Are you a goal-oriented individual? Do you want to be? One Harvard Business Review study found that of the 3% they interviewed that had goals written down, they were earning more than the other 97% combined. Whether you are fully organized in your life through strict financial, health, and wellness goals, or if you are trying to take control of your life, daily goal setting is a great way to actively engage (and achieve) your deepest desires, no matter how big or small.
By setting, and reaching, daily goals, you can watch yourself grow pretty quickly. Rather than setting large goals, daily goals are smaller, more achievable benchmarks that allow you to stay focused and on track to reach your larger goals. By writing down your goals daily, whether in the morning or before bed, you will be reminded of what it is that you want, and what it will take to get there. Here are a couple tips in setting your first few daily goals.
Take The First Step
The best way to start is to just do it. After reading this blog, grab a notebook that you want to dedicate as your goal journal. This journal could be a daily planner, a spiral notebook, or whatever feels right to you; as long as your daily goals live in the same place, it doesn’t matter what you use. By keeping the goals together, you can compare days, weeks, and even months easily.
Next, write down 10 goals you have. The best way to figure out short-term goals is to understand your long-term ones.
Prioritize
After you figure out what your long-term goals are, rank the 10 from most to least important. This will give you the ability to schedule your tasks in a way that will best reach your long-term goals. For some, willpower only comes in waves, so knowing where to put your energy is the first step in being successful.
Prioritizing your goals also gives you the opportunity to really understand what your future looks like. If you want to start a business before owning your own home, you should take steps to acquire a business loan rather than saving for a down payment. Whatever the case, understanding where your priorities lie is an important step in creating an actionable plan.
Chunk It Down
Next, take your most important goals and figure out what kind of steps you need to take to achieve them. Having smaller steps will give you the ability to work daily toward your goal, reduce stress, and start the momentum you need to succeed.
With a goal of starting a business, daily steps could include researching competition, designing a logo, and obtaining a business license.
Set Up For Success
The quickest way to get unmotivated or stressed is to have a goal that can’t be achieved. I love thinking about it like eating an elephant (sorry vegans). You eat one bite at a time! If you know that you’re going to be bogged down with hours of work and activities one week, make sure your goals fit within those parameters.
Goals can come in a variety of forms. Maybe your long-term goal is to pay off a debt. Set daily or weekly goals that help you reach that goal. Rather than writing down “pay off debt,” break it up into smaller, more attainable chunks, such as pay $500 per month toward debt. By reaching these smaller goals, you will feel more motivated to continue, and less anxious by the end amount.
Celebrate!
Lastly, make sure to celebrate little wins. Each time you meet a goal, give yourself a small pat on the back. Every decision you make to get better and grow more is a step in the right direction—don’t minimize that by being bogged down with more “to do’s.”
Daily goal setting is a great way to make a dream a reality. The first step in being successful is starting. At StringCan, we believe in simplifying and focusing on building valuable and meaningful relationships—and believe the most important relationship is the one with yourself.
I’d love to hear from you and how you set and achieve your goals.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.