How to Set & Achieve Your Goals in Life

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Deciding what to accomplish in life and setting yourself up for success
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Everyone’s got a dream—even you! But how do you achieve it, or how do you find it? Setting and achieving goals is a great way to feel more accomplished and satisfied with your life, but we know it can seem daunting. We spoke with life coaches to bring you expert advice on how to make your dreams a reality. Plus, we’ve even provided plenty of life goal examples to help you get started. So, what are you waiting for? Read on to learn how you can start setting and achieving your goals today!

How to Set Personal Goals: Quick Tips

  1. Decide what you want to achieve. Define how you see yourself in the future.
  2. Write down your ideas. Put all of your thoughts and potential goals on paper to brainstorm.
  3. Consider why you want to achieve your goals. Clarify what makes your goals important.
  4. Break down your goals. Plan how to achieve your overall goal with smaller goals.
Section 1 of 5:

How to Set Your Goals

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  1. What do you want in life? What are some things you’d like to accomplish? Answering these questions can help you brainstorm your goals. Think about what makes and would make you happy in the future—how can you achieve that feeling? [1]
    • For example, if you want to achieve happiness, think even deeper. Define the term. What does “happiness” mean to you? What would you consider a happy life, and how can you achieve that? [2]
    • Imagine your future to help you brainstorm. Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, or even 20 years? What can you do today to help your ideal future happen? [3]
    • Write about yourself to uncover even more goal ideas. Try writing about how you enjoy spending your time and what excites you. [4]
  2. Once you have a list of goal ideas, think about why you want to accomplish these goals—what’s motivating you? Why is this goal important to you? [5] As life coach Guy Reichard explains, setting goals that are meaningful to you can make it more likely that you’ll succeed. [6]
    • For example, let’s say one of your goals is to “become a surgeon.” Why is this something you want? Maybe you know surgeons make a lot of money and are well respected, or perhaps you want to follow in a family member’s footsteps. Either way, it’s important to understand your motivation for pursuing a goal.
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  3. 3
    Write down your ideas. Getting your thoughts and ideas on paper will help them seem more concrete—so put that pen to paper, or get those fingers typing! Writing down your goals puts them in perspective and can even help you visualize them. Plus, science proves that there’s a greater chance that you’ll remember and accomplish your goals if you write them down. [7]
    • The science has to do with encoding, the biological process through which information travels to your hippocampus (the brain’s memory holder). Writing improves this process, making it easier to remember things long-term.
  4. Be as specific as possible when it comes to setting your goals. The more you know about what you’re aiming to achieve, the more likely you are to achieve it. As Reichard advises, “Aim to set goals based on your values and needs.” [8] Make sure your goals answer these questions: [9]
    • Who is involved?
    • Where is your goal located, or where do you need to go to accomplish it?
    • When do you want to act on your goal?
    • Why is your goal important?
    • What do you want to accomplish?
    EXPERT TIP

    Guy Reichard

    Executive Life Coach
    Guy Reichard is a Self Leadership Coach and Executive Resilience Builder who empowers high-achieving professionals, executives, and business owners to lead authentically with calm, clarity, confidence, and compassion. He is the founder of HeartRich Self Leadership & Resilience Coaching, where he helps his clients navigate challenges, overcome fears and self-doubt, and grow into purposeful, values-driven leaders. With a heart-centered, science-backed, and trauma-informed approach, Guy guides his clients to connect with their Authentic Self, align with their core values, and create meaningful change in their lives and leadership. His work focuses on enhancing resilience, emotional intelligence, presence, and well-being while addressing barriers like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, people-pleasing, and tough inner critics. With over 15 years and 4000+ of coaching experience and 20 years in consulting and business development, Guy brings a unique blend of empathy, insight, and strategic perspective to help his clients thrive. He received his professional coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation and is an EZRAx Executive Leadership Coach. He received an MBA and a BA in Psychology from York University.
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach

    Define what “life purpose” means to you. To determine your goals, define “life purpose” so you know what you’re trying to find and achieve in life. Create a definition that’s unique to you and has its own meaningful sense of purpose.

