- Set attainable goals. Motivation is driven by appeal and possibility. If the goal is too hard to achieve, or if it does not have much appeal to you, motivation may be hindered. Planning to lose 5 pounds by the end of February may be more effective than planning to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year.
- Break down your goals into: long term goals, short term goals and steps to achieve your short term goals.
- Long term goals should be wider in scope: “I will go back to school in the fall” and should be revised as you develop your short term goals “I will postpone applying to school until the winter, so I can save some money.”
- Short-term goals should be narrow and have deadlines: I will take the GRE by March. They should also be accompanied by a step-by-step plan to achieve them: 1) I will research the tools available to study for the test by mid January, 2)I will gather the study materials by the end of January, 3)I will schedule study times every day beginning February 1st until one week before the test in March, and 4)I will schedule review sessions for the last week before the test.
- Generate a list of obstacles that may interfere with your plan, so that you can account for them. For example: “If I get assigned an extra shift at work, I will compress two study sessions in one and perhaps trim off the material that may not be as important”; “When I eat out, I will research the menu of the restaurants ahead of time to find meals that go with my plan”
- Keep focusing on what you want to do and not on what you do not want to do. Your goal may be better approached as a desire to be fit, healthy and in shape, rather than losing weight.
- Be flexible and open to seek qualified help. You only fail when you stop trying.
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