Goal setting seems to be one of the Things That We Do in our society. Reaching for goals can be a good thing. It’s good to have something worthwhile to work for.

Unfortunately, setting goals effectively can trip you up. Whether you are setting goals for the new year, or whether you just want to continue to improve yourself, here are 6 tips for setting better goals:

Choose Something That Matters

Your first step when setting a goal is to choose something that matters. Think about what would really make a difference in your life — and perhaps in the lives of others. You will be more likely to stay on track with your goals if you take the time to choose something that matters to you in the long run. Think about what could appreciably improve your life, and then make that one of your goals.

Be Realistic About The Trade Offs

Before you get started on your goal, you need to take some time to look inside. A little introspection is good. Be realistic not just about what you can accomplish, but what you might have to give up in order to reach your goal. Few truly worthwhile things are easy, and most require some sort of sacrifice or trade off. You need to acknowledge that, and recognize what you could be missing out on. My efforts to get healthy have meant that I have needed to cut back on sweets (which I love) and make time for exercise (which I’m not fond of). However, the end result of better health matters to me, so I’ve been willing to make the sacrifice. The hard work is starting to pay off a little bit, too.

Focus On One Goal At A Time

Too often, we get caught up in making lists. You might list out several things that you wish would happen in your life. Unfortunately, putting together a list like that can lead to failure. This is particularly true if you have a lot of big goals that matter. Productivity experts are moving away from the idea of multi-tasking, and you should move away from the idea of trying to do too much at once. Pick something that matters the most to you to work on, and then make that your focus for now.

Break It Down

Next, break your big goal down into milestones. Think about what it will take to achieve your end result. Plan out the necessary stepping stones to your goal. Mark milestones so that you have an idea of how much progress you are making. Chunking your large goal into smaller milestone goals can help you manage your expectations, as well as manage your success. Make sure that you follow a logical course, and then focus on one step (or mini-goal) at a time.

Picture The End Result

Don’t just define a concrete goal with your milestones. Take the time to picture the end result in a way that resonates with you. Think about what you will do, or how you will celebrate, when you achieve your goal. If you want to free up more time for volunteer work, picture yourself serving at the food kitchen, or picture the end results of a charity auction that you helped plan. Think about what success will look like, and you will have more motivation to stick with your goals, and make them happen. Go back and remind yourself why you set the goal, and remember why it matters to you.

Use Positive Language

Finally, use positive language. Instead of say that you’re going to stop eating as many refined carbs, phrase it more positively. Say that you are going to eat more whole grains. Look for ways to be positive in your statements. This works for more than just writing our your goals. You also need to think in terms of what you are gaining, rather than what you are losing. If you just dwell on what you’re giving up, no matter how much you think the trade off is worth at the outset, you will eventually be worn down by negativity. Look forward and note progress, and be positive about your efforts.

What do you think? What helps you set better goals?