  5. 5
    Tell someone about your goals. Once you have an idea of what your goals will be, tell someone about them! Voicing your goals out loud can help them seem more real. Plus, filling someone else in on your plan can help you be more accountable. [10]
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Achieve Your Goals

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  1. The first step to achieving your goals is prioritizing them. Decide which goals are most important to you to decide what to work towards first. Create a list that ranks all of your life goals from least to most important.
    • Assess your personal commitment to each goal. You’re less likely to achieve long-term goals you’re only somewhat committed to, especially if other goals on your list are much more important. [11]
    • You may need to cut goals during this process, and that’s okay! You can always circle back to new ideas later down the line.
    EXPERT TIP

    Guy Reichard

    Executive Life Coach
    Guy Reichard is a Self Leadership Coach and Executive Resilience Builder who empowers high-achieving professionals, executives, and business owners to lead authentically with calm, clarity, confidence, and compassion. He is the founder of HeartRich Self Leadership & Resilience Coaching, where he helps his clients navigate challenges, overcome fears and self-doubt, and grow into purposeful, values-driven leaders. With a heart-centered, science-backed, and trauma-informed approach, Guy guides his clients to connect with their Authentic Self, align with their core values, and create meaningful change in their lives and leadership. His work focuses on enhancing resilience, emotional intelligence, presence, and well-being while addressing barriers like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, people-pleasing, and tough inner critics. With over 15 years and 4000+ of coaching experience and 20 years in consulting and business development, Guy brings a unique blend of empathy, insight, and strategic perspective to help his clients thrive. He received his professional coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation and is an EZRAx Executive Leadership Coach. He received an MBA and a BA in Psychology from York University.
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach

    Set goals that honor your values and beliefs. Be careful not to just set goals that you think will make you happy once you achieve them but goals that also honor your values and reflect who you truly are and what you truly care about. These are easier to follow through on.

  2. Achieving life goals can be a long and complicated process, which is why it’s best to break down your goals into manageable steps. Consider what you need to do step-by-step to achieve your overall goal. Then, work towards accomplishing each of these subgoals. [12]
    • Make these subgoals as measurable and tangible as possible. In other words, there should be a clear definition of each subgoal that makes it easy to tell when you have achieved it.
    • For example, if your goal is to open a restaurant, your subgoals might include saving up a certain amount of money, finding a location, designing the interior, getting it furnished, obtaining insurance, getting various permits and licenses, hiring employees, and finally, having a grand opening.
    • Executive coach Jessica Elliot explains that “small incremental steps are always a better choice. You may feel like you are not getting anywhere, but by doing a few things every day, you’re adding to your overall larger goal.” [13]
  3. 3
    Plan the first step. Every goal starts with something! Think about what you need to do first to get started. Then, continue planning from there. Look at your subgoals and determine which goal you can achieve first on a step-by-step basis. [14]
    • For instance, say your goal is to run a marathon. You need to start training, so the first step might be downloading a training app or creating a training schedule.
    • As another example, maybe you want to graduate college. You may start by searching for schools in your area or opening a savings account to save for tuition.
  4. Once you have the steps to achieving your goal mapped out, establish a time by which you plan to accomplish your goal. Think about how long each subgoal might take and create a timeline for achieving them. Just remember to plan for obstacles and setbacks. While they’re not ideal, they’re bound to happen. [15]
    • Having deadlines will keep you motivated by adding a sense of urgency and accountability.
    • Thinking in advance about obstacles you might encounter will help you develop ideas for how to deal with them if they come up.
    • For example, if you want to open a restaurant and have at least $10,000 saved in 3 years, you can break that down to saving around $278 a month. To plan for obstacles, you might save $300 or $400 some months just in case you hit financial hardships and miss a month of saving.
  5. Depending on your goal, there may be an environment or space that can help you thrive. Make sure the people and places you’re around help you achieve your goals rather than providing obstacles. [16]
    • For instance, if you’re entering a medical program, you're going to need to study long hours and concentrate on your work. If you live with friends who party all the time and encourage you to do the same, you might need to set clearer boundaries .
    • Aim to surround yourself with other goal-oriented people to keep yourself accountable and motivated.
    • Turn off electronic devices and any other distractions when working toward your goals.
  6. The key to achieving life goals is to work on them steadily and consistently. This is a step-by-step process that takes time, so don’t lose focus! Build time into your daily routine for working on your goals. Implementing new habits can help you stay on track. [17]
    • Many people set goals and then jump in with great enthusiasm, devoting a lot of time and energy to the goal in the early stages, but try not to burn yourself out. Set standards you can live up to. Remember, this isn’t a race; it’s a journey. [18]
    • Use positive reinforcement to create incentives. Give yourself a mini reward every time you accomplish a subgoal. Maybe you take yourself out for dinner or buy those shoes you’ve been eyeing. [19]
  7. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to keep track of your progress and check it regularly. Use an app, journal, or calendar to stay on top of your goals, visually see your progress, and stay accountable. [20]
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Section 3 of 5:

