The Guide To Creating Short-Term Goals

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THE EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTING SHORT-TERM GOALS

As a child and even into my teens, I grasped very little about the importance of setting goals.

Instead, I believed that new years resolutions were meant to be set, and if you were lucky, some of them might happen.

No work, just wishing. 

As an adult, I very quickly realized that this was not the case. I watched others around me living their dreams, and I wondered why those things hadn’t happened to me. The answer was simple; I hadn’t put in the work. 

It is tough to come to the realization that you are the only thing holding you back from reaching your goals. 

Reaching a set goal requires so much more than wishing for them to become real. (Though a bit of wishing never hurts). 

After coming to this goal realization, I quickly began researching how to actually reach my goals, and I made the connection that most successful people understand right out of the gate. 

In order to reach my larger goals, I HAD to break them down into smaller, more manageable ones. 

This was the key I had been missing all along! 

WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM GOALS, AND WHAT MAKES THEM SO IMPORTANT?

You might be wondering, “what makes a goal short-term?” 

A short-term goal is usually defined as a smaller goal that can be completed in a short time frame. Often short-term goals are smaller goals broken down from our long-term goals. 

By breaking down a long-term goal into a few short-term goals, we can ensure that our goals are more easily achieved. 

We accomplish this by creating precise, actionable steps.

For example, say I have a long-term goal of publishing a book. I would want several short-term goals that would support my reaching this goal and realistic time frames for each. 

Those short-term goals might look something like this:

• Create a story outline: complete by [insert date].
• Book research: complete by [insert date].
• Select an editor: by [insert date].
• Select publishing methods: by [insert date].
• Select book title: by [insert date].

Now that you have broken down your larger long-term goal, you have a guide to reaching that goal, which in this case, would be publishing a book. 

As you progress toward your long-term goal, you might think of new short-term goals that need to be added to the list.

That is okay and definitely part of the process! 

S.M.A.R.T GOALS AND PROPER SHORT-TERM GOAL SETTING

Now, let’s talk a little about S.M.A.R.T goals.

What are S.M.A.R.T goals, and how will they affect the ways you set goals?

To answer that, we must first understand what exactly the S.M.A.R.T in S.M.A.R.T goals stands for. 

S – Specific 

M – Measurable 

A – Achievable 

R – Relevant

T – Timebound 

A goal that follows these five rules is much simpler to reach!

So as we set goals, it is essential to run them through a S.M.A.R.T goal check.

It is important to ask yourself:

1. Are my goals specific?

2. Can my goal’s progress be measured?

3. Are my goals realistic/can they be achieved?

4. Are my goals relevant to the life I wish to live?

5. Have I set realistic time frames for completing said goals? 

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”

– Tony Robbins

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WRITING GOALS DOWN

Writing out our goals gives us a clear goal map to refer back to later as we race to that goal finish line. 

Maybe your think that this all sounds like a lot of work and you’re not that organized. The idea of setting, let alone keeping track of all of those goals, seems overwhelming. 

That’s okay!

Goal setting can feel that way too many, especially when we are just starting out. 

I, too, used to struggle with keeping all of my hopes and dreams organized. If my goals didn’t get written down, they didn’t happen!

This is why I designed my very own PRINTABLE GOAL PLANNER! 

I wanted some fill-in-the-blank worksheets to help keep myself on track. Something simple that I could print for a binder or journal to refer back to daily. 

So if you think you could benefit from a more organized goal approach, you should definitely check it out! 

Lyssadays, Printable Goal Planner 

STAYING ON TRACK WITH YOUR SHORT-TERM GOALS

When it comes to setting any kind of goal, it is crucial to stay on track to reach that goal. 

Your goals should make a daily appearance in your life, which is why you should take the time to reevaluate your goals regularly.

Ask yourself:

• Have any variables changed the path of your goals?
• Am I on track to reach my goals by the time frames I’ve set?
• Should any new short-term goals be added on?

Rember not to overwhelm yourself with too many goals at once!

If you overwhelm yourself, you will feel like giving up. It’s okay to pause when needed, but we should always strive to keep moving toward our goals. 

Keep your goals simple and straightforward.

Also, try not to focus on too many goals at once. Instead, start with one or two long-term goals, then break them down. 

This is where having a good daily routine comes into play.

A good daily routine will include small steps to help you reach your short-term goals and, eventually, your long-term ones. 

How To Create The Perfect 5-Year Plan

CONCLUSION 

In short, breaking our long-term goals down into short-term goals results in us reaching our goals in a timely and efficient manner. They also help us to stay motivated to reach our larger goals.

I challenge you to sit down TODAY and write out your long-term goals. Then break them down into short-term goals. Finally, add a few actionable steps that will help you reach these goals into your daily routine. 

Try this method out for the next 90 days and see what happens. The results will amaze you!

So take it slow, but get started today, and a year from now, you will be SO glad that you did. 

YOU’VE GOT THIS!

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Have a bright day!