Easy Goal Setting

Setting goals is simple. All you have to do is write a list of everything you’ve said you would do “one day” or thought you might like to do, but put on the backburner.

Dig up all those buried hopes and dreams and put them on paper. Write down everything that comes to mind no matter how outrageous or improbable it may seem. If the activity is legal and you want to do it, then write it on the list.

Here’s a sample list of goals to help you get started. I would like to...

• learn to play the piano, speak Russian, wallpaper, sail, sing in tune
• walk my dog every day
• paint the spare room
• declutter my desk
  
• backpack in Tibet
• buy a new house
• dine at the best restaurant in town
• write a novel

Now have fun creating your own goals. Get out a blank piece of paper and write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how trivial. Use the headings below as a guide to make sure that you haven’t missed out anything.

1. Physical (diet, exercise, fitness, sports, weight loss, etc.)
2. Career (education, training, job skills, change of job, etc.)
3. Money (savings, income, debt reduction, reduce spending, etc.)
4. Social (friends, outings, clubs, etc.)
5. Education (study, learn new skills, etc.)
6. Family (time together, outings, improve relationships, etc.)
7. Spiritual and personal growth (attend church, read, take time out, etc.)
8. Community (charities, volunteer work, etc.)
9. Indulgence (have a massage, dine at good restaurants, etc.)
10. Other (projects around the home, travel, hobbies, etc.)

Look at each of your goals and decide which goals would make the most positive impact on your life. Next, choose up to three goals for each of the ten categories and write them down on the blank lines.

From there you can take each goal and chunk it down into smaller subgoals, set time limits and a series of action items for completion. I always recommend picking one goal and taking immediate action within 24 hours to get you motivated. Planning is easy, taking action makes things happen!

Another way to motivate yourself is to start seeing yourself as successful, happy, relaxed and confident. You can do this by cutting out pictures of your dream lifestyle or daily visualisation or you could take a more tangible step such as taking your dram car for a test drive. I also recommend talking with other people that have achieved an aspect of your dream life and finding out how they achieved their goals.

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