Turn your goals into reality
“I make goals, but I don’t have the time.”
“I just can’t seem to stay focused.”
“I’m waiting for the right time to start.”
Do these sound familiar?
If yes, here are four ways to make sure you achieve your goals.
Set your goals right
A goal is not just about achieving a target, like losing kilos or swearing off junk food. It’s also about bringing about an improvement, making yourself feel good, and becoming a better version of you over time.
Studies suggest that personal or intrinsic goals have a stronger correlation to overall well-being compared to extrinsic goals. That is, we are more likely to achieve goals we create for ourselves, rather than goals set for us by someone else or made to please others. So create specific goals that are true to your inner needs.
The power of now
Often you may find that the goals you set a month ago are still just words on paper. Research reveals that the primary cause of delaying action towards achieving a goal is a result of fearing the task itself or its perceived difficulty.
The solution? Just get started! Taking action now gives you the momentum you need to pursue and succeed at your goals. Once you start working toward your target, you will find that it’s not nearly as hard as you thought.
Measuring and tracking
Only what is measured can be improved. It’s tough to stay motivated when you don’t know if your actions are making a difference.
Different goals require different methods of measurement. Choose one that is the most convenient for you. For example, a food journal to track your diet, a fitness tracker to measure your physical activity or photos to watch your body transform over time.
Rewarding yourself
If you give more to yourself, you can ask more of yourself. That's because the brain has a specific neural network called 'the reward system’ that's responsible for reinforcing a behaviour. There are two kinds of rewards that help with this - the ones you give yourself along the way, and the one you enjoy after achieving the goal.
For example, your goal is to run a marathon. If you achieve that, you can treat yourself to a spa session. But that ‘big' reward is not enough. To reinforce behaviours that will help you succeed, you need to regularly treat yourself with ‘small’ rewards - like a new dress after completing a month’s training or a movie every weekend.
If you want to become a better version of you, then a goal is necessary. Achieve that goal by making the right moves.