EVERY NEW YEAR, many of us make resolutions and set new goals. It may be a cultural convention (something you’re just used to) or a personal tradition, but what you may not know is the importance of setting achievable and meaningful personal and professional goals. The key words here are ACHIEVABLE and MEANINGFUL, which will help you focus your efforts, prioritise your time, and track your progress.
Having these specific types of goals will increase your motivation, as most people are more likely to be engaged and committed to achieving a goal that is meaningful to them. When you set goals that are meaningful to you, they can be a powerful motivator⏤you’ll be more likely to put in the effort required to achieve them, and you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when you do. Achievable goals are ones that are realistic and attainable given your current resources and circumstances, while meaningful goals are ones that align with your values, interests, and aspirations.
To ensure that goals are both achievable and meaningful, it is important to break them down into smaller, manageable steps, and to establish a clear plan of action. A plan of action usually includes setting deadlines, creating specific action items, and regularly reviewing progress. Examples of specific action items might be, for instance, if your goal is to learn a new language in one year: 1 – purchase language learning materials or enrol in a course; 2 – create a study schedule and stick to it; 3 – find a language exchange partner or practice speaking with native speakers, etc.
In a professional setting such as work, setting goals that are both achievable and meaningful can help you concentrate your efforts and manage your time more effectively. This approach can also ensure that your goals align with your overall career aspirations, leading to increased job satisfaction, career advancement, and a sense of accomplishment.
Establishing achievable and meaningful goals on a personal level can have a positive impact on your overall well-being, help you learn new skills or acquire new knowledge, and increase your happiness and satisfaction with life.
This year, one of my achievable and meaningful personal goals is to journal life’s beautiful moments (you can read more about it here), and some of my professional goals included the TIG redesign and the launch of the Print Shop, new collaborations and networking opportunities, and more.
Some of these goals have already been accomplished, and some are still a work in progress, but every single one of them has undoubtedly brought greater purpose and direction to both work and life.
