Right now you are probably starting to think about your future. What are you going to do this weekend? What are you going to study at university? What do you want to be when you grow up? There are lots of desires, choices, and probably some confusion engulfing your mind and heart. You might have an idea of what you want from life in the next 5, 10 or 15 years, and the biggest challenge is figuring out how to get there. Setting goals is very important in such situations. When you want to create your own path, goal setting is the best way to actively start your success journey.
While everybody gets 24 hours in a day, people who set clear, practical goals and take steps toward achieving them often get the most out of these 24 hours. Goals help you stay focused and motivated and force you out of your comfort zone to work toward your dream.
Reaching your goals isn’t easy and there is no shortcut to achieve them, but with these few steps you will have a road map to get you on your way.
Explore your real passion
The only person qualified to decide what your goal should be is certainly you! Trust me when you are trying to decide whether you want to be a diva or a goth – it’s your call. We know you might be facing lots of pressure from parents or other people, make a plan which fits you and not the other way around – to increase your chances of success both professionally and personally.
Set a goal as S.M.A.R.T. as you are
Learning how to set goals is a life-changing skill. The best way to set a goal is to make sure that it is SMART which stands for Specific, Measurable, Action Oriented, Realistic, and Timely. This will help you to set a clear goal that makes it very easy to understand how to achieve it and exactly where you are on that journey.
Break it down
It is important to dream big, but it is equally critical to play small. When you decide on your ultimate goal, break it down into small steps, chronological steps and focus on each step at a time. These tiny steps will lead you to your bigger goal and will also keep you focused and determined.
Get your gears ready
When you combine your dreams and goals with your skills, talents and knowledge, you will achieve your greatest possible feats. Learn the skills you need to reach your ultimate goal. Choosing relevant subjects in school, volunteering, or doing internships in relevant professions will not only help train you in skills that will help you achieve your goal faster and better.
Visualize it
There is no better inspiration to keep moving toward your goal than looking at it in visual form every day. Make a goal board and use pictures, paintings and positive slogans to create an affirmative reminder. Place this board somewhere where you will see it every day; next to your bed, stuck to your bathroom mirror, or on your desk at school. Along with your actual goal board, you can also spend time each day imagining in your head what it will feel like when you have successfully reached your goal. Both of these things will help tremendously to keep you focused motivated on your path toward what you want.
Failure is just another step forward
One important thing to remember is that having failures is part of the process. Try to see these not as setbacks, but as further steps forward along the way. Each of these will come with a lesson to help you take a bigger step forward next time, so make sure you pay close attention and think carefully about what happened. Use these as opportunities to get better at what you are doing.
Just by setting goals and striving for them, you will be actively working for your future. This focus on future will help you stay in control and motivated. Get started today!