Not every goal should be a year-long project. And not every goal should be something you finish by Friday. The goals that work best together come in three sizes.
Small goals: weeks
A small goal takes a few days to a few weeks. "Clean out the garage this month." "Book a health check." "Read one book in November."
Small goals give you quick wins. Finishing something feels good, and that feeling is fuel for the bigger goals. They're also a good way back in when you've been stuck.
Medium goals: months
A medium goal takes one to six months. "Run 5 km by March." "Save $2,000 for an emergency fund by June." "Finish the first course of my certificate."
Medium goals are where most real change happens. They're long enough to matter and short enough to keep in view.
Large goals: a year or more
A large goal takes a year or longer. "Run a marathon." "Pay off the car loan." "Start my own business."
Large goals give direction. They answer the question of what all the small and medium goals are for. But on their own they're easy to put off, because there's always next month.
Mix the three
A good set of goals has a mix:
| Size | How many | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Small | One or two at a time | Buy running shoes and plan three runs this week |
| Medium | One or two | Run 5 km without stopping by 31 March |
| Large | One | Run a half marathon in October |
Notice how the sizes connect. The small goal starts the medium one, and the medium goal is a step towards the large one. Each finish gives you a reason to keep going.
Break large goals into medium ones
If a large goal feels too far away, split it into medium goals with their own dates. A half marathon in October becomes 5 km by March, 10 km by June and 15 km by August. Each one is a goal you can finish and celebrate.
Make every size SMART
Whatever the size, write it as a SMART goal with a measure and a date. A small goal without a date drifts just as much as a large one.
In Lifetick
Give each goal its own due date, then add tasks with dates and reminders. The progress bar fills as you tick tasks off, so small and medium goals show progress quickly. When a goal is done, complete it and choose the next.
See Write a SMART goal, Add tasks, dates and reminders and Complete, set aside or delete a goal.
Start with one goal
Lifetick is free on iPhone and the web, and five quick questions make it a SMART goal.
