by Daisy May

Created on: January 10, 2011   Last Updated: January 18, 2011

Setting yourself goals can be an enjoyable task but seeing them through to completion will only be possible if you have considered them carefully and set yourself goals that can be achieved. Any changes that you plan to make in your life should come from the heart and be supported by your own self belief. If you believe that you can change, then you are already half way there . But the recipe for success is totally dependant on the setting of realistic targets and agreeing with yourself a timescale that is totally realistic.

Simple Goal Setting

Say your goal is to lose 20 pounds in weight and also improve your fitness levels in the next year. That is a very good thing to do, but is it completely realistic to expect to achieve so much in one go? Think about simplicity. A much simpler goal might be to be able to complete a 10 Kilometer walk by the end of the summer. You can then set yourself increasing targets each month working towards the end of August. In month one the target could be to complete a 2-Kilometer walk, month two to increase to 4 Kilometers and so on until you can easily see the 10 Kilometer goal in your sights. A good idea might be to forward plan your training so that it ends with a local charity walk as this would be a wonderful inspiration to succeed. If you are sponsored by your friends and family, the money raised for the charity will make you feel even better at the end when you achieve your goal. With all of the extra walking you are doing for this goal, you are bound to lose some weight as an added bonus.

All of your goals should be carefully planned so that you can enjoy the success of meeting your short term goals along the way. Every success should be celebrated. Do not be put off if you do not meet a simple milestone target; any milestones not achieved on time will simply require your target dates to be realigned so that you are once again inspired to achieve. Do not see failure as an option. You know that if you want something really badly, then you have it within you to succeed.

Plan for success

1 Decide on any long term goal that you would like to achieve this year.
2 Write down exactly what you need to change to make it happen.
3 Draw a Time-line between now and your chosen goal date.
4 Now add some milestones along the way that you can achieve that will confirm to you that you are on your way and doing well.
5 Next write down five actions that you will be taking in order to move forwards on you plan.
6 Get started – what are you waiting for.

With careful planning and regular monitoring of your progress, you will soon be able to see that you are well on track to succeed. As your confidence grows with any success in your initial targets, you can think of extra goals that can be added to help you towards that better life ahead. With every success, you will effectively be sculpting your own future, a future that promises increased self fulfilment and improved confidence in your own abilities. Using this approach you will be setting yourself goals that you really can reach.

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