How to Set Meaningful and Achievable Goals

Understanding how to set meaningful and achievable goals can make or break your self-improvement journey. If you want to make real change, you need to know what and how you’re going to do it! Setting goals that are meaningful and achievable helps you to align your daily actions with your long term vision and stops you from wasting time chasing goals that aren’t worth while.

In this post, I will walk you through how to set goals that are both meaningful and achievable to set you on a patch to success!

I will be delving deep - not just scracthing the surface - to give you actionable tips that work.

Why Many Goals Fail (And How to Avoid It)

Let’s be honest: we’ve all set a goal at some point and failed to achieve it. Maybe you wanted to lose weight, save for a holiday, or finally start that side hustle, but for one reason or another, it just didn’t happen.

So, why do so many goals fall flat? Here are some common pitfalls:

• They’re too vague: Saying “I want to get fit” or “I want to save money” doesn’t give you much to work with. Goals need to be specific.

• They’re unrealistic: Aiming to run a marathon next month when you haven’t run a mile in years is setting yourself up for frustration.

• They’re not meaningful: If your goal doesn’t resonate with your core values or excite you, it’s hard to stay motivated.

• There’s no plan: A goal without a plan is just a wish, as the saying goes.

The good news? These are all fixable. The key is to set goals that align with your values, break them into manageable steps, and make them part of your everyday life.

Learn more about how to stay consistent with your goals.

7 Steps to Set Meaningful and Achievable Life Goals

Now you know what not to do, here is my 7 step bullet-proof process for setting goals that you will lead you to your dream life.

Step 1: Reflect on Your Values and Purpose

Here’s the thing: if your goals don’t align with your values, they’ll feel like a chore—or worse, you’ll achieve them and feel… nothing.

Your values are the foundation of everything you do. They’re what make your goals feel exciting and worthwhile.

Here’s how you can reflect on your values before setting goals:

• Take some time to write about what matters most to you. Is it family? Creativity? Adventure?

• Try journaling prompts like, “What do I want to be remembered for?” or “What makes me feel most alive?” These can help you uncover your deeper motivations.

I also wrote this brilliant post on how to know your life’s purpose which might help!

Step 2: Define Your Long-Term Vision

Now that you’ve got your values clear, it’s time to dream big. What does your ideal life look like?

A clear vision acts like a compass, keeping you focused when life throws distractions your way. It’s important to spend time vizualising your dream life - if your goals don’t align with your dreams, there’s no point in working on them (to be blunt!).

Manifesting your dream life is about making sure that your actions, and goals, align with your long-term vision.

If you don’t already know what your dream life looks like, try this:

• Close your eyes and imagine your dream day. What are you doing? Who are you with? Where are you?

• Write it all down in as much detail as possible. For example, “I wake up in a cosy cottage overlooking the sea, spend the morning writing, and the afternoon exploring nature.”

• You might also find vision boards helpful—cutting out pictures and words that represent your ideal life can make it feel more tangible.

Step 3: Break It Down into Smaller Goals

Big goals can feel overwhelming, can’t they? The trick is to break them down into bite-sized chunks.

Small, manageable steps make big dreams achievable. Plus, ticking things off as you go is hugely motivating.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Divide your goals into categories like health, career, relationships, or personal growth.

• Set yearly goals, then break them down into monthly and weekly tasks. For instance, if your big goal is to write a book, your weekly task might be to write 1,000 words.

Step 4: Make Goals SMART

You’ve probably heard of SMART goals before, and for good reason—they work!

When goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, you’re far more likely to hit the mark.
Instead of saying, “I want to save money,” try: “I’ll save £300 a month for the next six months by cutting back on dining out and cancelling unused subscriptions.”

The more specific you are about what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it, the more likely you are to follow it through.

When you are writing your goals down ask yourself:

• What exactly do I want to achieve?

• Why do I want to achieve it?

• Can this goal be split into smaller goals?

• What are the exact steps that I need to take to achieve my goal?

• How will I measure success?

• What will the end point look like?

Step 5: Create an Action Plan

This is where the magic happens. A solid action plan turns ideas into reality - it’s the easiest way to put manifestation into practice!

Without a plan, even the best goals can fizzle out. You should spend time creating a step-by-step plan that outlines exactly how you’re going to get what you want.

When you know how to get it, the only thing left to do is to show up each day!

• Write out the steps needed to achieve each goal.

• Schedule tasks in your calendar—treat them like appointments you can’t miss.

• Use tools like Trello or Habitica to keep everything organised.

Step 6: Stay Accountable and Track Progress

Let’s face it: staying on track can be tough, especially when life gets busy. Accountability is your secret weapon here!

Regular check-ins help you stay motivated and allow you to tweak your approach if needed. I think this is one of the most underestimated things that you can do for yourself!

A lot of people set great goals, but the 1% who actually achieve them are the ones that stay on top of how they’re doing.

Here are a few ways that you can check in and track your progress:

• Use a journal or app to track your progress.

• Find an accountability partner—a friend or family member who’ll cheer you on and (gently) nudge you if you fall behind.

• Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Finished a chapter of your book? Treat yourself to your favourite takeaway!

Step 7: Embrace Flexibility

Here’s a hard truth: life doesn’t always go to plan. And that’s okay. Being flexible allows you to adjust your goals as your circumstances and priorities change.

Making room for flexibility will prevent you from falling off course when things don’t go to plan. It’s about picking yourself back up and continuing from where you left off - even if it seems out of line.

• Reevaluate your goals every six months. Ask yourself, “Is this still important to me?”

• Don’t be afraid to pivot. If you realise halfway through that a goal isn’t right for you, it’s better to change course than to keep pushing for the sake of it.

• If life gets in the way, don’t give up. Simple press pause and put a date in your calendar to pick up where you left off.

Tips for Staying Motivated

I’m a big believer in self discipline over motivation. However, there is no denying that motivation plays a big role in the chances of success. Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated during your growth journey.

• Visual reminders: Create a vision board or write daily affirmations like, “I am capable of achieving my goals.” Put this somewhere that you will see it every day.

• Reward system: Celebrate milestones with something meaningful, like a weekend getaway or some drinks with the girls.

• Mindset shifts: Focus on progress, not perfection. Every small step gets you closer to your dream. Try using mindset shifting techniques to develop a mindset that allows you to keep going, even when things feel tough.

My Favourite Goal Setting Tools and Resources

There’s no shortage of tools out there to help you on your journey. Here are a few I recommend:

• Apps: Habitica (gamifies your tasks), Trello (great for organisation), and Streaks (track daily habits).

• Guided journals: The Dream Life journal is perfect for reflecting on your values, tracking progress, and staying accountable.

• Templates: Downloadable goal-setting templates can be a lifesaver if you’re short on time.

Goal setting is more than just writing down what you want to achieve. It’s about creating a life that excites you, aligns with your values, and fills you with purpose. Remember, it’s okay to tweak things along the way—life is a journey, not a race.

So, what’s your first meaningful goal? Share it in the comments or on social media- I would love to know!