1- Keep your small and measurable. It’s great to have big goals for yourself, but you need to shrink them down in order to make them easier to accomplish. Break your larger goals down into small goals. Then identify criteria to help you measure them.

• For example, your big goal might be to publish a novel. You could set yourself a small goal of creating an outline or finishing a chapter. This goal is easy to measure because it’ll be complete when the outline or chapter is finished.
• Similarity, your big goal might be to run a marathon. You might set a small goal of running a 5 Kilometers. You could measure this goal by tracking how far you run every day or by signing up for a race.

2- Create an action plan for your goals. You can create an overall plan to reach your big goal, or you can narrow it down to your small goals. Include what you want to achieve, the steps you will take to achieve it, and how you will measure success.

• For example, your big goal could be to run a marathon, and your small goals could consist of running a mile, running a 5 K, running a 10 K, and running a half marathon.
• Don’t get bogged down in the details. Write out a basic framework for your action plan, then get started working toward your goals. You can always change or add to the plan later.
• Keep it basic with a brief outline. You don’t need to plan every detail. For example, you could start your marathon action plan by just focusing on the steps you need to take to run a complete mile, such as buy new shoes, download a running app, and run 3 times a week.

3- Display your action plan where you can see it every day. You can post them in your home, place them in your planner, or make them your digital wallpaper. Refer to it daily to see if you’re on track. It’s okay to get behind sometimes, but your action plan can get you back on track.

• Try posting your plan on your refrigerator.
• If you have a workspace, post your plan there.
• Choose a place that’s easy for you to reference.

4- Connect hard tasks and obstacles back to their purpose. This helps you push through and keep going when things are tough. Every goal comes with hard work and obstacles, and it’s normal for motivation to decrease. You can stay motivated by giving these difficult times more purpose.

• For example, running bleachers at your local track may not be fun, but they can improve your physical condition to help your athletic performance.
• Similarly, getting a lot of criticism on a poem you wrote may make you feel discouraged, but it can help you improve the poem and grow as a writer.

5- Track your progress. Seeing how far you’ve come can be a huge motivator! Keep track of all of your accomplishments, both great and small. Even a single step toward your goal is progress, so give yourself that credit!

• Write down all of your achievements so that you can read over them when you feel discouraged.
• You could also create a visual reminder of your progress. If your goal is to run a marathon, you might put up a poster with a trail on it. Divide the trail into 26.2 separate sections. Each time you increase your running distance, color in another section.

6- Reward yourself for hard work and persistence. Rewards encourage you to stay on track toward your goal. Choose a reward that appeals to you. If possible, choose something that helps you work toward your goals.

7- Do something you enjoy every day. Even working toward something you love can feel overwhelming, so take time for yourself. Spend at least a few minutes every day treating yourself to something you love, whether it’s an episode of your favorite TV show, a favorite treat, or coffee with a friend. This will help you stay motivated when times get tough.

8- Prepare yourself for setbacks. Setbacks are part of life, and they happen to everyone. They don’t mean that you’re a failure! Make a brief plan for how you’ll overcome any obstacles that arrive, and remind yourself that you can do it.