General Question

albert_e's avatar

Do you have any "life goals"? How do you plan?

Asked by albert_e (529points) December 17th, 2010

Do people usually have “life goals” and plans to achieve them? Track progress regularly?

Would like to know if planning at this scale, with intermediate milestones is possible.

Any broad categories of goals?

My list is these 5—Health, Family & Friends, Career, Interests, Finances

How do you retain the motivation to review progress periodically? I believe even “progress” is a difficult thing to measure for many long term goals.

Would like to hear some thoughts / suggestions / best practices from you.

Thanks in advance!

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10 Answers

YARNLADY's avatar

I have met every life goal I ever had, so now I just sit back and enjoy it all.

boffin's avatar

…..“life goals”?

Was hoping to get out alive… That probably won’t happen…

CaptainHarley's avatar

Goal-setting and planning at any level is a matter of:

1. Research – collecting information about where you think you might want to go and then talking to those who have already gotten there to see what they did to do so and how they feel about having gotten there.

2. Developing a list of intermediate goals – Work backwards to see what those who got to where you want to be did just before they got there. What did they have to know/do/be before they could move into that final slot? Work this process all the way back to today.

3. Determining what you need to do TODAY to work toward your first intermediate goal.

That’s it in a nutshell. It’s a very simple process to understand, but not so easy to do, especially over the long haul. People get bored, tired, whatever. This is why so few people actually reach their goals… they just give up to easily; they “settle.”

thekoukoureport's avatar

Wake up tomorow. So far it’s been working out.

Kayak8's avatar

I think @CaptainHarley has got the right idea. I typically use what I call a “Planning a Wedding” approach. First you pick the date (out there in the future). Then you list all the things that have to be done (order flowers, hire a band, rent a tux, buy a dress, order invitations, send invitations, etc.). Once you have your list, it is pretty obvious that there will be intermediate steps (need to make a guest list and make sure you have everyone’s addresses before sending invitations). Other things start to make sense based on what the things are (getting flowers 3 months ahead will be too soon and securing the space 3 months ahead is probably not long enough).

Many of the categories you suggested are probably interrelated (e.g., interests may drive career which will drive finances). I am a little puzzled as to what kinds of goals you may have for your friends . . . . .

stemnyjones's avatar

My only life goals are to be a good mother to my daughter, be a good girlfriend to my girlfriend, and continue working towards my dream job of being an animal cruelty investigator.

And hopefully one day becoming an animal cruelty investigator.

If not, at least becoming a psychiatrist.

Response moderated (Unhelpful)
albert_e's avatar

@Kayak8 Thanks. The Family & Friends category is not goals for friends, but what I would like to do to nurture the relationships with them.

albert_e's avatar

@CaptainHarley Thanks a lot. I have been trying out a similar approach, but facing the same challenges as you described.

CaptainHarley's avatar

@albert_e

Hang in there, dude! All you gotta do is outlast the wannabees! : D

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