Why Set a Goal?
Most people set daily objectives without even realizing it. They are usually small, implicit objectives, like “today I’ll do two loads of laundry and clean the bathroom.” It’s a way of ensuring we do the things we want to get done, although they may be unpleasant sometimes.
Benefits :
- Opportunity to prioritize and focus on important tasks
- Possibility of experiencing little victories
- Boosts self-confidence
Achieving small objectives confirms that a change is possible in several facets of your life, despite there being obstacles.
How to Set a Goal
1. Motivation
What motivates you the most? A big challenge? Or a small objective that you’re certain you can accomplish? Most of the time, big, seemingly unattainable goals are the most motivating. But as mentioned above, small successes feel good, increase self-confidence, and help preserve mental health. It’s important to have a balance in order to stay motivated.
2. Specific Objectives
It’s very common to have a general objective, such as, improving your physical health. In order to achieve this, you can set specific objectives related to the general objective. For example:
- Running __ km in __ minutes
- Doing __ pull-ups
- Improving muscle tone
- __ minutes of aerobic exercise per ____
- Competing in a sporting event
In this case, physical health improves with every small achievement, bringing you one step closer to achieving your general objective.
How to Achieve a Goal
For a goal to be achievable, it has to be realisitic.
So you have a big motivating challenge to overcome, and you’ve divided it into specific sub-objectives, as mentioned above. In order to conquer these, it’s recommended to do it in stages, further dividing your sub-objectives. For example, if your specific objective is to do 90 minutes of aerobic exercise per week, the stages can be:
- 1: 10-minute walks, 3 times per week
- 2: 20-minute walks, 3 times per week
- 3: 30 minute-walks, 3 times per week
- 4: 20-minute walks and 10-minute speed walks, 3 times per week
- 5: 10-minute walks and 20-minute speed walks, 3 times per week
- 6: 30-minute speed walks, 3 times per week
By creating stages, the objective becomes more realistic, and thus, achievable.
