How to set personal goals? Practical tips and examples

What are personal goals?

By setting personal goals, you can focus on your personal growth. Sometimes you realize that you are not getting the best out of yourself: you feel exhausted, busy and experience constant restlessness. While it can be uncomfortable to be in this situation, it is often a specific event that makes you realize that something needs to change.

Setting personal goals helps you make positive changes in your life. You can wish for a situation to improve, but without action, everything remains the same. By setting concrete goals, you give yourself a clear direction and motivate yourself to take steps toward a better version of yourself.

How do you set personal goals?

Setting personal goals begins with thinking about what aspects of your life you want to improve. This might include work, health, relationships or personal development. Ask yourself, "What do I want to get better at?" or "What do I want to achieve in the next few months?

A practical way to do this is to look at what gives or takes energy from you in everyday life. For example, if you notice that you are often stressed at work, a goal might be to find a better work-life balance. Or if you notice that you want to get fitter, a goal might be to exercise more often. By listening to these signals, you can more clearly identify what you want to work on and take concrete steps to reach your goals.

10 personal goals examples

What are good personal goals varies from person to person. Find out what areas of your life need growth. Often personal goals have to do with topics such as work, relationships, intellect, health and spirituality.

A few personal goals examples:

• Developing a growth mindset
• Learning to listen better
• Accepting your shortcomings
• Practice gratitude daily
• Learn to cope better with stress
• learn to say no
• Start a new study
• Starting your own business
• Starting a morning ritual
• Living more in the here and now

How do you work toward a personal goal?

A personal goal can feel overwhelming, so start small. It's important not to expect to accomplish everything at once. Start with a simple first step.

A possible first step is to set aside five minutes each day for reflection. This may involve writing in a notebook about what you want to accomplish or simply reflecting on your goals. It may be uncomfortable at first, but over time you will get used to it and gain clarity about what you want.

Break down your big goal into smaller, achievable goals. What you do on a daily basis will ultimately determine where you are a year from now. For example, if you want to improve a skill, such as learning a new language, start by learning a few words a day.

You can also think about what daily or weekly actions you can take to get closer to your goal. You might find it helpful to take online courses, or to find a buddy with whom you can regularly talk about your progress. By taking small, concrete steps, you will make the process manageable and get closer to your goal one step at a time.

The process is just as important

Ultimately, the road to achieving your goals is just as important as the goal achievement itself. Therefore, remember to take time to acknowledge how far you have come! Often the process itself teaches us the most.