These practical tips on goal setting
can help make it easier to set and reach goals:
1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a
change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals.
"I'm going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and
magazines" is a much more doable goal than "I'm going to do more for
the environment." And that makes it easier to stick with.
2. It takes time for a change to become
an established habit. It
will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half
an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That's because
your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you're doing
is part of your regular routine.
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each
morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you're working for.
(Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal,
you're training your brain to make it happen.
4. Pleasing other people doesn't work. The key to making any change is
to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not
because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to.
It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you're doing something out
of obligation to another person.
5. Roadblocks don't mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of
the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It
may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that's OK — it's normal to mess up or
give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone
slips up and don't beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back
on track.
Source:http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/getting_help/goals_tips.html
