Achieving Your Personal Goals

You've set some personal goals, but are afraid you won't actually achieve them. Goal setting is one thing, but achieving your goals is another. Try the following strategies for actually reaching goals.

Set One Goal at a Time
If you try to change too many things at once, you are bound to fail. This is the problem with complicated New Year's resolutions like resolving to lose weight, quit smoking and reduce debt all at once. List out the goals you'd like to accomplish and put them in order of priority. Choose the goal that will bring you the greatest sense of accomplishment and focus on achieving that goal before you tackle a second goal.

Narrow Down Your Goals
Let's use the example of losing weight. This goal translates into two smaller goals: eating healthier and exercising more. Break those goals down even further, and you may find you want to eat five to seven fruits and vegetables a day, cut the creamer out of your coffee, bake instead of fry foods, decrease your alcohol intake and reduce your snacking at work. For exercise, you may want to increase your cardio workouts, begin strength training and start a yoga practice. In order to achieve the larger goal, you have many small changes to make, and only you can identify how much you can change at once.

Choose One Smaller Goal
Identify one of the most powerful smaller goals. Ask yourself which small goal will make the most impact on that larger goal you're trying to achieve, and focus all of your effort on this smaller goal. Commit to tackling the other small goals related to accomplishing that larger goal after you get this first goal down.

Focus on That One Goal for 30 Days
Devote all of your energy to reaching the goal of your choice. If you chose exercising more, read about exercise every day. Watch television programs about exercise. Talk to your friends and coworkers about exercise. Make exercise your life for those 30 days.

Write It Out
Take the time to write out how you will feel when you achieve this goal. List how it will change your life and why this goal is significant.

Plan Ahead
Devote time every week to planning how you will achieve your goal that week. Set reasonable goals that increase as the 30 days pass. Ask yourself the following questions as you plan your goal-focused week: What time will you invest in your goal? What will you need to do every day to make your goal happen? Write your daily plan on your calendar.

Keep a Daily Record of Your Progress
Track your progress daily. Find a simple way to record your successes and failures throughout the month.

Enlist a Partner
Find someone to either tackle the goal with you, or with whom you can discuss your progress daily. It's best to choose a partner who is stronger than you are regarding the goal at hand, not someone who will tempt you to give up if he or she gets tired of making the change.

Celebrate Your Small Victories
It's essential to find ways to preserve your goal setting motivation. Find ways to celebrate that will support your goals, and celebrate heartily. If you fail, get back on the wagon again as soon as possible. Reread your motivational list and resolve to continue to work on reaching goals.