Tips for reaching your long-term goals

Setting goals is important for your physical and mental wellbeing. Having something tangible and meaningful to work towards boosts motivation and achieving your goals will promote confidence.

However, many people who set goals never attain them. Why? There are many reasons. Common barriers to success include setting goals that are too vague or unrealistic, losing motivation over time and not having an actionable plan to help you achieve your goals. Not only is failing to reach your goals disappointing, but it can also create a negative feedback loop. I couldn’t reach my goals, so why bother trying?

When you’re setting milestones for several months down the line, how can you stay on track so that you actually reach them?

Tips for attaining long-term goals

To help you set long-term goals that you will be able to stick to, here are some top tips.

1. Visualize your future self to keep your goals in mind as much as possible
2. Break your larger goals down into smaller goals
3. Consider what actionable steps you can take to reach your long-term milestones
4. Assess your progress at the end of each month to determine whether or not you need to change anything in your routine
5. Consider your day-to-day decisions and how they either support or detract from your long-term goals
6. Turn to your support networks to help you stay accountable and motivated
7. Create SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable or Attainable, Realistic, and Timed)
8. Be flexible with your schedule to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on yourself