Goal setting is the base of any true success. You may have overcome procrastination, attack every day with the right attitude, be full of action, but if you have no goals you will just be busy doing lots of unconnected things with no real outcome at the end of the day.
Setting goals therefore is the key. But what is a goal? A goal is something you desire, that is attainable, and fits in with your lifestyle. It’s no good setting a goal of running a marathon in under 3 hours if you have done no exercise in the past 5 years – it simply won’t happen.
You may want to lose 3 stones in weight before a summer wedding, or save £500 for that skiing trip you’d promised your friend you you’d go on. These are both good examples of goals, as they are measurable, and also have specific time frames. They can be further broken down into weekly or monthly goals too, which will help keep you on target for success.
Once you have set a realistic goal you will need to plan how to achieve it. If you’ve got 6 months to lose the weight before the wedding, that’s half a stone a month, or about 2 pounds a week. That doesn’t sound half as daunting as losing 3 stone. And therefore introducing healthier eating and regular exercise into your daily life should see your goal met with flying colours.
It’s important to set goals in your personal life and also your work life. If you concentrate on your work life you could be the most successful person in your company, but with little time for yourself to reap the benefits.
Finally, remember to reward yourself with a bonus or prize not only at the end, but also at points along the way when you have achieved success. Coming back to the wedding scenario, perhaps with each half a stone lost you could treat yourself to a facial, a massage, or a haircut, which will all go towards making the journey as happy as reaching the goal itself.