Before going on the process of setting goals, you should first understand what a good goal is. There is no hard and fast rule on what a good goal is and how you can set them. A good goal is anything that you feel worthy to pursue. So, the first task is to identify and define what you really want. This will help you to chalk out an effective goal plan.

Once you have selected your goals, the next task is to write them down. Writing down your goals will not only help you keep track of your progress, but it will also keep you motivated. Make sure that you read your goals and update your progress every day. If you don’t write down your goals, you won’t have the strong commitment required to pursue them.

Setting goals is easy but working on them is tough because most often people set goals but don’t know how to go about it. So, be specific about your goals so that you know exactly how you are going to go about it. Therefore, deciding on the strategy is also an important factor in setting goals.

That most important point in setting goals is to believe that they are achievable. So, you must be fully confident that you can achieve the goals that you have selected. For this, you must set realistic goals. Sometimes others may say that your goals are impossible to achieve but don’t listen to them. Go with your gut feeling and, if you feel confident, stick to them.

No doubt, the goals that you set should be challenging but such goals are also not easy to achieve. If you are setting goals for the first time, then the best solution is to set one easy goal and one challenging goal. In this way, you won’t feel frustrated. Accomplishing the easy goals will boost your morale and so you will be better able to commit yourself to the challenging goals.

Set deadlines to your goals and make sure that they are realistic. Deadlines will keep you focused and you will also be able to measure your progress every day. However, there are also goals like enhancing your health or character that shouldn’t have a deadline. They should fall under the category “Now Goals”

Another important tip in goal setting is to select a long-term goal and a short-term goal. The short-term goals will help you to build momentum and a strong track record to achieve the long-term goals. Long-term goals that go on for a year or longer can seem exciting at first but unless you team them up with short-term goals, you will not be able to sustain the momentum.

Keep in mind that long-term goals should be selected with care. Give more importance to the underlying reason for setting the goal rather than focusing only on the goal. So, feel free to change your goals mid-way as long as you are honest to yourself. Having said that it is also important that you don’t change your mind too frequently or you won’t be able to achieve anything.

Set goals that are practical for you to pursue. That doesn’t mean that you cannot set lofty goals. If you have the energy and passion to go beyond the ordinary then set goals that you consider lofty. You can keep lofty goals in your long-term agenda. Practical goals are relatively easier to achieve and as you go on achieving them, you will be on track in your pursuit of lofty goals.

Whatever goals you set, either practical or lofty, always keep in mind that they should be realistic. To know if the goal that you have set is realistic or not, you should find out if you have reasonably good chances of achieving it in enough time and with enough effort. “Enough time” and “enough efforts” are subjective and they depend on the type of goal that you have set. Setting realistic goals will save you from getting overwhelmed and abandoning the project altogether.

If possible break your goals into smaller ones. This will help you to reach your goals, one step at a time. You will also be better able to understand your progress and success. Breaking down goals can make them more achievable, no matter how difficult they are. Needless to say, achieving small goals will give a boost to your confidence.

All goals require time, effort and commitment. So, when you set a number of goals, there are always chances of them coming in conflict with each other. To avoid this, you should learn to manage your goals properly. For this you have to treat your goals as a group. You should also be a little bit flexible. Change due dates and, if required, put one or two goals on hold. Also, do not set all your deadlines on the same time. Spread them out so that you know which goal should receive more of your commitment.

Prioritizing your goals is a must, particularly if you have set several goals. This can be quite confusing especially if you try to prioritize them depending upon their importance. Instead, you should do that in terms of timing. However, if you have set short-term goals, then prioritizing them depending upon their importance can be successful.