If you have a dream or idea you want to bring to life, the tips below can help. If some steps do not feel like a good fit for you, that is OK. Feel free to take what is helpful and ignore the rest. 

1.      Set intelligent goals

SMART goals are Specific, Meaningful, Achievable, Realistic, and Trackable. If our goal is not SMART, it may be harder to take action. For example, if our goal needs to be more specific, we might need to learn how to reach it. Alternatively, if our goal is not meaningful enough, we might have difficulty staying motivated enough to do it. 

So, before acting, ask yourself these "SMART" questions:

·       What exactly is your goal?

·       Why does this goal matter to you?

·       Who is involved in this goal?

·       How will you achieve this goal?

·       What specific times will you work on this goal? 

2.      Write down your action steps

Once you know your goal, please write down the steps you plan to take to reach it. The more detail you'll be able to include, the better. For example, if you want to write a book, plan exactly how many pages you write per hour, day, week, or month. Note any other related tasks that will also need to be done so that you know what needs to be accomplished to reach your goal. 

3.      Schedule your action steps

Once you have your action steps, schedule them in your calendar. Block out enough time for each action step. As you are getting started, you might not estimate quite right, so it is OK to modify this at any point.

Another helpful tip is scheduling a blank time to catch up on things you missed or anything that took longer than expected. Over time, you will be able to estimate task time more efficiently. 

4.      Commit to your action steps

You are ready to commit to your goal if you have a realistic plan with clear action steps. By committing—either a written or verbal commitment will do—we make it more likely that we will do something. One way to do this can be to write up a statement of the efforts you agree to complete and then sign it. Post it somewhere where you will see it frequently.

5.      Link potential problems to goal-directed actions

Once you have started acting to manifest your goal, you will eventually encounter challenges, even small ones. This is why it can be helpful to create implementation intentions (Gollwitzer, 1999). Implementation intentions are simple cause-and-effect: If problem situation X happens, I will do Y. 

6.      Do not be too hard on yourself

Acting on your goals should push you out of your comfort zone. However, if taking action towards your goals means feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, it is likely not sustainable. Here are some tips to avoid overwhelm: 

Set your success rate.

Rather than aiming for 100 percent all the time, set a secondary goal to complete your action steps some percentage of the time. Eighty percent feels right to me. Sometimes, Missing your goals is expected, so being realistic about it can help you practice more self-compassion.

Give yourself a "get out of jail free card."

It can be helpful to let yourself off the hook now and then. A break will probably do you better than you realize, especially for perfectionists. 

Re-evaluate as needed

Sometimes, we set goals that are too easy or hard or must be changed to move forward effectively. Remember, it is OK to change your plan.

In Summary

Acting is essential to reaching any goal. However, it is often the most challenging part. Hopefully, these resources will help you feel more confident that you can successfully take action and reach your goals.

References 

●        Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: strong effects of simple plans. American psychologist, 54(7), 493.