Life Goal Examples

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  1. Still feeling stuck on what goals to set for your life? That’s okay! Coming up with life goals can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time taking initiative. Take a look at these examples to spark some inspiration and help find a life goal perfect for you:
Section 4 of 5:

Why are goals important?

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  1. Goals are important because they can improve your quality of life. Goals keep you motivated, no matter how big or small they are. They give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. While this may seem like a simple thing, it can play a huge part in your everyday life! The more you achieve regularly, the more satisfied and confident in yourself you’ll be. [21]
    • Setting and achieving goals has also been linked to easing depression and anxiety, as they give you something to look forward to and strive for.
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Section 5 of 5:

FAQs

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  1. 1
    What are the 4 main goals in life? Happiness , success , meaning , and integrity are the four main goals in life. According to psychologists, these four elements contribute to the most successful life. So, when setting your goals, ensure achieving them will lead to your happiness and success while giving your life meaning. [22]
    • When setting goals, many believe it’s important to set an achievable goal in each area of life: physical, relationships, career, finances, spirituality, mental, and environmental wellness. Aim to craft goals with these areas in mind to live a more balanced life. [23]
  2. 2
    What are personal goals? Personal goals are goals related to your personal life, such as your job, relationships, and finances. These goals help you thrive and make changes to your life. [24]
  3. 3
    What are short- and long-term goals? Short-term goals can be achieved in a relatively short time frame, whereas long-term goals take a long time to accomplish. For instance, a short-term goal might be to improve production at work, while a long-term goal might be to get a high-paying promotion. Short-term goals can help you achieve long-term goals. [25]
  4. 4
    What are SMART goals? SMART goals are goals with clear and specific outcomes and plans. SMART stands for “specific,” “measurable,” “achievable,” “relevant,” and “time-bound.” A goal that fits all of these parameters is more likely to be accomplished. [26]
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How Do You Set Actionable and Achievable Goals?


