How to Write Personal Goals

Co-authored by Trudi Griffin, LPC

Updated: March 29, 2019

Explore this Article Formulating Effective Goals Developing a Plan Fighting Your Fears Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles References


Part 1
Formulating Effective Goals

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Part 1 Quiz

What is a good example of a personal, effective goal?

Try again! You want to word and orient your goals so that they are in reach of your abilities and limit the dependency you have on others to achieve your aims. Rephrasing this so it says something like "My goal is to run for office" will give you control over and responsibility for your goals instead. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Not quite! While the specific wording you use in your goals might seem inconsequential, it's an important part of setting the kind of goals you will successfully reach. Negative words, like "stop" or "limit" make it far more difficult to reach your goals. Consider rephrasing your goal to be something positive instead, like "My goal is to start drinking more water." Click on another answer to find the right one...

Not exactly! When you first set out to follow your goals, it's okay to plan for larger, broader things. In order for your goals to be accessible, however, you're going to need to narrow them down. Instead of something broad, like learning a whole new skill, specify your plans -- "My goal is to learn to cook pasta alfredo" -- and you will be that much closer to achieving them. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Nice! Making your goals specific and focused will allow you to see a clear path to achieving those goals. Positive language encourages you to want to reach them and they are broad enough that once you have achieved the smaller goal, say knitting a scarf, you can move onto other elements of the broader idea of "learn to knit." Read on for another quiz question.

Nope! Goals are great, but it's important to be realistic too! Give yourself a reasonable timeline to accomplish your goals, instead of putting undue pressure on yourself to do so quickly. This goal could be revised to something more like "My goal is to learn French this year." There’s a better option out there!

Part 2
Developing a Plan

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    Define your objectives. Objectives are the actions or tactics that you use to achieve your goal.[17] Further breaking down objectives into concrete tasks make it even easier for you to accomplish them and monitor your progress. Use the answers to the questions you asked yourself earlier -- what, where, when, etc. -- to help you identify your objectives.
    • Examples of potential objectives for this goal could be:
      • Excel in high school classes
      • Participate in debate team
      • Identify undergraduate institutions
      • Apply to undergraduate institutions
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    Identify obstacles. Nobody really enjoys thinking about the obstacles to success, but it’s vital that you identify potential obstacles when you’re developing your plan. Doing so will help prepare you for when things don’t go to according to plan.[22] Identify potential obstacles and actions you may take to overcome them.
    • Fear is one of the most common internal obstacles. The fear of not meeting your goal can keep you from taking productive action to attain it.[24] The section on fighting your fears will teach you some techniques to help you with this.[25]
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Part 2 Quiz

When outlining the time frame for your goals, what outside factors should you keep in mind?

Not exactly! Different goals have different timelines and it might be necessary to break your goal into different stages. Still, it's far less important how many stages you have than that you have accessible and reasonable steps to take to your goals. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Not quite! The goal statement will put you on your way to achieving your goal, but there's a good chance you will need to narrow things down before you can take the first steps. Consider some other factors that might impact your timeline. Try another answer...

That's right! If you have plans to go back to school or get certified in a trade, you may need to apply by a certain time. Make note of upcoming deadlines and dates to ensure your goals are possible. Read on for another quiz question.

Nope! Some of these steps may be expensive and you may need to make sacrifices or changes to your plan in order to achieve it. Still, there are other factors that more fundamentally impact your timeline. There’s a better option out there!

