Over the last 10 years or so I have either listened to or read at least 30 different systems of setting life goals. I’m glad I did because over the years I have ended up taking bits from each one and narrowed it down into something that works for me.
Strangely enough (being slightly sarcastic here) what works best for me is a very simplistic approach that focuses on what actually gets you closer to your goals – taking ACTION.
And I thought I would share this with you 
Before I do, if you are looking for a goal setting audio program/book, in my opinion Anthony Robbins Time of Your Life is absolutely fantastic. It’s very in depth and a word of warning, it can be overwhelming and overall I think it’s too complex a system to use but it definitely covers all of the key angles of setting and achieving life goals.
Anyway, back to my super simple system – this will take less than TWO hours to plan out the next 12 months goals and your next weeks goals!
1. Identify the key categories of your life – wow this sounds a bit hard, but it isn’t. Literally spend no more than 15 mins jotting down 5-6 areas of your life that are important to you. (ones you truly want to spend time on and achieve results in)
Here is my list: (I have 7)
- Physical
- Friends and Family
- Ella (my girlfriend )
- Financial
- Learning
- Me
- Business/Entrepreneur
2. Ok, so now you have your key categories list, you need to create a few key areas within each one which you will focus on. This helps you channel your energy in the right places in each category. No more than 5, preferable 3-4 and this should take you no more than about 15 mins.
Here is my physical as an example:
Physical
- Mobility
- Strength
- Physique
3. Ok, so now that you have your key categories and a few key areas in each of them, you need to identify what you want to achieve in the next 12months and then 3 months. The reason I only go for 12months and 3 months is this is enough to give you enough long term and short term focus – anything more just complicates things and this stuff changes regularly anyway. Spend about an hour doing this.
Here are my physique goals (within my physical category) as an example:
Physique Goals
- 12 months: 185lbs @ 10% bodyfat
- 3 months: 12stone @ 10% bodyfat
4. You’re nearly there now! You now have key categories, key areas in each and some 12 month and 3 month goals! You’re actually have a plan for your life and are in control of it, congrats!
The last bit is weekly planning.
At the beginning of the week (I prefer Sunday evening) review each key category and decide which areas you will focus on and jot down some action items for the week. Now, you don’t have to come up with an action item for every area and every category, keep the big picture in mind. For example one week I may want to focus mostly on my physical category and not worry about my financial category. In fact maybe I want to do that for one month and then I will get back round to the financial area. As long as you don’t neglect one for too long, think the spinning plates metaphor.
So you might end up with say 10 action items or maybe only 5, it’s really up to what and how much you want to do that week.
Once you have your total list of action items, circle 3 as absolute musts and do them no matter WHAT.
Then nail those items in the week.
Repeat next week.
What it all boils down to is having some idea of where you want to be spending your time (key categories and areas) and what exactly you want to achieve in those (12M and 3M) but then focusing on the actions that will get you there (weekly planning)
There are of course lots of other things you can get into (visions, purposes, more specific time planning etc etc) and if you lack the motivation within to be working on your goals it is a good idea to look into them, I’ve just tried to share a simple and effective way for you to control your own life with simple goal setting!
Let me know if this is useful to you!
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