How to set SMART Goals and be Successful this New Year

by Jeffery Opoku August 15, 2023
setting smart goals

No matter what your goals are, be it big or small, it is always advisable to plan in order to achieve them successfully. Although people underestimate the power of setting goals, it is, however, one of the most difficult things to do. This is because many people find it difficult to determine what their priorities are in different aspects of their lives be it health, relationships, business, or career.

Some goals can take a long time to materialize while others can be achieved within the shortest possible time. Once you achieve your goals, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Setting your goals could be very challenging, that’s why we believe these goal-setting techniques will help you attain your greatest dreams.

  1. Determine exactly what you want to achieve
setting smart goals

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[Tweet “The first step to achieving your goals is to know exactly what goals you want to achieve”] You can start off by identifying goals you want to achieve in various aspects of your life such as health, career, business, family, and relationship.

Brainstorming is very necessary at this level and you need to write your ideas down as and when they pop up. So don’t limit yourself even if it’s beyond what you can do, let all your ideas flow on your paper or screen. What others want from you should not be a determining factor; you need to determine your goals yourself. Studies even show that if you set your goals personally, you are likely to achieve them.

  1. Set realistic goals
Setting smart goals

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Setting goals is important but it doesn’t mean you should set goals that are difficult to achieve. Setting realistic goals is very necessary if you want to really achieve something this New Year. For example, you cannot set a goal to buy a 3-bedroom apartment when your salary cannot even purchase a single room. Miracles do not come into play when goal setting is involved. It’s okay to have such aspirations, but the bottom line is, that your goals need to be attainable and realistic.

  1. Prioritize your goals
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After determining what kind of goals you want to achieve, it’s now time to find out which one comes first on your list. You will be overwhelmed if you want to work on all your goals at once and at the same time. You can start by breaking down your goals into three parts namely first tier, second tier, and third tier. The first tier consists of the most important goals you wish to achieve first. The second and third tiers are also important but not as important as the first. For example, your first tier goals could be to improve your health and your second tier could be to learn how to wash.

  1. Write down your goals
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To move from the fantasy world and wishful thinking, you need to write down the goals you wish to achieve. They must be clear, specific, detailed, and measurable and must include deadlines. Writing down your goals gives clarity and a sense of importance to your goals. Your list must be kept in a place where you can frequently reference it. This will help motivate you to put more work into achieving them.

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  1. Identify possible obstacles
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Many people often forget they are bound to face obstacles when they set out to achieve their goals. Being able to identify potential obstacles that might hinder your goal setting is a great step to achieving your goals.

Your inability to identify possible obstacles means you have no game plan hence making it difficult to deal with challenges when you are faced with them. Identifying potential obstacles will help you identify potential actions to take in order to overcome such obstacles.

 

  1. Visualize your goals.
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Creating clear, vivid, and exciting pictures of your goals is a way of motivating you to achieve them. Through your mind’s eye, see your goals being achieved and imagine yourself enjoying the results of your goals. A mental picture of your achievement together with emotions has a great impact on your mind both subconscious and superconscious.

Your subconscious mind then solves every obstacle that might hinder your goal achievements. Your superconscious mind activates the Law of Attraction and begins attracting into your life people, circumstances, ideas, and resources that will help you to achieve your goals even faster. Visualization is one of the most powerful tools available to help you achieve your goals faster than you ever thought.

 

  1. Identify people who will help you achieve your goal
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Although it’s solely your goal to achieve, you cannot walk down that road alone. It’s important to make a list of people whom you think can have a positive impact on your goal achievement. You can begin with relatives, workers, co-workers, friends, and even customers. You can also include people who have similar goals as you do. You can start together and benefit from each other’s knowledge and experiences. When you reach your goal, you will have someone to celebrate with.

8. Set measurable goals

setting smart goals

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It is important to know when you have completed the goals you have set for yourself. Setting measurable goals gives you a sense of completion. In order to measure your goals, you need to establish criteria for measuring your progress. When you measure your goals, it helps keep you on track, reach deadlines, and identify when you have completed your set goals.

Every goal you set this New Year is achievable provided you are ready to be persistent and self-disciplined. Achieving your goals will be easy when your persistence and self-discipline become a habit.

Do not wait until next year to set up new goals, you can begin today by downloading our goal-setting template to get you started.

Also, share with us your goals for this year and how you intend to achieve them in the comment box below.

Download our Free Goal Setting Template

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