There are lots of reasons why goal setting is so important. Primarily, it gets you thinking about what you want to get out of life and your desired future. It’s only then that you can start working towards this.
Every day we all have a series of to-do lists, however big or small, and we never stop trying to achieve the next one on the list. No goal is insignificant; whether you’re planning to cook something new or do something a little more life-changing, like retire, they should all be seen as goals.
The importance of goals
Here are just a few of the key benefits of setting goals:
1. Improves your focus
If you don’t have an end destination in mind, then how do you know how you’re going to get there? Even if you have an idea of where you want to be, have you taken the time to sit down and plan out exactly what you need to do to get there?
Having a clear set of goals ingrained in your mind will motivate you to stay on track and enables you to make effective decisions that’ll bring you closer to accomplishing them.
2. Allows you to measure progress
Once you know what you want to achieve and how you plan to do that, you can keep track of how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go. Don’t forget – some of your long-term goals may seem tiringly distant, so make sure you breakdown your goals into smaller objectives and celebrate the steps along the way.
The best way to track your progress is to set a timeline for each. Make sure you write this down somewhere, whether it be on a spreadsheet, in a journal or using an app. It’ll make you
3. It stops distractions
By setting yourself goals, you can focus on what’s important and the steps you need to take to get there, without getting distracted by other things.
Of course, we’re only human, and life doesn’t always go as planned. But, the main thing is that when things rebalance, we get right back to where we were and carry on putting in the work.
4. Helps overcome procrastination
Setting goals makes you accountable. If you tell yourself something is a goal, you’re essentially making a mental reminder. You’ll find this usually sticks in your mind better, preventing you from procrastinating or pushing it aside.
5. Gives you motivation
If you think back to when you’ve been most proud of yourself or felt motivated, it’ll likely be because you had achieved one of the goals you’ve set for yourself.
So why not set some more! Make them bigger and better than the last.
Our top goal-setting tips
- Reflect – Look at where you are now, and where you would like to be. Then start breaking this down into a series of steps that will help you get to that endpoint.
- Get organised – Are there any obstacles or things that should be taken care of first? For instance, do you have any debts that might hold you back further down the line?
- Don’t hold back – Let the sky be the limit, because once you set your sights on something that excites you, you’ll be better motivated to work hard to get it.
- Be specific – Your goals should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based. Instead of saying ‘I’d like to save up for a new car’, say ‘I want to save X amount for this specific car, within the next 3 years’.
- Track your progress – If you can visually see that you’re making progress, then you’re more likely to stay focused. And remember to appreciate the small successes. Your journey may take time, but at least you can enjoy the views along the way.
- Ask for help – It’s always okay to ask for help, and there will be plenty of people happy to give you encouragements from the sidelines. And that includes us!
Often what holds people back from achieving what they really want from life is money, and this shouldn’t be the case. Money is a tool; it should be used to help you, not hold you back.
If you would like any help with personal goal setting, or you would like to discuss any aspect of this article, then please get in touch with us now and speak to one of our financial planners.