How You Can Benefit From Setting Goals That Are Clear and Specific

​Think back to a time when you successfully achieved a goal you set for yourself.  Whatever your goal was, you had a certain degree of clarity about what it was you wanted to achieve — otherwise, how would you have known when you finally achieved it? 
 
Being clear and specific in your goal setting (as opposed to just having broad, vague ideas) provides you with a clear destination to move towards.  Based on your intended destination, you can come up with a detailed plan that serves as a road map to get you there. 

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Feeling dragged down, tired, or stuck in a slump?  Get energized with some mini-goals!

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​For example, let's say you want to improve your health.  That's a great starting place, but it's neither clear nor specific.  What exactly does improving your health really mean?  What exactly are you trying to achieve, and how will you know when you've achieved it?  
 
A clearer, more specific goal would be:

• bringing down your cholesterol level
• losing excess weight and building muscle
• reducing or getting rid of daily aches and pains
• becoming more physically fit so you can run a marathon
• increasing your energy so you don't need an afternoon nap

 
All of the above goals provide you with a clear vision of what you what you want to achieve and where you want to get to, allowing you to come up with a suitable plan with detailed steps to get you there. 
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For instance, if your goal is to bring down your cholesterol level, you might alter your diet and then have lab tests done to check the impact.  Or, if your goal is to lose weight and build muscle, you might work with a personal trainer and track your weight and muscle mass from month to month. 
 
Having a clear destination and a roadmap to get there also allows you to identify when things aren't going as planned, so you can correct course and stay on track to reach your goal.  Cholesterol level hasn't budged after three months?  You can reassess your diet and make changes.  Not gaining muscle the way you expected to?  Your trainer can tweak your workout plan to help you get the results you're looking for. 
 
When your goals are clear and specific, you're better able to get on track and stay on track, making it far more likely that you'll achieve the goals you set. 
 

Want to learn other ways to set yourself up for success whenever you set a new goal?  Discover how to lay the right foundation to achieve all your goals.


Image Credit:  manfredrichter from Pixabay

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