Empower Yourself By Setting Short And Long Term Goals

Setting goals can be highly empowering. There are several different types of goals. This article will focus on short- and long-term goals to help you empower yourself. 

Short and long-term goals can be broken down in the following ways:

Short Term Goals: 

As the name implies, short-term goals are designed to be completed in a short amount of time. They are typically completed within days or weeks. They usually last up to six months. Examples include the following: 

1. Saving $50 
2. Losing 5lbs
3. Making a new friend
4. Trying a new activity

Short-term goals usually break down the big picture of long-term goals. They take the entire vision and drill it down into manageable smaller-sized tasks. Below are three steps you should take to set short-term goals. 

Determine Long-Term Goals

The first step in setting short-term goals is determining your long-term goals. You can only drill down small goals if you have a clear and concise big picture. 

Set SMART Goals

The SMART goal system was designed to help achieve goals as fast and efficiently as possible. The SMART goal system is outlined below. Each goal should include each step in the SMART goal system. 

S: Specific 

M: Measurable

A: Achievable 

R: Realistic 

T: Time-based 

Here is an example of a SMART goal vs a goal:

SMART Goal: I will lose 15lbs in 10 weeks by maintaining a healthy intake schedule and working out 30 minutes daily. 

Goal: I will lose some weight by the summer. 

Keep Track of Your Progress

To track and measure how far you have come, you need to track the progress of your short-term goals. There are several different ways to do this. There is no right or wrong way to track your progress. Find a tracking system that works best for you. Some examples are included below: 

• Keep a written account of goals completed each day
• Mark an “X” on the calendar for any days you have worked on your goal
• Continually share progress made with a mentor or trusted friend to keep yourself  accountable
• Each day visualise yourself completing this goal or working towards your goal. Do this when you wake up and right before you go to bed.

Long-Term Goals

As the name implies, long-term goals are designed to be completed over time. They are typically designed to be completed longer than a 6-month time frame. Examples include the following: 

1. Saving $10,000  
2. Losing 50lbs 
3. Buying or building a home

Long-term goals highlight the bigger picture of short-term goals. They encompass a grand vision. Below are steps you should take to set long-term goals. 

Envision where you will be in 10 years. How will you get there? What will your life look like? 

2. Work backwards from your end goal. Think of your ultimate goal. Once you have that, work backwards to make yearly, quarterly, and small goals. 
3. Break long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps. Small goals will help keep you motivated and stay on task. You can see your progress and determine how you will move forward. 
4. Adjust goals as priorities change. Priorities change and evolve. You will need to adjust your goals to align with your priorities. 

Empower yourself by setting yourself up for success with both short-term and long-term goals. Both types of goals will allow you to make positive progress towards your aspirations in life.