How to Set Goals You’ll Actually Achieve

Want goals that turn into real wins – not guilty to-dos? Use these practical steps to go from fuzzy wishes to weekly actions that stick.

TL;DR (the 5-step system)

1. Find the why (motivation)

2. Choose one high-leverage goal per life/work area

3. Make it SMART→SMARTER (with Evidence & Review)

4. Plan actions + friction-proof your environment

5. Track weekly, review monthly, adjust quarterly

Start with “Why” (and write a 1-sentence outcome)

Before numbers and timelines, answer: Why does this matter now?

• Outcome sentence: “By [date], I will have [result], so that [meaning/benefit].”

  • Example: “By 31 March, I will run 5 km without stopping, so that I feel energised and confident.”

Pick fewer goals, on purpose

Most plans fail from goal overload. Use this rule:

• At most 3 active goals across categories (Health, Career, Learning, Money, Relationships).

• If everything is a priority, nothing is.

Turn SMART into SMARTER

Specific — Measurable — Achievable — Relevant — Time-bound
Evidence — how you’ll prove progress
Review — when/how you’ll inspect and adjust

Example (Career):

• Specific: Publish 6 portfolio case studies.

• Measurable: Each gets 500+ views or a recruiter reply.

• Achievable: 2 per month with current workload.

• Relevant: Supports product design job search in Q1.

• Time-bound: By 31 March.

• Evidence: Analytics dashboard + outreach log.

• Review: Friday 30-minute review; end-of-month retro.

Break goals into actions (use the 3-2-1 planner)

3 outcomes for the month → 2 focus actions per week → 1 daily next step

Template:

• Month Outcomes (3): Ship portfolio v1; run 5k; save £600.

• This Week (2 per goal):

  • Portfolio: Draft case study #2; ask 2 peers for feedback.

  • Run 5k: Two interval runs; one long run.

  • Save £600: Cancel unused subscription; cook 4 dinners at home.

• Today (1 next step): Outline case study intro (20 min).

Design for follow-through (make it easy)

• If–Then planning (WOOP):

  • If it’s 7:00 a.m., then I put on trainers and start a 20-min jog.

• Friction removal: Lay out clothes; pin the doc; block your phone with app limits.

• Environment cues: Calendar invites, sticky notes on the fridge, water bottle on the desk.

• Accountability: Share a weekly update with a friend or a coach.

Track like a scientist, not a critic

• Weekly scorecard: 0/1 completed for each planned action.

• Lag vs lead indicators:

  • Lead = workouts done, pages written.

  • Lag = weight lost, article published.

• Monthly retro (30 mins):

  • What worked? What didn’t? What will I change?

Common goal traps (and fixes)

• Too vague: “Get fit.” → Fix: “Run 5k by 31 March; 3 runs/week.”

• All or nothing: Miss one day → quit. Fix: “Never miss twice.”

• No time budgeted: Calendar wins; intentions don’t.

• Hidden dependencies: Waiting on others. Fix: Identify blockers; create a pre-work goal you control.

• Motivation dips: Expect them. Fix: shorten the step (write 50 words, 10-min jog).

Examples you can copy

Health

• “By 30 June, I will complete 24 strength sessions (3/week for 8 weeks). Evidence: app log; Review: Sundays.”

Career

• “Book 5 informational interviews by 15 Nov. Evidence: email thread count; Review: Friday stand-down.”

Learning

• “Finish ‘SQL for Analysts’ and build 2 mini-projects by 31 Jan. Evidence: GitHub repo; Review: Mondays.”

Finance

• “Automate transfers to save £3,000 by 31 May. Evidence: bank statements; Review: payday.”

FAQs

How many goals should I set at once?
1 – 3. Finish, then add more.

What if I miss a week?
Use “never miss twice.” Shrink the next step and resume.

Do I need an app?
No. A calendar + simple checklist works. Apps help if they reduce friction, not add it.

How do I keep motivation high?
Revisit your why, track wins, and celebrate milestones with small, healthy rewards.