#Setting goals

[agirlwithglam]

S.M.A.R.T goals:

How to set and achieve your goals

What does SMART stand for?

S - specific. don't just set vague goals like "i wanna get fit" or "i wanna get abs". how are you gonna know when/ where to start? if you want to get fit: your goal could be "go to the gym for 30 mins everyday" or "i want to run 5k in under 30 mins". whatever works for you. some other examples: -> if your big goal is to get high marks on your next test: your "mini" goals/ steps should be to study everyday for at least 30-60mins. -> if your big goal is to get money/ become rich: your steps/ mini goals should be to save $___ daily first. and also figure out a way you can make a mini business/ get a job.

M - measurable. make sure that your goals are measurable- meaning that you should be able to track them. some examples: -> if your goal is to read more: then create or find a habit tracker or something so everyday when you read, you can mark it down for that day. ! recommended resource: James Clear's habit tracker journal- you can find it on amazon.

A - Achievable keep your goals realistic and attainable. if you know you dont have the time/ energy to read a whole book in 1 week, dont do it- otherwise you'll get easily discouraged. the goldilocks principle: don't make it too easy, where it doesn't give you a challenge, but don't make it too hard either, otherwise you'll get easily discouraged.

R - Relevant basically a WHY. why do you want/ need to accomplish this goal? have a motivation which drives you. make sure your goal is relevant to you in some sort of way. example: -> if you want to learn a language such as spanish, why do you wanna learn it? because you want to travel to Spain one day? to be able to communicate with someone? even if the purpose is as simple as "wanting to be bilingual cus it makes me feel cool and impressive" - if that motivates you, then go ahead!

T - time bound your goals need to have some sort of deadline or urgency attached to it- otherwise you could take all the time you want to start and procrastinate as much as you want. having a deadline for the goal will motivate you to take action sooner, than later.

how to use SMART goals effectively:

decide on the goal. (something that you actually need/ want to accomplish.)

break it down into smaller steps. (very small. so small that you can start working on whatever it is NOW.) you want to get high marks on your test? lets break it down. study 30 mins everyday -> walk to desk -> get material out -> identify what you need to study -> find your weaker topics & write it out -> create a planner or smth -> start studying. // need help? find videos online, go thru material again, find study tips, etc.

write them down. (helps you stay accountable. also people who write their goals down are 42% more likely to achieve them than people who don't write it down.)

create an action plan. (relates to the 2nd point. outline the necessary steps to take, identify resources, set milestones, plan for potential obstacles.)

monitor and evaluate progress. (regularly review your goals, mistakes, and progress. what could you do better to be more efficient and quicker? how can you learn from your mistakes?)

stay committed and flexible. (you really need to be committed to achieve the goals, you shouldn't just start off super excited, doing great in the first week then slacking off. you've made a commitment to YOURSELF. respect yourself enough to stick to it! but also be flexible with your goals. if you're reeeallyy not able to do it one day, plan to do a bit more the next day. stay focussed and don't get discouraged by setbacks.)

celebrate achievements. (recognise when you've hit a major milestone, and celebrate it! this helps you maintain motivation and a sense of accomplishment. and reward yourself!!)

random additional tips:

visualisation. (such a strong form of manifestation. everyday visualise yourself with your goals, feeling all the emotions and thoughts that come with it! visualisation can also really boost your motivation and drive to achieve it.)

PRIORITIES. (remember that also, all goals aren't equally important. prioritise the ones that really matter. this doesn't mean that you can't focus on the other goals, just make sure the ones that need more attention, get more attention.)

positive language. (use kind and encouraging words towards yourself. know and understand that you are that girl who can achieve ANYTHING she sets her mind to.)

seek support. (ask friends and family or a mentor for help. if you want, be careful tho, share your goals with them to help you stay accountable. and if you know a person who's achieved your goals, GET ADVICE FROM THEM! where better to get advice from than someone who's been through what you're going through?)

stay organised. (self explanatory. just stay organised. messy space = messy mind. clean space = clean mind.)

maintain balance. (of course your goals are important, but so is the age you're currently at. especially if you're a teenage, DONT WASTE THESE YEARS!! get out of the house! make friends! go to parties! LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST. also make sure that you get the adequate rest needed!)

write about your journey. (write about the struggles, the obstacles, how you overcame them, insights you got on this journey, etc. trust me, it'll be so interesting and helpful to read when you're older.)

