No doubt, that there are some days when you find yourself delaying your meaningful tasks, despite knowing that it brings regrettable consequences. On those days, you might feel your energy levels dropping low.

But there is a way to make the most out of each day, even when you are procrastinating. Setting goals can cover you up in the days of low self-esteem and low energy. Let’s learn more about the advantages of setting goals.

As author and philanthropist Tony Robbins said, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” That is how you find a one-way direction right to your destiny. This quote itself is enough to exemplify the worth of setting goals. Setting goals does not only help in carrying out the simple way to your prospects, but presents various other remarkable reasons to set goals.

If you are someone who struggles with reaching your desired destiny, then the mind-set of setting goals has a lot of hidden gems for you. You can give goal setting a chance and wait for the marvels to begin in your personal and academic success journey.

Let’s delve deeper into the topic and get to know the meaningful reasons for which you can set goals.

Set goals to be more focused

Goals are the first and the most effective way one can take towards success, but you might be wondering how, right? So, setting goals motivates one to be intensely focused and helps in keeping momentum going. Being focused increases your chances of getting your desired results.

Staying focused is what encourages one to build momentum. That’s what keeps one highly motivated to keep on going and dreaming big.

This motivation leads to dedication, another key factor behind any success. So this cycle of motivation, focus, and consistency leads to ultimate success.

Make clear and do-able plans

It is a fact that sometimes we try our best, but are still unable to reach our desired or planned goals. It always happens because there are days when we feel like doing nothing or even accepting failure easily. While going through this all is normal, this condition has some negative consequences.

The negative consequences of feeling low are that this takes away our will and motivation to work harder to achieve our goals. One can get rid of these negative consequences by setting goals and making clear plans.

If you have planned a schedule, a to-do list, or you have planned a long-term target, this will help you get back on track because you have already planned a path for yourself to follow. All you need is to muster up some dedication and start again. Even in the days of low interest to work hard, you end up doing it because you have set a goal to achieve and a target to hit.

As Brian Tracy said, “A goal without a plan is only a dream.” After setting an obvious goal, plan it realistically, and if a method does not work for you, choosing another straightforward plan that will work. Always have a plan B (or even C, D, and E), in case Plan A doesn’t work.

Be accountable

Setting goals also involves accountability. Being accountable means that you keep a check and balance on your progress. As you have planned a goal for yourself, the next step is to carry out your hard work to achieve it. After this comes the part when you need to keep a keen eye on your progress. And the more you measure your progress, the more it increases, as it gives you a chance to look at how far you have already come and what remains to be done.

Setting specific targets helps you stay on track on your journey of success. In case you get off track, the accountability step brings you back and lets you know the reasons that caused you to quit. In some ways, accountability to the self is also the reason behind gratitude. Gratifying yourself is an admirable habit that creates wonders not only for your progress, but also for your mental health.

Set deadlines

When you set a specific goal, you plan it by breaking larger and complicated tasks into simpler and smaller ones. While planning precise and achievable tasks, make sure you have positioned timelines for each. During the days when you feel the low potential, these planned timelines push you and help you in getting back on track.

Timelines and planning keep you dedicated to your tasks.

Gain control

Setting goals also gives you a purpose to live. Many are just sleepwalking in their lives, not knowing what they have to do. Countless students do not determine what they require from life. And sometimes, even after graduating from university, they are clueless. And many may even realise in their 40s that they have been doing nothing except helping someone else achieve their goals without setting up any of their own.

Positioning your goals helps you lead your life like a pro, so at any stage of life, you are not shocked or mentally hurt by what you have been doing with your life. Setting long-term goals allows you to get the most out of life as it allows you to control your life.

Get a self-confidence boost

Achieving a goal results in boost of confidence. No matter how big or small, whenever you reach a milestone that you planned, it builds your personality and increases your self-confidence. This is also good for your mental health as it fills you up with positive energy.

And the day you realise that setting goals and working towards them are the reasons for your personality growth too, you start to work harder and accomplish more in life.

Enhance your skills

So far we have discussed very important reasons to set goals, there are countless more to motivate you. While not all can be discussed here, there is one very important one that we need to talk about —skill development.

Right after setting specific goals to accomplish in your life, you get to plan them. And the moment you have done making strategies for this, it’s time to begin working on the plans. While on the way to achieve your goals, you are naturally and unintentionally building several skills that do wonders for you throughout your life.

The most common skills you gain and improve are time management, patience, hard work, discipline, organisation and many other skills that you find the need for in your journey.

Setting goals is a life skill in itself which pushes you to take care of your life instead just passing your life. And with every goal you accomplish, no matter big or small, you gain a boost of self-confidence and many incredible skills that last a lifetime.

So sit down today, write some goals that you want to set for yourself and start planning how you will do it. Do not put this off for tomorrow. Do it today!

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 18th, 2023