THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS IN LIFE.
Do you ever have ideas running through your mind but you’re not sure how to bring them into fruition? Or maybe you work constantly and wonder if there’s more to life than doing the same ol' thing every single day.
You don’t have to wonder any longer if you know how to set life goals the right way. If you know how to define what you want in life and create a strategy to execute a plan, you’ll get closer to achieving what you want in life.
Creating life goals will:
- Help you get clear on what you truly want in life.
- Keep you focused on the task at hand.
- Help you use your time and resources more effectively.
In this guide, we will explore what goals are, why they are important, how to create them, different types of goals, and tips on how to achieve them.
“Ask Yourself If What You’re Doing Today Is Getting You Closer To Where You Want To Be Tomorrow.” - Anonymous
WHAT ARE LIFE GOALS?
Life goals are all of the things that you want to accomplish in your life before you go, like getting a college degree, buying a house, or swimming with whale sharks.
They can also be things that will improve your life, like eating more vegetables so you can be healthier, drinking more water each day to stay hydrated, or getting more exercise every week so you can stay fit.
It is important to align your goals with your values because they give you direction in life. You need a strong reason why you are pursuing them in the first place so they don't get pushed aside and then abandoned.
“It Is Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been.” - George Eliot
WHY LIFE GOALS ARE IMPORTANT.
If you don’t have life goals, you run the risk of being pulled in different directions. For a decade of my life, I was so busy with work, family, and kids that I failed to make time for my goals in life. As a result, I felt lost and stuck in a rut.
I also lost my sense of purpose and identity. It wasn’t until I defined what my values and beliefs were that I started to find my inner compass again. My passion for life and curiosity were reignited.
I was able to plan for my future even if I was scared they might fall apart. If I fell short of my goals, I knew that I could either let them go without feeling like a failure, or simply create new ones and learn from my mistakes.
When you have goals, remember not to focus too much on the outcome because sometimes life gets in the way. The reality is, you probably won’t accomplish every single life goal you set out to do, and that's okay.
Sometimes they change and you discover something even better that comes along that makes you feel happier and more fulfilled. Remember, it’s the lessons that you learn along the way that truly matter. You will gain wisdom by trying new things, learning, changing, and evolving as you go.
“Don’t Call It A Dream Call It A Plan.” - Unknown
HOW TO FIND YOUR GOALS IN LIFE
DO A “BRAIN DUMP”
One way to figure out your goals in life is to do a "brain dump." A brain dump is literally dumping all of your thoughts onto a piece of paper (or your preferred writing medium).
Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and take your time. Write down whatever comes to your mind without judgment.
When you can’t think of anything more to write, you can stop and take a look at what you just wrote.
Don’t worry if some of the things you write down don’t make any sense. The point of the brain dump is just to get everything out in the open without questioning why.
What I like about a “brain dump” is writing whatever pops into my head without filtering the information. If I had to stop and analyze what my goals in life are, I might stifle authenticity and creativity.
When you’re done with this exercise, go back and look at your answers. Prioritize the most important ones and place them at the top of your list. You can eliminate anything that doesn’t resonate with you.
DIVIDE YOUR GOALS INTO CATEGORIES
Another method is to break down your goals into different categories so your attention is not too focused on one area of your life.
Find a quiet place where you can do this exercise. Take your time and use the following categories as a guide for what you want to achieve in life. I included examples of life goals along with some of my own in the following lists.
Be specific about what you want as well. Writing down exactly what you want will help you become more focused and intentional with your actions.
I made a short list for each of the following categories to help you create your own life goals.
PERSONAL
Learn to watercolor.
Memorize at least 10 favorite pieces of music on the piano.
Spend more time outdoors.
FINANCIAL
Make $1000 more income per month.
Invest $50 more per month into retirement.
Save $300 per month for a house.
WORK
Create a new digital product.
Write the outline for my book.
Hire financial manager.
HEALTH
Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Exercise for 20 minutes 5 days a week.
Take more break to help reduce stress.
RELATIONSHIPS
Spend more quality time with my kids.
Have more date nights with my significant other.
Visit my grandparents for 2 weeks over the summer break.
RECREATION
Have a picnic with the family once a week.
Go go Peru and see Machu Picchu.
Go hiking in nature once a month.
COMMUNITY
Join and/or support a local non profit organization for racial equality.
Volunteer in my child’s elementary school and teach oral home care.
Participate in a beach clean up.
“Life Is Not Measured By The Number Of Breaths We Take, But By The Moments That Take Our Breath Away.” - Maya Angelou
USE THE SMART METHOD
The S.M.A.R.T. method was first described by George T. Doran in the November 1981 issue of Management Review. “SMART” is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
This method will help you make the best use of your time, efforts, and resources, so you can actually reach your goals. Here is an outline of the “SMART” method.
SPECIFIC
As I mentioned before, you want to be specific with your goals in life. Making your goals too broad might not light the fire enough inside of you to take action. It may also make your goal seem less attainable.
