The Importance & Basics Of Goal Setting

There are many benefits to setting and following through with goals. But first, it's important to know what a goal actually is. A goal can be defined as a “targeted result” that you want the outcome of your efforts (and the time you spend on them) to yield. The term "goal" has its roots in Old English and means "a mark made by throwing an object at or toward something," which is fitting because one way to set a goal is by figuring out what you can throw your time and effort at so that it lands in the spot where you want it to go. Common goals people set and achieve include weight loss, career success, financial security, and personal happiness.

For some people, setting goals can be difficult because they have trouble focusing on exactly what they want to achieve. While it's totally fine to have a general idea of what you want to do in life or what your big dreams are, if you don't really have a concrete goal , here are some steps you can use to make one:

Setting Your Goal & Writing It Down

When you're setting a goal for your future self (or present self), it's always best to start with the end in mind. Start by figuring out what you want to accomplish and why you want to do it.

Figure out what your goal is:Â Â Â Â What do you want to accomplish? How will knowing this help you?

Create a list of these answers that are clear and specific by asking yourself the following questions:

1. Why am I setting this goal? What will it bring me in the long run?

2. Who am I setting my goal for (future self, present self, etc)? Why is that person important to me?

3. Where am I setting my goal for (in my mind or in the real world)? How can I make it happen? What are the steps involved?

4. What resources do I need to accomplish my goal? What am I lacking?

5. How will I know when I've reached my goal?

6. How much time do I have to complete my goal by? Is this a realistic amount of time to achieve this goal in?

7. What is my deadline for completing this goal by (if any)? When does it start/end?

Write down your answers. This can be on paper, or you can use a word document or even mental notes . The important thing is that you write down your goal so you can keep track of it and commit to it.

Also, it's important to note that if your goal includes any other people (like a family member or team member), you should write their name in the goal as well. This way, you're committing yourself to them and they'll be more likely to hold you accountable for following through with the goal .

Establish Accountability & Start Tracking Progress

Once you have a set goal, it's important that you remind yourself of its importance on a daily basis (or at least monthly) so that lacking progress toward your goal doesn't slip your mind.

A great way to keep yourself accountable is by telling other people your goal and asking them to check up on you throughout the process and make sure you're actually working toward it. If possible, try to make it into a game with a set reward if you reach your goal by the deadline.

It's also important that you track your progress toward this goal . You can do this in any number of ways, but I find that tracking my progress on a simple spreadsheet makes it easy for me to see where I'm at and how much further I still have to go.

1. At the top of the sheet, write down your goal and its deadline (if any).

2. On a daily basis, fill in each blank based on what you got done that day:

If you work on this goal every single day (or at least very often), you should add in a box for "how long" it took to complete each task.

This way, if you're having trouble completing your goal at all (or even just an important task), you'll be able to see exactly how much progress is being made or how far behind you are.

3. Record your progress every few days by filling in the following:

If you're having a hard time recording all of this, you can use short sentences like these: "I completed X tasks today and my total, total goal was XX."

Another method is to write down a number from 1-10 and mark your progress by filling in each number. Take photos (or screenshots) of your spreadsheet and send to yourself, or post it on social media so that others can see how far behind you are. This can help motivate you toward reaching your goal at a certain time period. Keep in mind that this method is useful for milestones as well as daily progress.

4. Keep your goals on the top of your mind and out in the open so you can see them.   You can use a tape or sticky note to put it on your computer (or phone). Post it somewhere you'll see every day - like on your wall, refrigerator or closet door. Any time you view this goal, make sure to answer these questions: What am I working toward? Why am I doing it? How will I know if I'm making progress toward my goal?

5. ­ Read over this list often so that you're reminded of the steps you need to take in order to reach your goal by the deadline.

Now, this all may seem a bit overwhelming, but the important thing to remember is that it's okay not to know all of these steps off the top of your head. It takes time and practice to learn how to set a goal and work toward it - plus, everyone's goals are different. If you're having trouble figuring out how to set your own goal (or if you're having trouble completing even small tasks related to your goal), don't beat yourself up about it! Just remember that if you learn from your mistakes and keep on working toward your goal rather than getting discouraged by them, you'll be able to reach any of your goals in no time at all.

And of course, if you have any questions or comments about this post, feel free to leave them down below! I'd love to hear from you.

Hi there! I'm Lauren, and I blog over at Healthy Helper . I'm a certified personal trainer, nutritionist & yoga instructor based out of Orange County, CA. I started this blog because I love helping people learn about health & fitness and improving their lives through reading my blog. If you want to learn more about me or my work, check out the "About" page!

I write a lot about health and fitness and how it pertains to self-expression and creativity , since they're both hobbies of mine.

Conclusion

Health and fitness are two things that can greatly impact your self-esteem, mood, energy levels and your mental and physical health.

In this guest post by Lauren of Healthy Helper , we learned how to set & reach our goals in both the health and fitness realms to improve our lives. Understanding how to set and reach our goals is essential in order to grow as individuals. I hope you enjoyed this post! Feel free to leave any comments below!

About Healthy Helper: A certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and nutritionist based out of Orange County in sunny Southern California. Her blog focuses on helping people learn about health & fitness from her experiences as a personal trainer, yoga instructor, nutritionist, hiker and runner.