Defining Goals and Setting Up an Action Plan to Meet Them

Are you looking to create an action plan for your 2020 goals? 

If so, you’re certainly not alone! In fact, 28 percent of Americans state that they are creating a goal or resolution for the year 2020. 

But, let’s face it, it can be easy to lose track of our goals when life gets busy. Whether it’s a packed work schedule or spending the majority of your time and energy on your family, staying true to your goals isn’t always a walk in the park. 

This is why creating realistic goals and determining and achievable action plan is so important. In doing so, you can create and strive toward goals that are sensible and still effective. 

If you’re looking for a realistic action plan for all of your goals, you’ve come to the right place. We’re sharing our guide on how to create and actually achieve the goals that you set for yourself. 

1. Determine the Areas That Need Change

First and foremost, it’s best to begin by determining the areas of your life that could benefit from a change. 

Perhaps you’re always late for work in the morning. This might be because you’re admittedly a little disorganized and treat yourself to some extra shut-eye in the morning. 

As a result, you might determine that organization and going to sleep earlier could provide a positive change to your work life. In doing so, you’re going to find yourself feeling less stressed in the morning and being more productive at work. 

2. Be Realistic in Your Goals 

Once you’ve determined the areas of your life that require change, you can begin to set your goals based on these reflections. 

In doing so, it’s absolutely crucial to focus on setting realistic goals. After all, it’s best to avoid setting yourself up to fail from the very beginning. Instead, you can create small goals that are achievable and still effective. 

3. Choose Three Goals 

When you’re resetting, it’s always tempting to create a long list of goals. 

While it’s always good to be motivated, creating too many goals is only going to hurt you in the long run. Sooner rather than later, you’re going to find yourself forgetting many of the goals that you set for yourself. When you create too many goals, the majority are going to sit on the back burner and eventually fade away. 

To counteract this potential, focus on creating less than three goals. This will make it easier for you to really focus on each goal that you have set. Oftentimes, you’ll find that your three goals tie into one another. 

4. Write Down Your Goals

Next, it’s time to write your goals down on paper. 

Unless you physically make note of your goals, the odds are that you’ll forget about them. When an idea exists solely in the mind, it’s easy to lose sight of that idea and for it to slowly fade away. 

In writing down your goals, you’re all the more likely to commit to them on a long-term basis. In fact, it’s helpful to write your goals down in a space that is relatively public. This way you can be reminded of your goals each and every day. 

For example, many employees find it helpful to write their work goals down in their work agenda. By doing this, you can re-read your goals on a daily basis and continue to refresh your mind with your intentions. This can also be done on a digital or even physical work calendar. 

5. Create a Schedule 

Next, it’s time to create a schedule for yourself based on your goals. 

Let’s use the example of no longer being late for work. In order to be more organized in the morning, the odds are that you need to go to bed earlier.

To do so, create a sleep schedule that is both realistic and effective. For example, you might say that you want to be in your bedroom by 10:00 and avoid any screen time one hour before bed. Sooner or later, this new routine is going to feel all the more natural. 

In order to feel more organized in the morning, set aside time in your schedule each night to prepare yourself for your morning routine. This might mean that half an hour before your bedtime, you make your lunch and set out your clothes for the following day. 

6. Share Your Goal With Others 

Last but certainly not least, don’t hesitate to share your goals with others! 

In sharing your goals and voicing them aloud, you’re naturally forcing yourself to be more accountable. When your mind is aware that you have shared your goals and your action plan with others, you’re all the more likely to maintain these goals. 

In a workplace setting, you might find it helpful to share your goals with a co-worker. In fact, you can even create mutual workplace goals that you’re looking to achieve together. 

Having a partner to share your goals with is always going to extend the life and reality of your goal setting. 

It’s Time to Create Your Action Plan! 

Let’s face it, creating a realistic action plan for your goals isn’t always easy. 

In fact, studies have found that only 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals. This means that over 90 percent of well-intentioned goals made are eventually broken. 

So, what happened? 

In most cases, the person failed to create an action plan toward achieving these goals. Instead, they settled on a goal without determining how that goal will be achieved. 

In reality, it’s easy to see how and why these goals fall through so often. This is why creating a detailed and realistic action plan for how to achieve these goals is so necessary. 

If you’re looking to make 2020 your best year so far, be sure to use this guide to inspire you. This just might be your best year yet. 

Do you love reading about business? If so, be sure to read our post outlining the five things every business person wished they knew from the beginning.