A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Start with a Vision Board
I usually start my year with a vision board. A vision board contains images of things I would like to have in my life. This might include images of people I aspire to be like, inspiring quotes that resonate with me, and places I would love to visit. I think that the first step to setting successful goals is having dreams. Also, you need to believe that you are capable of achieving those dreams
Have The Right Tools
Before setting goals, I make sure I have the tools I need to achieve those goals. For example, if I am to set a goal to travel to Cape Verde for vacation, then I must have the means to do so. In essence, your dreams need to be practical and attainable within the current level of resources you have available. So I set goals based on the money, time, and skill I have to invest in achieving those goals.
Have A Plan
Also, I try to figure out how to achieve a goal before setting off. You might not have a blueprint but you need to know how to get to your destination. For many years, I set new year goals to lose weight but I never achieved them because I just didn’t know how to lose weight. So it’s important to do a lot of research before deciding to pursue a goal.
Set Meaningful Goals
Next, I set goals that are meaningful to me. There has to be a reason good enough to drive you to achieve that goal. I try not to overthink things. For example, I’m learning French because in my line of work being able to speak a second language can prove beneficial long term.
Have an End Date
The last bit is about working with a time frame. Mine is usually yearly. So the new year is always a good time to review the goals for the previous year and how well I did. Without an end date, a goal is not properly defined.
In conclusion, I would advise you to pace yourself and be yourself. We have different capacities and while someone might look at my yearly goals and think they are mediocre, for me, they are just enough. So try not to compare your life to those of others. Run your own race.
