6 Handy goal setting guidelines To create Powerful Motivation When going for your goals

So you're thinking about setting a goal and instead of jumping straight in there you're doing a spot of research eh? Well I take my hat off to you!

Here are a handful of goal setting guidelines to help you turn your dreams into solid progress this year.

1. Set short, medium, and long-term goals

We can think of reaching a goal as like climbing a mountain.

Our long term goal may be reaching the top. It's kind of impossible to even see up there from down here at the start.

It's never too late to start. What action can we take today?

It's also hard to imagine what it will be like up there, and difficult to grasp just how difficult it will be to get there.

There are bound to be some unexpected obstacles along the way and our motivation is bound to struggle at times. It's only natural, being that it is such a big challenge.

In order to reach the summit, we will perhaps need to have a few targets along the way. First get to A, then B, then C, then finally the summit. Then of course is the step by step effort it takes to get to A.

Each of the short, medium, and long term goals all play a motivating factor. Would we ever bother making all that effort climbing upwards if we didn't have at least a vague idea that the view at the top would be beautiful?

2. Set goals that are difficult yet also realistic

Goals should be challenging but not impossible. If a goal can be achieved without much effort then there's no point in setting a goal in the first place. Likewise, if our goal is clearly too much considering our abilities and situation then it could end up being discouraging.

The purpose of a goal is keep our motivation running high consistently.

It's better to aim at a level where we would be very impressed with ourselves and our progress than to aim low and not challenge ourselves.

3. Create goals that can be measured

What fantastic dream will we dream today?

Making our goals measurable means quantifying it so:

We know exactly when you have completed it.
We know how far away you are from completing it and therefore how much effort you will have to put in to complete it.

The increased accuracy of a measurable goal means that we can also reflect and adjust our goal accordingly, enabling us to find an optimal target.

4. Goals that begin "I Will" are best

Let's try and keep our eyes on where we want to go and what we want to do rather than where we don’t want to go or what we don't want to be doing. It is more powerful to decide what we will do than what we won't.

"I will" is liberating. "I won't" potentially restrictive. "I will" points to courage. "I won't" perhaps to fear.

I have heard it said that it is most natural thing in the world to go forward. Our eyes are facing forward and when we move we naturally put one foot in front of the other.

5. Keep records and monitor progress

Feedback through self-reflection is essential. The feedback we gain along the way will allow us to readjust our various goals to maximise their efficiency.