Can you believe we’re already almost halfway through 2021? I often like to use this halfway mark as a time to reevaluate where I am in my academic, professional, and personal life so I can set goals for the remaining half of the year. Setting and accomplishing goals may sound daunting, but there are little techniques that I implement to help alleviate the stress! Read on to see some of my best practices.
1. Write Down Goals
Whether your goals are academic, professional, or personal, it helps to write them down. Having things in writing makes them more “official,” and it forces you to hold yourself accountable, too. I like to write my goals down in a specific notebook, so I can always refer back to it whenever I’m feeling particularly unmotivated.
2. Make Sure Your Goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Time-Bound, and Revisable
It can be tempting to have very broad or general goals, but it is actually more beneficial to narrow them down to specificities. This includes a set time to accomplish said goals, how the “success” will be measured, and the flexibility to revise your goals as needed.
3. Hold Yourself Accountable
One of the main ways to ensure that your goals are accomplished is to hold yourself accountable. Rather than just writing your goals down and stashing them away in a far corner of your drawer, make sure your list is within easy reach, so you can see them every day or at least once a week. This way, you won’t forget.
4. Build Habits That Help You Achieve Your Goals
It is also imperative to build habits that help you achieve your goals. For instance, if your goal is to publish a short story or poem, habits like writing a few hundred words every day and submitting to journals regularly are habits that need to be kept. Your daily habits really decide your future, so make sure they align with your goals.
What are some of your techniques for accomplishing personal goals?