Deciding to start a new goal can seem quite challenging when first beginning. But when broken up into small steps, it becomes more attainable. Here are general tips and advice to know before getting started:
- Start early. Once setting a goal, begin to work on it right away. This is when your motivation is highest.
- Be consistent, and continuously make small progressions.
- Find what excites you and incorporate that into your next steps.
- Setting short-term goals provides a pathway of accomplishments until you reach a final goal, which will give you motivation along the way. Have you ever heard the saying, “it’s not about the destination, but about the journey”? When you’re setting a goal, think about all the small steps you will take to get there. Each one of the steps is an accomplishment in itself.
- Don’t feel discouraged if things go wrong. If order to get to an end destination, it’s important to recognize that the path to getting there may be flawed. Take one step at a time and learn through experience what works and what doesn’t. Know that it’s ok to make changes along the way.
- Make sure your goal is something you really want for yourself and are not doing it for the sake of others.
- Set the right expectations. Know your limits and don’t expect too much or too little from yourself.
- Surround yourself with people who care about your journey. Having a nurturing environment that supports your decisions is important as it helps you to succeed.
- Learn how to manage time effectively. Decide how much time is appropriate to put into this goal, and actually devote the allotted time into the activity.
- If other aspects of your life are suffering because of a goal you set, perhaps this was not the right goal for you right now. If you notice that you are slacking on a goal because you are preoccupied with less important matters, refocus your attention to what is most beneficial to you.
References
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23024496
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26781050
https://doi.org/10.1086/663212
BH-0069