Template to Set & Track Goals

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you identify your goals in life?
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach
    Guy Reichard is a Self Leadership Coach and Executive Resilience Builder who empowers high-achieving professionals, executives, and business owners to lead authentically with calm, clarity, confidence, and compassion. He is the founder of HeartRich Self Leadership & Resilience Coaching, where he helps his clients navigate challenges, overcome fears and self-doubt, and grow into purposeful, values-driven leaders. With a heart-centered, science-backed, and trauma-informed approach, Guy guides his clients to connect with their Authentic Self, align with their core values, and create meaningful change in their lives and leadership. His work focuses on enhancing resilience, emotional intelligence, presence, and well-being while addressing barriers like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, people-pleasing, and tough inner critics. With over 15 years and 4000+ of coaching experience and 20 years in consulting and business development, Guy brings a unique blend of empathy, insight, and strategic perspective to help his clients thrive. He received his professional coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation and is an EZRAx Executive Leadership Coach. He received an MBA and a BA in Psychology from York University.
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    Think about how you wish to live and what it would take to make you feel like you'd made a difference in the world, if that's something you're interested in.
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  • Question
    Is becoming a teacher a good goal?
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach
    Guy Reichard is a Self Leadership Coach and Executive Resilience Builder who empowers high-achieving professionals, executives, and business owners to lead authentically with calm, clarity, confidence, and compassion. He is the founder of HeartRich Self Leadership & Resilience Coaching, where he helps his clients navigate challenges, overcome fears and self-doubt, and grow into purposeful, values-driven leaders. With a heart-centered, science-backed, and trauma-informed approach, Guy guides his clients to connect with their Authentic Self, align with their core values, and create meaningful change in their lives and leadership. His work focuses on enhancing resilience, emotional intelligence, presence, and well-being while addressing barriers like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, people-pleasing, and tough inner critics. With over 15 years and 4000+ of coaching experience and 20 years in consulting and business development, Guy brings a unique blend of empathy, insight, and strategic perspective to help his clients thrive. He received his professional coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation and is an EZRAx Executive Leadership Coach. He received an MBA and a BA in Psychology from York University.
    Guy Reichard
    Executive Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    Sure, but I'd encourage you to focus more on the values you want to live out instead of the career achievement. So instead of "I want to become a teacher," you might frame it as, "I want to help children." It's often a lot healthier and more meaningful to frame goals in terms like that.
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      • Avoid creating negative goals, which focus on what you dislike instead of what excites you. [27] For example, “Stop getting into bad relationships” is less effective than “Find a fulfilling relationship.”
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      • Goals often change along with life experiences. Make a conscious effort to think about your goals regularly. It's ok to make revisions.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/life-worth-living-setting-life-goals/
      2. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/life-worth-living-setting-life-goals/
      3. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_thinking_about_the_future_makes_life_more_meaningful
      4. ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
      5. ↑ https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/01/setting-successful-goals.html
      6. ↑ Guy Reichard. Executive Life Coach. Expert Interview. 13 March 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/
      8. ↑ Guy Reichard. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 19 March 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/goal-setting
      1. ↑ https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/01/setting-successful-goals.html
      2. ↑ https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2002_KoestnerLekesPowersChicoine_JPSP.pdf
      3. ↑ https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=ltd_facpub
      4. ↑ Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC. Certified Executive Coach. Expert Interview. 12 February 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/self-care-tips-to-prioritize-your-mental-health
      6. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/goal-setting/
      7. ↑ https://schoolofselfimage.com/goal-friendly-environment/
      8. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/
      9. ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/behavioral-health/new-year-resolutions
      10. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/positive-reinforcement-workplace/
      11. ↑ https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/when-students-track-their-progress
      12. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/goal-setting
      13. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-fundamental-four/201402/4-major-goals-of-life
      14. ↑ https://selfhealjourney.com/2023/05/01/areas-of-life/
      15. ↑ https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/personal-goals.html
      16. ↑ https://www.uschamber.com/co/grow/thrive/creating-long-term-vs-short-term-goals
      17. ↑ https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How+to+write+SMART+Goals+v2.pdf
      18. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/notes-self/201308/how-set-goals

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To set goals for your life, start by writing down the things you like, the things that make you happy, and the parts of yourself you want to improve. Then, read over your list and use it to come up with life goals for yourself. Try to make your goals as specific as possible so they're easier to measure and work toward. Once you know your goals, do some research online to figure out what skills and resources you need to accomplish them. To learn more about working toward your goals and achieving them, keep reading!

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