Look at the example below and notice the impact of the first, more specific statement versus the broad and more generalized statement.
Notice how it also answers who, why, what, and how in one sentence.
Write this:
I want to make $100,000 in income this year by asking for a raise so I can support myself and my family comfortably.
Instead of this:
I want to make lots of money.
MEASURABLE
Make sure you are keeping track of your progress when you create a goal, especially if it’s going to take months. This will keep you focused and motivated to stay the course.
Make a note of all the milestones you will reach as you inch toward your goal. Celebrate any wins, no matter how small, to make the goal more tangible.
ACHIEVABLE
I don’t want to burst your bubble, but you need to make sure your goal is realistic and attainable so you don’t set yourself up for failure or disappointment.
You might have to enroll in some courses or ask for help in order to gain new skills and knowledge to move forward. You may even have to change your mindset, attitude, and behavior.
Whatever tools you decide to use in your journey, be sure you have the means and resources to help you achieve your goals.
RELEVANT
In business, it’s important to align goals with values and vision to reach the ultimate objective. You can apply this idea to your goals in life, too.
You need to know:
- Why the goal is important.
- How your goal going to help you achieve your target.
- Your efforts are worth your precious time and energy.
- You will be able to afford it financially.
- If the timing is appropriate for your current situation.
TIME-BOUND
Every goal should have an end-date. This will prevent you from procrastinating and putting it off until next time.
It will also help you prioritize your most important goals so you don’t get tangled up in unnecessary tasks. Consider all the tools and resources you need to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to reach your goal.
REVERSE PLANNING
This type of planning begins with the end in mind. Reverse planning is working backwards from the end of your goals to the beginning.
Keeping your eyes on the prize will help you stay motivated because you can "see" what the payoff will be if you achieve your goal.
It’s dangling a proverbial carrot to keep moving, except in this context, you can actually get to the carrot.
After you set a goal:
- Start with the last action you need to take in order to get to your goal.
- Assess the tools and resources you need to create a plan.
- Outline clearly and specifically, the steps that you will take and the milestones you will reach on the way to your final destination.
“People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going.” — Earl Nightingale
A LIST OF 48 LIFE GOALS
Here is a list of life goals to help you plan your future. I divided it into different 8 categories from the previous section and added more for inspiration.
PERSONAL
Learn to watercolor.
Memorize at least 10 favorite pieces of music on the piano.
Spend more time outdoors.
Enroll in a class that sparks your interest, curiosity, and creativity.
Write in a journal to help process your thoughts.
Overcome a fear.
Read at least one new book every month.
FINANCIAL
Make $1000 more in personal income per month.
Invest $50 more per month into retirement.
Pay off outstanding debts.
Save $300 per month for a house.
Set aside an emergency fund for 3-6 months.
Balance my budget and live within my means.
PROFESSIONAL
Create a new digital product.
Write the outline for a book.
Hire a manager to handle finances.
Maintain a healthy work/life balance.
Take a course to increase chances of a promotion.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Exercise for 20 minutes 5 days a week.
Take more breaks to help reduce stress.
Sleep at least 7-8 hours each night.
Train for and run a 5K
Do 10 full pushups.
Cut the sugar, junk, caffeine, and processed foods from you diet.
Eat less red meat and dairy.
Drink the recommended amount of water every day.
RELATIONSHIPS
Spend more quality time with my kids.
Have more date nights with my significant other.
Visit my grandparents for 2 weeks over the summer break.
Attend a concert with your spouse.
Get in touch with a friend you have not spoken to in a while.
Be more open and available for my significant other.
RECREATION
Have a picnic with the family once a week.
Go go Peru and see Machu Picchu.
Go hiking in nature once a month.
Visit another part of the world for a month.
Unplug for a week by taking a vacation in natural surroundings.
COMMUNITY
Join and/or support a local non profit organization for racial equality.
Volunteer in my child’s elementary school and teach oral home care.
Participate in a beach clean up.
Attend a walk for a charitable event.
Become a mentor.
SPIRITUAL
Meditate for at least 5 minutes a day for more peace, balance, and calm.
Be more mindful and present in your life.
Practice compassion and self-love.
Stop comparing yourself to others and embrace your uniqueness.
Take at least 10 minutes each day to slow down.
Having life goals that are aligned with your values will help you stay focused and motivated because they are meaningful to you and give you purpose. Be sure that your goals are specific and realistic so they don’t feel like they’re weighing you down.
Remember, the destination is important, but the journey is what life is all about. I hope you found these tips and techniques helpful. Please share your ideas or comments down below.
FREE WORKBOOK TO HELP ALIGN YOUR GOALS AND VALUES.
Do you need a guide to help you define your values? Get the free True Bliss Guide! This 20+ page workbook will help you know yourself better, identify your values, create goals, and outline a plan to help you go after your dreams.
The great thing about knowing yourself better and identifying what your values are is you can align them with your life goals. Having meaningful goals will help you find your purpose and passion so you can become more present and mindful in your life. Go right below to find out more.