[study-like-you-mean-it]

2024 Goal Setting for People Who Used to be Studyblr Queens and are Now Just Muddling Through Adult Life

I know you, you know me. I've had this account since I was freshly 16 and I'm 23 (and a half) now, and I can guarantee there's loads of you in the same boat right now.

Where did I go? What did I do? I finished my Master's Degree and realised (with some trepidation) at the end of it that I'd achieved everything that was on my list of things to achieve ever, and I didn't really have a plan on what I was going to do, so for what may have been the first time in my life I just...winged it. Started measuring progress according to how I felt about it. And it worked! Lots of good has come out of it so let me suggest some goal setting approaches to help if you're in a similar position (and given the studyblr -> chaos pipeline I might suggest there's at least a few people this might help)

Point 1 - Don't set yourself academic goals

"But Study Like You Mean It, I always set academic goals!" I hear you say. I appreciate the irony of my username in relation to this. Point is, you're not in academia anymore. You need to stop goal setting like you're in academia, and the easiest way to do this is to stop setting academic goals.

"But I like the pursuit of knowledge!" I hear you counter. So do I, but if you've just come out of a hothouse academic setting, you *really* need to consider who you're goal setting for. Do you like the idea of being a polyglot by the end of the year? Sure, fine, whatever, but consider who you're goal setting for. Do you want to be a polyglot because you like the process of learning languages, or because you want to show to others that you know languages? It sounds silly, but you're not working to a grade anymore, and it's absolutely essential that you reflect on why you like doing academic things. This doesn't apply to everyone, but I would kick off the process of self-reflection on this (because you know the Studyblr types are most likely guilty of performative learning) by refusing to set yourself academic goals.

If you don't hit a yardstick, what's the worst that will happen?

(nothing- the answer is nothing and you need to start getting comfortable with that)

Point 2 - Set Process-Based Goals

Building on the last point, if you want to have achieved something by the end of the year, how can you frame it in a way that's definitely not you trying to put down a point to show to others that you've improved, and instead internalise your sense of progress? Maybe the goal you set is "by the end of the year, I want to feel like I understand internalised growth and progress", and you'll know at the end of the year when you self-reflect if you've succeeded in that.

Otherwise, set a process-based goal. If you want to get better at something, but know you're guilty of holding yourself to externalised yardsticks, set yourself a goal that's about the process rather than the result. Scary, I know. For example, say you want to start playing a sport. If you go in without a process-based goal, you could end up saying to yourself "I want to put myself in a position where I qualify for a team two leagues above by the end of the season," which is a SMART* goal, but incredibly determined by outside reflections on your own ability, and very end-result focused. There's a time and a place for goals like this, but if you're coming off a high-intensity academic environment, I would argue that it's not the right place. Instead, what about "I will show up every week and be positive about the fact that I'm not perfect"? It's about the learning process, and I think post-university a lot of people fall out of love with the actual learning process, and become too mired in results.

*specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound

Point 3 - What happens if you don't hit your goal?

I love asking this question to people who've come out of academic environments.

Literally what's going to happen if you can't meet the goal that you've set for yourself when you set an end-goal focused goal?

Nothing!!!!!

It's so freeing. Embrace it! There are no time bounds on learning, so enjoy the learning! There's no exam to pass, no professors to wow, no applications to get accepted. It's just you learning how to be you, and remembering why you love to get good at things!

Part 4 - Habits =/= Goals

This one maybe is a bit tricky to explain. It's the difference between "I'm going to get into the practice of reading on my commute when I can" and "I must finish 10 books this year by reading on my commute when I can". One of them is about introducing something new into your life because it makes you feel good, and the other one is about setting limits on that because you feel you need to control the way that you enjoy things (this comes from academia putting constraints on learning, etc.).

Be patient with yourself, for goodness' sakes. Get into the habit and enjoy the process, don't automatically find ways to be masochistic about it.

My Goal Setting Approach

Now I've clarified the kinds of goals to set in this new and scary world, I'll run through my approach to implement them. First thing to note is I like setting lots of goals, but then those all get broken into little habits that I can focus on in my day to day, as well as timeline-less tasks to accomplish when I've got the time free.

