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Goal Setting in Australia - some ideas and tips.
Why do you want to set goals anyway?
The most successful people in almost every area of life use goal setting. In Australia major business and sporting figures use the power of goals to achieve more than average performers. You can join them in setting you own goals.
You will also actually decide what you want, rather than letting life happen to you. Once you start setting goals, you may find that life happens more in the way you want it. Having clearly defined goals will help to increase your level of motivation.
What you give attention to, changes - goal getting focuses your attention on what is important to you. You'll also start to notice the time that you spend on activities that are not moving you towards your goals. Are those fifteen hours of watching television a week really what you want to spend time on?
How do you go about setting goals?
Before you use goal setting be clear on your values. This way you
can set you goals in alighment with your values.
Goals should be:
Specific - use measurable items and numbers, including dates. Make sure you will know for sure when you have achieved the goal. Have a vivid mental picture of having achieved your goal.
Achievable - possible for you to achieve (not dependent on the whim of another) and tough, but still doable.
Use positive language - what you want, not what you don't want.
Focus on
the end result, not on getting there. Then ask yourself repeatedly "what needs to be true for me to have this result?" You can work back from the end result finding the steps that get you there.
After you have set a goal you will also want to think about the consequences of working towards and achieving a goal - Are they acceptable to you. Think about the effect on those around you.
Look at the reason behind the goal. Are there other ways to achieve that reason, which are easier or quicker?
Decide what the first physical action is - then do it as soon as possible.
If you don't know where to start on a larger goal, break it down into smaller pieces. You can continue this until it is obvious what the next thing to physically do is.
If you find that you have not enough time to progress all your goals, and you have to extensively set priorities on your goals, you will want to consider if you have committed yourself to too many. Do you need them all now? Or can some wait?
A major part of goal setting is keeping attention on your goals, so commit to reviewing your goals regularly, at weekly or even daily. You can write in your diary or planner when you want to review them. And do it faithfully.
As you use goal getting regularly you'll find that your goals will change. Feel free to change them when necessary.
Some tips:
If you want to really enhance your goal achievement them commit your goal to a respected friend. Tell them to hold you accountable for your progress at regular intervals.
One you have finished goal setting, write your goals down where you will see them often, for example you can put your goals on your web browser start page.
When you reach a goal, celebrate it and notice the satisfaction that you have achieved it.
You will be goal setting over various time periods, from "my life" down to the next few minutes. The big picture and the details are important.
If you are spending a lot of time on things nothing to do with your goals - what value is being satisfying in spending that time? Is it a value you want?
Ask yourself "How much fun am I going to have achieving this goal?" And notice the response.
Give yourself enough breaks and recovery time. Regular recovery will enhance your overall progress substantially.
Make sure you consider various area of your life in goal setting, for example, family, financial, relationships, health, fitness, fun, learning, career, creative, social, spiritual, etc.
You will want to seriously consider using outside resources and help. Spending money to save time can often be a very wise investment. If someone can speed up your goal achievement considerably then, in the big picture, you'll be far better off by using the external expert.
For example, if your goal involves health improvement and nutritional advise then utilising the support of an expert for a detox program is probably a sensible move.
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