As a new year has begun, many of you have probably made a list of things you want to accomplish in the upcoming months. While goal-setting is a great way to bring clarity in your life, set your priorities, and keep yourself motivated, there are some things that can make this process more efficient.
A few weeks ago, we talked about how to set and keep your new year’s resolutions. Now that you know what you should do, let’s take a look at some of the most common goal-setting mistakes that you should avoid:
Setting Unrealistic Goals
It’s great to dream big, but not when setting yearly or monthly goals. If your goals are too big, you might quickly lose motivation, as you might see little or no progress towards your resolutions. Plus, you might end up disappointed and give up on your dreams entirely.
Therefore, instead of setting unrealistic goals, try to come up with a plan that you can actually stick to. Use those big dreams to set the direction in which you want your life to progress, but set more achievable goals that you can complete in a certain timeframe.
For example, you might want to introduce meditation in your life, but you’ve never practiced it before. Instead of setting a goal to meditate for 20 minutes daily, start by making a resolution to meditate for ten minutes two or three times a week. Once you get used to this new habit, you can increase the frequency and the duration of your practice. However, don’t try to dramatically change your life overnight. Take all your goals step by step and aim for progress instead of perfection.
Choosing Non-Specific Goals
It’s hard to achieve your goals when you are not sure what you want. That’s why you need to set specific goals and avoid being vague about what your life should look like.
For maximum efficiency, you try setting SMART goals. What does that mean? SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Therefore, determine precisely what you want to achieve and then develop an action plan on how to get there.
For example, your goal might be to lose weight. Think about the weight you want to reach and set a deadline for your goal. Or, maybe you want to read more. Set a specific number of pages you want to read per week.
Setting Goals That You Cannot Control
You should not set goals that require others to change or that you cannot control. First of all, you cannot (and shouldn’t) force others to live their lives the way you want them to. Secondly, it’s pointless to try to achieve things that don’t depend on you.
For example, you might want to have a romantic partner by the end of the year. However, that is not entirely up to you. First of all, you might not meet the right person for a relationship. Secondly, the person you fall in love with might not feel the same way. However, it’s okay to set goals like going out more or creating a profile on a dating app.
Not Focusing On Goals That Make You Happy
When setting goals, most people focus on things that will make them healthier, richer, smarter, or better looking. While these are all important aspects, you should also focus on some other important types of goals—the ones that can make you happy.
Do not make the mistake of neglecting your happiness. Of course, your career, health, and physical appearance are all important, but doing things that make you happy should also be a top priority. Keep in mind that your mood and general well-being have a huge impact on all the other areas of your life.
Therefore, when setting your goals, think about the activities you enjoy and the hobbies you have. For example, if you like to travel, set a goal to visit a new place every few months. Or, if you like to socialize, make a priority out of meeting with friends on a weekly basis.
Not Setting Short-Term Goals
Many people set yearly goals but don’t have a clear idea of how to achieve them. To create an action plan for keeping your resolutions, I recommend you set monthly goals.
First of all, it’s easier to get what you want if you break down your main goals into smaller ones. You’ll know exactly what you need to do every month, and it will be easier to keep track of your progress. Plus, this will keep you motivated and focused on what you want to achieve.
Final Thoughts
When used correctly, goal-setting can be an amazing tool for self-motivation and self-drivenness that gives our lives a purpose. In fact, research shows that there is a connection between goal-setting and success. Avoid the mistakes mentioned above and create a plan on how to transform your life in 2022. You might also consider creating a vision board that will help you paint a clear picture of what your life should look like.
Would you like to get more tips on how to achieve your goals? Download the Beautiful You app and get access to daily inspiration on how to transform your mind, body, and soul.
Want a quick tool that will assist you in your goal setting? Being a Shine Member of the Beautiful You Community, you will receive a new self-study guide every month (plus so much more).
This January, we’ve released two. Our Goal-Setting Journal and our Wheel of Life for Goal Setting. Two amazing tools that will help you get clear on your goals – all while breaking it down into actionable steps. Become a Shine Member to download yours today.
