Goal setting is the most effective way to achieve results. Without them, it is easy to lose focus.

For those results-oriented people, for sure you would have a to-do list like me. And it gives such a satisfying feeling when you cross out those items one by one. If you like to set goals, I have an effective method for you which helps me tremendously.

Why it is called goal-setting for better lives? Because this method works for all areas in your life. Here is how it works, before that, prepare a pen and paper, let’s do it right now!

No Action No Results!

Step 1

Think of all areas of your life which are important for you. Those could be relationships, family and friends, health, wealth, career, emotions, impact, and so on. Write down as many as you want.

Step 2

In each category, write a statement of what you would like it to be. The sentence is in the present tense and it should sound like you already living it, or achieving it. For example, if you want to be fit under the health category, you can write “ My body fat is at 25%”, or “ I work out 30 mins every morning”. Similarly, under the category of wealth, you could write “I have minimal $50,000 in my bank account”.

Imagine the state of yourself where you will feel content and happy about it. This process is to condition your mind that you are living the life you want. It is not that what you ‘plan’, or ‘wish’ or ‘hope’. It is about now. You could also use adverbs to reinforce the mind such as ‘I easily maintain 25% body fat”, or “I easily work out three times a week”. Make the sentences sounds like an achievable thing that you can do it easily and confidently. Don’t think of when or how just write the end goal. For now, you probably will have 5 to 10 points or more under each category. If not, think broader, what else you want to achieve in life, maybe there are things you do not prioritize, but they are also important for you. Write them down.

Step 3

Label each statement with short-term, mid-term, or long-term goals. Your short-term could be 1–2 years, mid-term could be 3–5 years, long-term could be 5–10 years. You can adjust the time horizon based on your own situation. Reevaluate at each statement, are they achievable in short-term, mid-term, or long-term? Put the year next to the statement. For example, instead of “I have minimal $50,000 in my bank account”, write “I have minimal $50,000 in my bank account in 2021”. Do the same for all statements.

Step 4

Paste this piece of paper somewhere you can see it every day.

In Short

How this goal-setting works is to condition your mind that you are living the life you want. It is not about planning, wishing, or hoping. It is living it. When I see the statement “5 minutes mediation is my daily routine”, I have the urge to do it because I want to achieve that goal. If we don’t write them down, we won’t do it. I have my A4 paper next to my desk and I am seeing many of my goals come true. If I haven’t written them down, I probably won’t think of them and as a result, I won’t take action to achieve them.

If you really want to achieve certain things in life, write them down, and look at it every day. Subconsciously you are working towards it!