I start with areas I'd like to improve myself in (again, not as a discipline thing, but towards the vision that I might be a more rounded and enriched person because of it):

Personal - how can I become more introspective/calm/mindful?

Financial - how can I become more fiscally responsible now I'm an adult?

Social - how do I make time for others?

Work - what does progress at work over this year look like?

Sport - this can be replaced by whatever your main hobby is

Intellectual - how can I enrich myself and learn about things that I'm interested in?

I won't run through all of these, but I'll create some examples:

Domain: Financial - how can I become more fiscally responsible now I'm an adult?

General points on this: I can save more money, I can improve my credit score, I can pay off some loans

Habits: for the first, I can maybe aim to save 20% of my takehome, by putting 10% in at the start of the month, and trying to put 10% in at the end if I've got enough, and I can set up the timelineless task of opening a high interest-rate savings account for money that I don't need for emergency access; for the second, I can set the timelineless task of setting up a credit card, and get into the habit of paying for my groceries with it; for the third, I can sit down and look at how much of my takehome I can dedicate to this, and then get into the habit of paying off a sustainable amount

Now, I have the timelineless tasks fo getting a credit card, opening a new savings account, and sitting down and looking at my loans, and then I have the two habits of tucking bits of money away and paying off some loans. Note that there's nothing that's made it too urgent (which I admit is a privilege) and there's nothing that tells me I'm a bad person for not being able to do it. Another example:

Domain: intellectual - how can I enrich myself and learn about things that I'm interested in?

General points on this: I would like to read more broadly, I would like to improve my French, I would like to understand more about world events

Habits: for the first, I can read on my commute when I can get a seat on the train, as I have half an hour each way so I can use that time to read. I can set the timelineless task of exploring the kinds of books that I'd like to read; for the second, I can choose to consume more French media when I feel like I have the mental capacity. I also have to speak French at work, so I want to get into the habit of not cowarding out and switching to English (scary but doable); for the last, I can get into the habit of watching the evening news (so it's contained within a time slot and I'm not being overwhelmed by the 24h news cycle) and I can set the timelineless task of picking up a copy of a magazine like the economist once in a while to get a deeper understanding.

So the habits to get into are reading on my commute, choosing to speak more in French, and watching the news when I can; the tasks are maybe picking up a copy of a magazine and coming up with a reading list.

The whole point of this approach is it breaks your bigger goals into a timeline-free to-do list, and then a list of small habits that you can get into. The good news is that there's no punishment for failure! If I want to listen to the Bongo's Bingo Greatest Hits playlist on the train one morning instead of reading about the modern history of Cambodia, nobody's going to come along and tell me off for not being serious enough, or clever enough, or "academic" enough about my approach to life. The to-do list aspect I find immensely helpful, as often I struggle to write larger-level to-do lists when I'm in the middle of the year, because I don't have the same kind of clarity over the types of progress I want to make when I'm in the middle of things.

Anyway, I hope this is useful, and a good counterpoint to the mindset that everyone who's ever been near Studyblr has. Learning now is only for enjoyment, so enjoy that aspect! Live your life! Understand that the process of betterment is all about enriching your personal sphere and nothing about other people because (drumroll) literally nobody else cares! In a good way! Nobody cares that you've not mastered Polish in 3 weeks or read the entire academic output of Montaigne in a week! And it's cool if you have, but the person you are is more important, and freeing yourself from external yardsticks is so so crucial!

Love to anyone who read this far ♥

[theenbyroiderer]

Encountered something way too wholesome about setting goals and perseverance and achievement... so made a little schematic (in good old Paint lol) of what actually tends to happen whenever I set any goals.

[bitchesgetriches]

Stop Measuring Your Time in Beyoncé Hours

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[suninvanillabun]

Here's an actionable step by step guide, THAT ACTUALLY WORKS, on how to set goals and create to do lists that don't make us want to give up the very first week.

I hope it helps!

