Set a date when you reach your goal

 

Where possible, attach times or dates to your goals. This helps motivate you and adds the excitement of anticipation, because then you'll always have upcoming milestones on your calendar to look forward to. You can think: “I can't wait until summer, because I'll be lean by then!” - and this positive attitude will help you attract that outcome. But dates also makes you think: “Well, if I want to be lean by summer, I’d better go for a run today!”

Sometimes setting dates is not straightforward. There's no way of knowing exactly when you've achieved a goal such as “learn Spanish” or “become a great singer”. However, it may help to make them more specific by phrasing them differently. For example: “Complete an introductory Spanish course by the end of April” or “Have 3 paid singing gigs per week by the end of October”. A goal such as “lose weight” becomes “be over 85% lean body mass by January”.

While it's good to be motivated, remember that any dates that you set for your goals aren't carved in stone. If you hold yourself too strictly to a goal that you've set for yourself, and that goal wasn't quite realistic, this can create stress if you aren't prepared to change your deadline. There's no need for stress. Setting goals for yourself is like being your own boss – but be a good boss, which means, be flexible. Goals are intended to make us happy, not the reverse.