3 easy ways to actually achieve all the life goals you set.

By NAT HAWK

You know what’s nice? Having a goal. Everyone needs a goal – whether it’s a big one or a small one – to keep them moving along this road that is life.

You know what’s not so nice? Failing to achieve any of the goals that you set for yourself. This is a trap we’ve all fallen into at some point, and it’s a tough one. We end up spending year after year hoping for the same old thing, and yet never quite achieving it, or being able to afford it.

Just as an FYI, this post is sponsored by HOSTPLUS Super. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

Here are my failsafe tricks for setting goals and sticking to them, regardless of what they are…

1. Write down your goal and put it where you’re always going to see it.

Whatever your dream is, make sure you keep it in sight. It’s funny how you can push things to the back of your head when they’re not staring you right in the face.

So grab a lipstick and write your goal right across your main bathroom mirror. Or, if you’re always staring at your computer, pop your goal on a big post-it and stick it to the bottom of your computer screen. You can rub off the lipstick or take off the post-it when your goal is achieved.

It’s important to try and be as specific as possible. “Go on a six week trip around South America in January” is much clearer and more practical than a general, “go travelling,” goal.

2. Break your goals down into smaller goals.

It’s really hard to achieve a goal when it’s one, big, airy-fairy goal with no real steps set into place. You can promise yourself that you’re going to be fitter, or save money, or write a book – but you know what they say. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Sit down and break your main goal into small, achievable steps that you can tick off as you go along.

For example, if you’re dreaming about setting a financial goal, make it your mission to look closely at your current financial situation and set yourself a weekly budget – use online tools and calculators to help set aside even a little bit of money per week for whatever you’re saving for. And for long term saving, make sure you find a superannuation fund that is right for you, then implement specific financial plans that will work toward your financial future.

It’s also a great idea to set yourself a timeline for your goal and download a countdown app onto your phone, so that you know exactly how many days remain for you to get cracking. Sometimes the best motivation is realising that you’re quickly running out of time to do whatever you wanted to do, especially if you’re counting down to retirement.

3. Make yourself accountable.

Tell as many people as you can about your goal. That way, you’ve voiced it out loud – and you become instantly accountable for the goal. For example, if you tell all your work colleagues that you’re aiming to buy a puppy, they’re going to keep asking you about that puppy dream until you actually get one.

It’s even better if you can get someone else to join you on your goal-achieving mission. Consult a loved one – a friend, a family member, a significant other – to find out more about their dreams and see if you can help each other to achieve what you’re really hoping to achieve.

What goals are you trying to achieve? 

And because we’re unashamedly a little nosy, take a look at these A-listers career goals before they were famous …

9 in 10 women* won’t have enough super to retire comfortably. Time out of the workforce to raise a family, working part time and earning an average of 17%^ less than men can all play a part. The good news is HOSTPLUS can help you improve your situation and take control now.

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