Step 1:

I need you to start fresh. If you already have a to do list, delete everything on it. If you have many goals or unclear goals with no real plan, also forget about them. Start fresh. It's time fo let go of what is not serving you and try something new. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein

Step 2

Get a pen and a notebook, or open your notes app, and sit alone in a quite place. Cancel your plans for the following 2 hours, and allow yourself to prioritise YOU

Step 3:

On the notebook or notes app, begin by writing down rhe things that are sitting in the back of your mind, bugging you. The things that you need to change or do immediately for survival purposes. Those are the things that are very necessary, immediate, and important for survival. For example, if you need money for rent in a couple of months, if you're not getting enough sleep, if you feel sluggish and unhealthy, if you have a health problem that's immediate, if there's an assignment or deadline that you're procrastinating on, if you're dealing with a huge mental health issue that's preventing you from everyday life, if you're dealing with grief or withdrawls, etc. Those things are usually not many. I would say, not more than 3 immediate survival problems.

Step 4:

The 11 categories of life are:

physical health

mental health

fitness and appearance

connections and friends

intimate relationship

money and finances

focus and brain health

skills and personal growth

spirituality

reputation or personal brand

purpose.

I need you to write down the following 11 titles and highlight them, then, under each one of these titles, write no more than 3 problesm. Basically, no more than 3 things you'd like to change about each one of the 11 categories. Get specific. Remember that the key is to prioritise.

Step 5:

On a separate paper, write down your biggest fears in each of the 11 categories. What are the things that you're very scared would happen in the future? Are you scared of a specific health issue? A specific reputation? Being broke and depending on a man who makes it feel like he's doing you a favour for buying food? Get specific. Write down your deepest, darkest fear in each of the 11 categories. The fears will be your anti-visions. The fears will motivate and inspire your goals.

Step 6:

Now on a separate piece of paper, I want you to write down your 3-year goals for each of the 11 categories, which are the opposites of your biggest fears. The goals should be yours. Don't write random things. Don't write things you see other people online go after. Choose goals that really resonate with you as a person. For each one, ask yourself "is this goal really mine"? And "why do i want it?". For example, what's something you'd really like to do for money if it was possible, in order to avoid your biggest fear around money? How would you like to work in order to avoid having to slave around for others? How would you like to look and present yourself? Healthy? Feminine? Effortless? Sharp? How would you like to be known? What type of partner would you like to have? What kind of relationship would you like to be in?

Step 7:

Now, getting to the to do list, I want you to start with the survival list because it is the most important. Let's say you got 3 immediate survival problems on the list. I want you to get a piece of paper, and brain storm then write down EXACTLY what you know that you need to do in order to fix them. The steps should not be general like "get a job", but specific like "use X skill to get X amount of money by applying X amount of times a day, at X time, on X website" get VERY SPECIFIC. decide on the time and place. Lay down the steps. And write down the date by which you have to finish.

The survival goals should be the ones you work on early in the morning or late before bed, for optimal focus. They should have the biggest priority, and they're the ONLY goals that you must work on for extended periods of time. If there are quick things you can do like "take a pill" or "apply for a specific job", then you should do that first thing and quickly.

Step 8:

Now for the 3 problems under each of the 11 categories, I want you to create a basic to-do list for this month, and include 1 problem from each category. Only 1. The 2nd and 3rd problems will be dealt with in the coming months. Choose 11 problems in total, and for each one, set 1 specific daily actionable step that:

Is clear and unambiguous (for example, "read 5 pages from - insert specific business book-" instead of just "read for 15 mins")

Has a clear place and time (on my bed, after dinner)

Has a clear purpose (to develop my business skills and fix -insert problem-)

Is easy and doesn't feel like too much (5 pages instead of 15)

Step 9:

Finally, create a daily checklist. Go to your notes app, or use a notebook, and create a page for each day of the month, with each task on it. Don't enter the tasks manually every day, just write them down once, for the entire month. This creates less resistance. You can also add the checklist as a widget on your home screen, or hand the papers, each day at a time, on your wall.

[greyfix]

To the others writers out there on tumblr, i want to say a few words.

I know with it being the new year we're all ready to set goals for ourselves, and that's important. However, i just want to let yall know that you don't have to meet those goals!

If your new years resolution is to write every day and maybe you do for a while, but then the writers block sets in and you go until june without a single word written, It's Okay! You're still amazing!

Humans are flawed creatures and the most important thing is taking care of ourselves. So if you fall a little behind on those resolutions, just know that it's not a big deal and you're still doing great.

