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Achieving Goals Incrementally

There is a lot of information out there about achieving goals, but sometimes a really big goal can seem daunting, keeping you from even trying. In this case, goals development and setting goals should be done in increments, or step-by-step.

In achieving goals without first setting those goals, you flounder around, not knowing which direction to take. Without breaking them down into more manageable bits, intimidation and doubts set in. After sitting down and writing your goals out, write down the steps that it is going to take to achieve those goals.

Many of those steps, or mini-goals, can also be broken down into steps of their own. These steps seem much more achievable than the larger goal, right? Goal achievement does not happen all at once, but bit-by-bit, like everything else.

Development of goals in this way increases the odds of achieving your goals. Research has shown that changes made in increments are more likely to be permanent than large, immediate changes.

Many people are not patient and want instant gratification, but that gratification will most likely be short lived.

Consider the woman who needs to lose 50 pounds. That's a very big goal, that SHOULD take a while to accomplish. Weight loss that happens too fast is rarely ever healthy. Drastic diets are rarely ever adhered to for long periods of time. For this reason, the woman should set incremental short-term goals. Sample mini-goals may include

These goals achieving steps are much easier to do than the larger “lose 50 pounds”, which is intimidating to just about anyone. Once these things are accomplished, move on to the next increment:

It is also important to remember to reward yourself after achieving your goals, no matter how small they are. You spent the time on goals development to increase your chances of success. Each small victory deserves praise.

Not only does development of goals that are smaller help a large goal seem more achievable, it is also a way to break up what seems like a long, monotonous goal. Losing 50 pounds can take months to over a year, but it seems quicker when 12 other goals were accomplished between the beginning and the end of the goal.

Not only does accomplishing mini-goals along the way reduce your chances of getting discouraged, but it keeps you from getting bored and abandoning your goals. Making short-term goals a part of your long-term goal development supports and ensures your success.

The previous article is Part 2 of short-term Goal Setting.

Other wiki resources: goal setting, achieve goals, goal achievement, goals development, positive thinking