In this 2 Minute Q&A Tuesday, we’re going over setting effective goals for 2021. I know we all got a run for our money with 2020 and sticking to our goals felt almost impossible. But when it comes to setting effective goals I’ve learned a few tips that I have to share. First, setting goals that are too specific or too broad can be limiting and devastating if life doesn’t go perfectly. This is something we can all relate to when reflecting on our 2020 goals. So instead let’s take a step back and use my top two tips of creating purposeful goals and flexible.
Create Purposeful Goals
When it comes to setting effective goals, a lot of times we tend to forget the actual purpose of the goal. We go straight to setting goals to feel like we’re moving forward in life, but forget to ask why. Why do you want to achieve this specific goal? It’s important to pull back and get to the root of what feeling you want to accomplish. When it comes to your personal finances, a feeling we all want to feel is financial confidence, security, and freedom. When we look at these words, we start realizing that you can accomplish this in many ways. Pulling back allows you the creativity to find multiple solutions that can help you achieve your goals as life modifies.
Create Flexible Micro-Goals
While on your journey towards your goals you can start to get in your head and get intimidated. Your goal can be so big that you may pull back and quit on your goal altogether. This happens to so many people with their new year resolutions and after a few weeks they give up on their goal. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with your goals, work on breaking up your goals into manageable micro-goals. Once you hit your first micro-goal, re-evaluate and analyze what tweaks you can make to get to your next micro-goal. This way you can get to your destination a little more controlled instead of quitting.
Closing Thought
These are the two tips that have changed how I go about setting effective goals for 2021. Last year taught me that going full force without a plan B or C will only leave you disappointed at the end of the year. You want to set goals that keep you energized and excited even when life doesn’t go to plan. One of my favorite goal setting quotes is to pray for the best and plan for the worst. This mindset will help you set effective goals that are purposeful and flexible.
Other Resources
- 5 Ways to Balance Your Goals as a Millennial
- How to Set SMART Goals as a Family
- Emergency Fund: What is it and How much do I need?