Stay safe guys, eat well, and don't be too hard on yoursleves.

[classic1970beauty]

I know you want to sleep in but you have to wake up early. I know you don't like the taste, but you have to brush your teeth in the morning. I know that you want to rest, but you're not where you want yet. I know it's warm in your bed but you have to step in the cold. I know the water is cold but you have to wash your face in the morning.  I know you feel sad and alone but you have to do it anyway. I know you don't feel like it but you have to do that workout. I know it's not always tasty but you have to eat healthy. I know it's boring but you have to stick to a routine. I know you want to spend it but you have to save that money. I know you are tired but you have to stick to your skincare routine. I know you are tired but you still have to finish that assignment. I know you want to go to sleep but you still haven't done everything that's on your to do list. I know you are tired but YOU HAVE TO DO IT TIRED. I know you are hurt, but you will heal. I know it's uncomfortable what I just told you but you have to be leading a boring, disciplined and uninteresting life if you want to achieve your dream! STAY FOCUSED!

[whilereadingandwalking]

The turning of a new year is a symbolic beginning, but it's been a rough year, and mentally, I'm fully ready to step out of one year and into the next. I'm ready to shed other people's drama and focus on keeping myself together. To try and restart my weekly yoga practice in hopes that my body allows me to, and appreciates it. To be kinder to myself, but also to demand more of myself so I don't fall into the same depressive lows and gullies that cost me so much (figuratively and literally) over the past year. To indulge myself less, and try to still find an inner peace. To slow down, downsize, and make up some ground.

[julochka365]

6/2.2025 (3) - now with punches - people can fill in their own goals for the year ahead in CreaGive

[kdfrqqg]

Yeah me! I didn't shop or spend any money today. Those days seem so few and far between.

My biggest issue is not getting bored and just hoping on a website to see what they have.

I used to say it's only $20 or oh it's only $50 but that adds up so fast.

I'm trying to keep myself honest.

[deepalilohia]

The Power of Setting Effective Goals

The same way you set a plan for your future trips, so as you set goals in this regard. You don't want to be lost on the way to your goal, and keeping SMART goals will help your map guide you to success.

What are SMART Goals? 

Specific: Your goal should be super clear.

Measurable: You want to be able to tell if you've reached your goal. 

Achievable: Your goal should be possible.

Relevant: Your goal should matter to you.

Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline.

[kindnessisstillhere]

Goals

It's easy to set goals, 

To say this is what I'll achieve

But instructions aren't given 

And suggestions easily ignored. 

We reason ourselves out of them, 

Hesitate to push at all, 

So a goal stagnates and fails, 

Empty where it was genuine. 

Or muddles in the background 

A hope more than a goal

And a dream more than both. 

[tobbogan-13]

we made 2025 vision boards in english today, and i thought mine turned out great so i'm putting it here

its kinda embarrassing how many of these books/movies i havent read/watched

but i read like, 1.5 books for fun last year, so if i can do better than that i'm fine

[pinkacademic]

How to Write Resolutions and Make them STICK!

Warning: Phone formatting lol

Girlies, this is not untapped territory, this I know. But I know it’s the sort of thing that can be an area worth saturating bc we know we all love the help- I know I do!!

The example I’m going to use is journaling.

Do NOT set a vague-ass “I’m gonna journal more,” and Do NOT do the big, unattainable “I’m gonna journal everyday!”

Let’s make this work.

1. Set something SPECIFIC

If that does mean your goal is everyday, so be it, but see step 2. Set something that you can reasonably attain such as “I’m going to journal my thoughts at the end of every week,” or “I’m going to track one habit in my bullet journal.”

2. Set targets/mini-goals along the way.

Start small. Let’s assume we’re sticking with the goal to journal everyday. Start with weekly for, say, Jan and Feb, then maybe twice in Mar and Apr… then build in a way that works for you!

Similarly, if you have, say, the goal of a full spread of writing. Star with half a page, build to a full page, and then up to two!

That’s kind of it!

Don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect from the start! Ease yourself in, and take it step by step. Commit and get it done, and good luck in 2024!!

[ariiiiilynn]

Yay challenging myself to wake up at 4am consistently 👀 I’m hoping I can do that so I have more time to do things in the mornings but I know it’s really hard lmao