How to Write Goals: The Importance of Writing Things Down
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Do you know what you what to do with your life? Where do you want to see yourself in five or 10 years? What is your ultimate dream? What are you doing to acheive success? Writing your goals may be just the tool you need to live a more fulfilling life.
Asking questions like these are not far-fetched or crazy, they are actually the first things you should ask yourself when you set goals. Goal setting is something that is often overlooked in the modern day life, but it is something that can drastically change the outcome of your life.
Writing both long term goals, and putting them down on paper are two things that will make a profound difference in your life. Here are my tips on how to write goals and the importance of writing them down.
How to Get Started Setting your Goals
When you are first starting out and designing out a plan for your life, there are a few very basic things to keep in mind. First, you are setting these goals for yourself. Make sure that your goals are what YOU want, not what others want for you.
Next, pick goals that are very specific and vivid in your head. Don’t just randomly pick something that you are not attached to and haven’t been secretly thinking about for years.
The Beginning: How to get Started
When you are first setting out to write your goals, get out a scratch sheet of paper and brainstorm all of your ideas for your life path. By doing this, you will bring stagnant thoughts to the surface and get the juices flowing when you start imagining all the directions you can go.
Are you seeing yourself in different situations, succeeding and living the life of your dreams? Make sure to visualize the end outcome that you want and feel how great it feels to accomplish your goals!
Write down 3-4 goals that you can imagine in vivid detail and that excite you at the possibility of accomplishing them.
Turn your Goals into S.M.A.R.T Goals
I am sure you have heard this term before, but a SMART goal is an acronym for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Time Sensitive
Specific Goals
When you are planning your goals, you need to be as specific as possible. The visulations you did previously will help you immensely in setting your specific goals. Think about all areas of your goals. Who is involved, Where and when will it be accomplished?
By using the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why) You should be on your way to having a vivid, clear and tangible goal.
Measurable Goals
By setting some benchmarks in your goals, or different ways to measure your actions, you will be able to see if your hard work is paying off. Set small goals within your bigger goal that signify a shift towards the ultimate prize.
This measurability is important because it tells you that things are happening. It lets you know that your are moving in the right direction and will help to motivate you to keep working.
Attainable Goals
An attainable goal is just a way to measure up the skills you have now with your ultimate goal, to be sure you can succeed. If you do not have the skills or tools to succeed in accomplishing your goal, simply set a goal to get the tools and skills to go forward. I believe in dreaming big, so nothing should be unattainable if you want it bad enough.
Relevant Goals
By checking to see if your goal is relevant, you are simply checking to make sure that it aligns with all of your other goals, values and aspirations. By checking your actions and other engagements against your goal, you will need to be sure everything is moving you in the direction you want to go and (not backwards or on wild goose-chases)
Time Sensitive
By setting a date for your goals, you are putting ownership on them. Suddenly you have to work to check off a to-do list that will move you towards where you want to be on February 25, 2021.
By setting a date for the end goal, and then dates for smaller goals on the way to your ultimate goal, you are more likely to take action and get the ball rolling.
Break your Goals Down
Now that you have a big goal in mind, and know what you want to accomplish, you are going to break it down into smaller goals and steps that you can take to get to each smaller goal. It is helpful to work backwards for this exercise and be as specific as possible.
If you are writing goals for money, use actual numbers and breakdown how you will earn x amount by x time.
List all things that will have a positive effect on your life and shift you towards accomplishing your goals. If you ever feel stuck, take out this list and do something on it.
Step out of your Comfort Zone
More than likely, to acheive something new in your life, you are going to have to do things that you have never done before. It is crucial that you practice getting out of your comfort zone, because big changes will not happen if you try to stay in it.
Make a Game out of it
I like to make a game of getting out of my comfort zone in ways that are not life or death, just to get in the habit and make it a little easier when the time comes. Things like talking to strangers, wearing ridiculous clothes, trying new moves at the gym, ect. None of this stuff really matters, but it brings it to my own consciousness and will help to ease my mind when I have to do something extra big and extra scary.
Write it Down.
This is the most important part of goal setting. This is also where lots of people fail. Think about your goals. I assume since you are reading this that you have them, but have you written them down?
In a Harvard study, 3% of students had there goals written down, 13% had goals in their head and 84% had no goals at all.
After 10 years, the students were interviewed and it was found that the people with goals in their heads made double what the people with no goals made. The astonishing part though is that the 3% who wrote their goals down were earning 10 times the rest of the 97% of the class combined. See the study here.
I hope that statistic scares you into making some moves. It is so easy to think about your goals and make new years resolutions, but you have to write them down.
Write down each goal and each mini goal and put them where you can see them. It is good to write a note in your phone, but better if you can see your goals every day. Put them on sticky notes on your mirror or in your car. Keep your goals fresh in your mind and always remember to take action.
Tips for Writing the Perfect Goal
- Write positively with empowering words. Avoid using words like try, should, would or might. Saying “I would like to loose 20 pounds” sounds less powerful than “I will loose 20 pounds.”
- Put a time limit on it. “I will loose 20 pounds in four months.”
- Under your big goal, list steps that you will take to get there. For example: I will eat less sugar, I will exercise for 30 minutes per day… ect.
- Put your goals where you can see them. Keep them in your mind always.
Hold Yourself Accountable
You are responsible for the outcome of your life. It is time to get up and take action. There is nothing stopping you from becoming a better version of yourself. Start small, grow and change. Soon, you will be unstoppable! Cultivate your creativity and keep that fire burning! Check out the beginning steps to changing your life here.
If you are ready to take control of your life and live the creative life that you’ve always wanted, be sure to sign up for our free 7 day challenge and join our Facebook group of like minded people here.
