How Changing The Way I Set Goals Leads To Success

Recently I have been thinking about my goals for the rest of the year.

I have already made good progress towards some goals but not so much towards others.

On the successful side I have started writing more, I have read more, and started to improve my work-life balance.

On the not-so-successful side, I have not reached my goal weight.

I noticed a pattern in those goals. My weight goal is an endpoint, I want to get to a specific weight. That goal weight is over 100 pounds away, not something that I can complete in a short time.

I know this of course, but because of the way the goal is set at this point even though I have made progress it is incomplete.

The other goals are action-based:

• Write 250 words a day.
• Read 1 chapter a day.
• Spend 1 hour doing something that is just for fun or relaxation every day.

I have met each of these goals almost every day. On the days I don’t I try to add the rest onto the next. 200 words today means 300 tomorrow.

I am ticking these goals off every day, they are small steps that I can fit in and build my day around.

The other goal is huge. It is a 12 to 24-month journey. So I have been looking at how to change this goal and break it down into actionable steps. Here are 2 I have already

• Walk 9000 steps a day (I currently average 8000)

• Don’t skip breakfast (I have noticed doing this leads to more snacking in the day)

I am confident that these new goals will lead to greater success. Let’s have a look at why.

Let’s put it this way: say you’ve got a big book you’ve been wanting to read, whether it’s for fun or to learn something new. Starting that book can feel like standing at the bottom of a huge mountain.

But what if you could climb that mountain just one step at a time? That’s what action-based targets are all about.

What Are Action-Based Targets?

Action-based targets are simple tasks that make a big goal feel less scary. For example, my goal is to read 1 chapter a day. This could even be 1 page a day if you want to build up to that.

This goal is great because it focuses on what I can do today not some distant even like “read 10 books” or something vague like read more.

Why Do Action-Based Targets Work?

They Break Down Big Goals: Turning “read 10 books a year” into “read one page a day” makes a big challenge feel doable.

They Build Habits: Doing a small task every day, like reading a page or checking a budget, turns into a habit. Good habits help us succeed in all parts of life.

Instant Rewards: It feels good to check off a task each day. With action-based targets, you get that good feeling more often, which keeps you motivated. I like to write them on a notepad and check them off. It’s cathartic.

Less Pressure, More Fun: Focusing on one page at a time lets you enjoy what you’re reading, without the stress of trying to finish the whole book. Reading should be fun or at least educational and not feel like a chore.

How to Set Action-Based Targets

Setting these targets is easy and fun. Here’s how to get started:

Pick a Clear Goal: Start with something you want to achieve. Maybe you want to learn about investing or get healthier.

Make It Small: Think of the smallest step you can take that moves you toward your goal. If you want to be healthier, that step is, to take a 10-minute walk every morning or walk a certain amount of extra steps.

Make It a Routine: Decide when and where you’ll do your task. Maybe you read your page right after lunch or walk right before breakfast. I walk to work and take the stairs instead of the lift where possible.

Keep Track: Use a notebook or a list to mark each time you complete your task. Seeing your progress grow is a big motivator!

Adjust If Needed: If reading one page gets too easy, read two. Or if a morning walk feels too tough, try five minutes instead. The key is to keep it easy.

Examples of Action-Based Targets

Reading: Rather than trying to read more, aim to read one industry article each night. This can build up your knowledge slowly without overwhelming you.

Writing: If you want to work on your writing aim to write a set amount of words each day. This can sharpen your skills bit by bit. I also find that I exceed this most days once I get into the flow of writing.

Health: Want to eat healthier? Try cooking a healthy meal three times a week or replace one less healthy snack with fruit each day. It breaks down the challenge into manageable parts.

Action-based targets can change the way we reach our goals, making them manageable. You could even take this a step further and gamify the goals. Add a points system that has little rewards that you can work towards.

By focusing on small, daily actions, we pave our way to success one step at a time. So why not start small and see where it takes you? After all, every big achievement starts with a single, small step.

What goals are you going to achieve in the next 12 months?