5 Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals - By: Sam Sander

With only 100 days to go until the end of 2009, it's a good time to review our new years goals and how many we've achieved. There is something refreshing about the concept of being able to start over that encourages us to pause and think on our lives and what we would like to change. The problem though is that most of our goals get abandoned or forgotten just a short time into the year. Does this happen to you?

But don't despair. You can actually set goals any time of the year. The important point to remember is to choose realistic goals that will bring you value in your life. These 5 steps should help get you on the right track for the remainder of the year.

1. Start with a vision: How can you identify what areas of your life need to be improved on if you don't know what you want your future to look like? Take some time TODAY reflecting on what is good, bad or incomplete in your life. Then try to imagine your life if all of these areas are perfect.

2. Set challenging but realistic goals: Select goals that stretch your ability, but are still realistic and therefore achievable. Focus on what you honestly desire for your life and let this be your guide. Set appropriate and healthy limits in all areas of your life. Knowing your limits and enforcing them is a prerequisite to a healthy life and relationship.

Expand your horizons and make a commitment to learn something new. Challenging yourself will help build self-esteem as you realize what you can achieve. Learning new skills will also give you additional resources to help in your career and personal life.

3. Write them down: Write your goals down and put them somewhere you know you'll be able to read them regularly. Prepare action items for each goal and write these down too, and keep a record of your progress for each action.

A goal without an action plan is destined for failure. Break each goal down into small activities}. Include a date for completion to make sure you follow through. Make sure you check off each accomplishment as you go and be flexible and willing to make adjustments in your action plan as required.

4. Get organized: Get rid of the clutter. Go through paperwork, files, old bills and receipts, cupboards, draws and storage boxes. Decide what you really need and get rid of the rest. Put aside some time each week for this job. After you have cleared out the clutter you can think about your existing systems of storage and filing, and see if these need improvement to make your life more efficient. Keep a calendar to record all appointments and events. Write everything down instead of relying on your memory.

5. Eliminate bad habits: And develop some better ones. Bad habits will sabotage your efforts and consume your valuable time, energy and focus. For each bad habit you decide to eliminate, have a better habit in mind to replace it.

So take the bull by the horns and start setting goals TODAY. After all, today is the first day of the rest of your life and there is no better time to start.

About the Author

Make this year count by joining us on the 100 Day Challenge and get you copy of the special report "How to Create Your Own Big Bang!". You'll also find lots of free advice and templates on a range of self-help topics from goal setting to people skills.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Sam-Sander/59740

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