What is goal setting, and why is it important?
A goal is something that we would like to achieve. Setting ourselves goals can help us be specific about what we want to achieve. Goal setting can also allow us to identify what we may need to stop, start or do differently to accomplish our goals.
SMART goals
To help make our goals more realistic and achievable, it’s important to make them SMART. To make a goal SMART, it must be:
- Specific – Make your goal as specific as possible
- Measurable – Identify a way to measure your progress while working towards your goal
- Achievable – Your goal should be just out of reach but not out of sight
- Relevant – Think about your values
- Time-bound – Set a time by which you would like to achieve your goal
Short, medium, and long-term goals
Once you’ve made your long-term goal SMART, you can begin to identify some short-term goals. Short-term goals are the bite-sized chunks that will help you to achieve your long-term goal. For example, if your long-term SMART goal is to be able to walk a specific distance in 6 months, make your short-term goals realistic and fit with your lifestyle. For example, (a) swap any short journeys you usually take by car or bus to walking (b) when meeting friends or family, suggest a walk in the park over sitting at home, (c) always take the stairs over the lift or escalator.
Setbacks and celebrations
When setting your goals, it’s important to think about what might get in the way. By considering potential barriers, you can think of ways to overcome them. For example, you may decide that if you don’t have time to walk during your lunch break, then you will make time to go for a walk after dinner instead. You can read more about getting back on track here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate your successes! By making your goals measurable, you’ll know when you’ve reached a short or long-term goal. Think about what you’ll do to celebrate your achievement – Will you run yourself a bubble bath, listen to a favourite podcast or make time you and meet a friend for a catch-up?
Now you know all about goal setting, click here to get started on setting your goals.
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