This guest post, written by Paula over at I’m Busy Being Awesome (don’t you love that name?!), will give you winning goal-setting strategies you can use again and again.

I’m willing to bet that if you surveyed 10 people whom you most admire, you’d find that the majority of them have clearly defined life goals. And I’m not talking about vague objectives like, “I will have a successful business” or “I will get organized.” I’m talking about specific long-term and short-term goals that propel them forward, pushing them toward their best lives.

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But why is that?

Why is goal setting such an important part of reaching our dreams?

Simply put, goal setting is like a roadmap that keeps you moving in the right direction. By setting goals for yourself, you help boost your motivation, focus your energies, and provide that important sense of direction when life gets overwhelming.

 

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So if you’re ready to start setting goals and moving toward your dreams, then you’ve come to the right place. Today I’ll share with you 5 goal setting strategies that I think you’re going to love.

 

Let’s do this!

5 SMART Goal Setting Strategies

1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

 

The number one place to start when it comes to goal setting is establishing S.M.A.R.T. goals.

What are S.M.A.R.T. goals, you ask? Great question!

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for:

• Specific

Be specific about your goal.  What precisely do you want to achieve?

 

• Measurable

Think about the end result you desire.  How will you know that you achieved your goal?

• Achievable

Think realistically about your situation.  Is this goal achievable?

• Relevant

Consider your priorities. Why is this goal important to you?

• Timely

Remember to set limits.  When do you want to achieve this goal?

 

The strategy of S.M.A.R.T goals has exploded in popularity over the last few years, and for good reason; it works!

When you set specific goals that are important to you and that contain measurable, actionable steps, you’ve essentially created a step-by-step guide to help you get there.

 

For example, you’d have a much easier time reaching this goal:

I will increase my blog readership by 200 subscriptions in the next three months by offering opt-ins for each blog post, sharing engaging posts on social media each day, and contacting my mailing list once per week.

Than reaching this goal:

I will grow my blog this month.

Make sense?

Do you have a money-saving goal?  Signing up at Ebates. will bring you one step closer.

2. One Thing At A Time

 

I don’t know about you, but when I begin a major project, I find it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I worry about completing “all the things” at once, which leaves me wondering where to start.

 

If you can relate, then make sure to give this tip a try: focus on one thing at a time.

 

Here’s the hard truth…

When you spread yourself thin, and you attempt to “do it all” at once, chances are that everything suffers a bit. When you focus all of your energies on just one step, however, you are able to maintain your focus, work more efficiently, and reach your end goal much faster.

3. Goal-Setting with Accountability

 

Sometimes one of the best ways to stick with your goals is through outside accountability. Why? Because it’s much harder to ignore outer expectations than inner ones.

 

Let me give you an example.

My gym classes begin at 5:00 a.m. each morning. Now, I’m not going to lie… When my alarm goes off at 4:15, I don’t spring out of bed every time. I mean…it’s 4:15 for goodness sake! With that being said, I nevertheless get up, throw on my gym clothes, and make it to the gym without fail.

 

Have I been tempted to skip? Yep! So why don’t I? Accountability.

 

You see, I have a good friend at the gym who gets to class a little bit earlier I do. She knows I tend to arrive at the very last minute, so she sets up my equipment for me.

Because I know she’s expecting me, and I know the extra effort she puts into setting up my weights, I’m going to be there. Period.

 

So think outside the box. How can you find an accountability partner who helps you stick to your goals? I think you’ll be surprised by how much it helps.

 

 

4. Get Visual

While I’m a big supporter of writing down your goals, I find it even more valuable to create visual aids that both inspire and motivate you to keep pursuing those dreams.

 

In order to do this, simply find a few images that represent your goals and keep them in a place that you see every day.

 

For example, I created a vision board for my office, which I look at several times a day. By seeing those inspiring images frequently, I get that extra boost of motivation I need to keep working toward my goals.

 

This beautiful mid-year start Agenda boosts productivity for moms!  You can also put your pen in its own holder so you’ll always have it available.

5. Track Your Progress

Tracking my progress is, hands down, one of my favorite ways to win with goal setting. Perhaps it’s the type-A personality in me, but my motivation soars when I can check off a box and record my stats.

And do you know what the best part is?

You can track almost anything!

So if you want to build your social media followers; if you want to ensure you’re getting enough sleep; if you want to go to the gym 4x a week; then start tracking! It’s a great way to hold yourself accountable while watching your progress unfold.

 

In fact, because I’ve seen the positive effects of tracking on so many different people over the years, I created a FREE 12-month habit tracker to share with you! You can download it here and start reaching those goals today!

 

Question:

What are you favorite goal setting strategies? Have you ever tried tracking your progress? What goals are you working on right now? Let me know below!

 

Paula Engebretson is the voice behind I’m Busy Being Awesome, which is a resource for busy women looking for balance in their lives. Working together, they create strategies to manage their time, get organized, maximize their productivity, and find time for fun.

Join her at www.imbusybeingawesome.com and follower her on social media @imbusybeingawesome.