two months, losing five more in the next month should be a snap. But if you do not, you simply make the necessary adjustments once again from that point. Each goal gets easier and easier.
You should also make reasonably achievable goals. If you need to lose 100 pounds, do not plan to lose it in the next six months. That is not only unreasonable; it can be dangerous to your health. However, losing 100 pounds in 12 months breaks down to slightly less those two pounds per week. That is certainly within reason.
If your goal is to earn a million dollars in the next year, that is admirable. But have you thought about how you are going to do that? If you are starting from scratch, that may not be a reasonable goal. Perhaps you should start by building a foundation first and shooting for your first million dollars next year.
Of course, if you plan on making a million dollars next year and only make 20 bucks, you only have $999,980 to go. Try not to have an all or nothing attitude when working toward your goals. If you make some progress, give yourself credit for it. Sometimes people set goals unrealistically for themselves without even realizing it. Setting unrealistic goals is almost always setting you up for failure. So try things in small steps. Celebrate each achievement as you go. Keep looking forward to that higher mark and the ultimate of what you are really after in your life. Eventually, you will win.
Author: Connie Limon. Please visit us online at: http://www.selfimprovementbook1.com We are an article and resource directory all about self improvement. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter. Our mission is helping you overcome the difficulties in your life and turning those difficulties in strengths.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