Part 3
Fighting Your Fears

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    Use visualization. Research has shown that visualization can have significant effects on improving your performance. Athletes often talk about this technique as the reason behind their success.[26] There are two forms of visualization, outcome visualization and process visualization, and to have the highest likelihood of success you should combine them.[27]
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    Use positive thinking. Studies have shown that positive thinking is more effective at helping people learn, adapt, and change than focusing on flaws or mistakes.[29] It doesn’t even matter what your goals are; positive thinking is just as effective for top-level athletes as it is for graduate students or artists or business managers.[30]
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    Challenge perfectionistic tendencies. Perfectionism often stems from a fear of vulnerability; we may desire to "be perfect" so that we don't experience loss or fear or "failure." However, perfectionism cannot keep you from these natural human experiences. It holds you and others to impossible standards.[36] Many studies have shown a strong relationship between perfectionism and unhappiness.[37]
    • "Perfectionism" is commonly confused with "striving for success." However, many studies show that perfectionists may actually experience less success than people who do not attempt to meet this unrealistic standard.[38] Perfectionism can cause intense anxiety, fear, and procrastination.[39]
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    Practice gratitude. Research shows a consistent relationship between the active practice of gratitude and success in achieving goals.[42] Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the easiest and most effective ways to practice gratitude in your daily life.[43][44]
    • Believe it will work. Cheesy though it may sound, gratitude journaling is more successful if you consciously tell yourself that it will help you become more happy and grateful.[45] Leave the skepticism at the door.
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Part 3 Quiz

How can you avoid falling into "false hope syndrome?"

Not quite! New approaches are often a great way to tackle goals that have been otherwise elusive. Still, "false hope syndrome" often comes before you've put too much time into your goals. There are other ways to combat it. There’s a better option out there!

Close! Perfectionism is often one reason we fail to reach our goals the first time. Letting go of the desire to be perfect can often help us complete our goals, but there's a far simpler way to combat "false hope syndrome." Try another answer...

Almost! Gratitude is a great way to recognize the positive and to better understand and compartmentalize things that don't go the way we want them to. Still, while positivity and gratitude are great, it's necessary to take concrete steps to achieving your goals. There’s a better option out there!

Correct! "False hope syndrome" stems from a lack of quick progress or the cycle of expecting immediate results. Breaking your goals down into smaller components will allow you to celebrate each success as a step toward achieving something bigger. Instead of feeling disillusioned, you will feel more accomplished. Read on for another quiz question.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    What is the best answer about what my personal goal for my hospital interview?
    Community Answer
    It should be about what you want to achieve by working in that hospital. If you are starting in an entry level position, your goal might be to advance in that specific field. Or your goal could be to gain experience in working with people and the environment. Ask yourself what motivated you to take this position, where do you see yourself in a few years after you have gotten this experience, and what are you bringing to this position for clues.
  • Question
    What are the objectives of improving my grades in school?
    Community Answer
    Improving your grades will make it easier for you to succeed after your schooling. Academic performance directly relates to your ability to get into college and beyond.
  • Question
    How can I write a plan of how I will meet these goals?
    Community Answer
    In order to write your plan, you will need to think of reasonable things you will do in order to achieve your goal. There may be particular steps to take in order to reach a goal, or you may have to ease your way into it by making small changes. A plan can often be written in bullet points.
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    6. Wilson, S. B., & Dobson, M. S. (2008). Goal Setting : How to Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals. New York: AMACOM
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    Article SummaryX

    To write personal goals, ask yourself questions like “How do I want to grow?” and “What do I want to offer the world?” to determine what's most important to you and what you want to accomplish. Next, start breaking those big-picture goals down into achievable objectives and smaller tasks that you can start working on right away. Be sure to word your goals and objectives in a positive way so that you're always working towards something, not away from something. To learn more about developing a plan that can help you achieve your goals, read on!

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    Categories: Featured Articles | Personal Goals

    In other languages:

    Español: redactar objetivos, Русский: составить список поставленных перед собой целей, Français: rédiger des objectifs personnels, Português: Escrever seus Objetivos Pessoais, 中文: 撰写个人目标, Deutsch: Persönliche Ziele aufschreiben, Italiano: Scrivere degli Obiettivi Personali, Bahasa Indonesia: Membuat Rencana untuk Kehidupan Pribadi Anda, Nederlands: Persoonlijke doelen stellen, Čeština: Jak si napsat osobní cíle, हिन्दी: व्यक्तिगत लक्ष्यों को लिखें, ไทย: เขียนเป้าหมายส่วนตัว, العربية: كتابة الأهداف الشخصية, Tiếng Việt: Viết mục tiêu cá nhân

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