How to Accomplish Your Goals

We all have goals we want to accomplish. One of my goals is to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Goals can help us determine what is important to us in life. Goals provide both focus and direction. Many people know what they want to achieve, but they do not know how. Goals are the first-step to planning what you want in the future. Achieving goals has also been shown to help increase self-confidence and self-efficacy (belief in your own abilities).

Setting goals can help lead us to achieve both short and long-term goals.

It is important to decide what you want to achieve. What are your goals for the next month, six-months, year, or even 5 years? No one is expected to have all of these answers, but it is good to think about what you want now and in the future. A good place to start is figuring out what is important to you.

In what areas of life do you want to see a change?

· Working out

· Athletics/sport

· Nutrition/healthy eating

· Personal care

· Career

· Financial

· Education

· Art, literature

· Family

The real question: How do I motivate myself to turn my goals into reality?

· Decide why the goal is meaningful to you.

· Write your goals down. This makes them feel tangible. Some people like to write their goals on sticky notes and hang them where they can see them. Other people prefer to write them in a personal journal. Either way, write them down.

· Make your goal specific. Decide where you want to end up. A goal should not be vague. Make it clear what you want to accomplish.

· Figure out how you are going to measure your goal.

· Make your goal attainable. A goal should not be too easy or too difficult to achieve.

· A goal should be trackable. Set a timeline of when you want you achieve your goal.

· Stick with your goals! It is important to be committed to your goals. They might not happen right away. The timeline might have to change. That does not mean you can’t achieve them.

· Provide yourself with feedback throughout the process. Does your goal need to be tweaked?

· Once you have achieved a goal, enjoy the achievement.

· Keep setting more goals.

It is important to note that goals can change! Life does not always work out the way we plan, and obstacles can delay or change goals. Sometimes new opportunities get thrown our way. Goals are important because if you do not have goals, it is hard to determine where you are going.