5 Strategies to Help You Achieve Your Goals

One reason people fail when trying to accomplish something is that they think the results should be immediate. We have trained ourselves for instant gratification and if it doesn't happen now we are more inclined to give up. Some goals take time, and you will learn and grow from the experience. No matter what you want to accomplish, you can make it happen as long as you have the right strategies and stick with it long enough to see the results. Here are 5 strategies that can help you achieve your goals:

1. Set SMART Goals

Setting smart goals will help you be more successful in accomplishing your goals. As you may have noticed, the uppercase lettering in the word above is there for emphasis. It is an acronym by which you can assess goals to see if they fit the requirements of being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and have a designated timeframe for completion. Goals or tasks that fit these requirements have a higher probability of success. There are a few variations of the “SMART” definition, but they work just the same. 

2. Create a Plan or Outline

Since your goal must be actionable, you need a plan to put it in motion. Planning is one of the most important strategies to ensure the success of any goal. Describe it in detail and the steps you will take daily to achieve this goal. Without a plan of action, you will be doomed to fail. It should be something you will be motivated to see happen in your life to ensure that you stick with it. 

3. Set The Guidelines for Progress

This is where you set down the rules and requirements for each goal. Set your larger goal (the long-term goal) and then set smaller daily and weekly goals that will lead up to the larger goal. Setting process goals and using the calendar can show you how you’re progressing towards your goal. 

4. Eliminate Distractions

The world is full of distractions that can interrupt our progress. The most common distraction comes from smartphones and social media. It’s easy to get swept up in the current crisis and lose focus on the things that are important.  It can be hard to stay productive when you can scroll through social media pages following one good story after another.

5. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This one’s a little controversial, but it’s pretty effective since people are highly motivated by money. If you’re one of them, here’s a quick trick that can help up the ante for reaching your goals.

If you want to ensure that you will see your goal through to the end, put a little money on it to back it up. What that means is you bet money on the outcome of your goal setting strategy. Give a friend $25 - $75 and tell them not to give it back to you until the goal time frame has passed. If you miss the deadline with no success, your friend keeps the money. If you meet the goal, he gives it back.