Setting goals----and reigning them in. How?

toe jam on crusty feet · Mar 30, 2008

Does anyone else her feel like they overset goals? Like too many goals in too many areas of life at once? I struggle with this soo much and I don't really know how to reign this over-goal-setting behavior in. I know goals are good but I feel like I come up short everywhere because I can't master anything. 
I have work/career goals....(start my own PT/Coaching studio) 
I have house fixing up goals... (remodeling the inside) 
I have a BQ goal....( this goal suffers a lot and frustrates me) 
I have a 1/2 IM goal AND a IM goal (both this year).... 
I have family goals... (where do children fit into all this?) 
I have education goals...(Master's degree I am working on)

wherestheportojohn · Mar 30, 2008

*whoa* them there's a lots o' goals, becca 
Keep them all within your radar, and start chipping away at them! 
YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU CAN DO IT! 
my goals for the next few years: 
1. retire before I'm 60...no wait...before I'm 59. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> 
2. be able to do 3 full-length real pullups before I'm 60 (I can do a total of ~nil~ right now, dammit) 
3. remodel the kitchen [YOIKS...we need mo' money] before I'm 57 
4. run outside/in the daylight without 'issues' before I die 
5. see my boys all grown up and employed and independent before I'm 60

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 30, 2008

Setting goals is great. Setting goals too high too often will lead to failure and disappointment.

refinnej10 · Mar 30, 2008

Didn't you run a marathon today or was it yesterday? How'd that go? 
I find it helpful to have intermediary goals and/or to think through all the things I need to have in order for X goal to be possible (kind of sub-goals). Prioritizing goals is also important when you have a long and ambitious list. That way you can focus your energy on what's the most important to you. 
For example: I want to do an IM *someday* 
First, I'll do a triathlon and set a goal for getting that done based on how much time I have in my life to dedicate to training and it's relative priority in my mass of goals. 
Then, I'll have a goal of doing a marathon, again the timeframe will consider its relative importance and priority. 
So, for me, yes, I want to do an IM. But, chances are good that it won't happen for 5-10 years just because there's so much else going on in my life that I consider more important (family, job, etc.). In the mean time, I'm happy running shorter races, doing a tri, getting a bike and learning to swim. 
For updating the kitchen: goal 1. establish a budget. goal 2. save enough money to cover the budget + 15% (or more) - this is savings in excess of your retirement, rainy day fund, slush fund, etc. 
It can also be helpful to think about what constitutes accomplishing your goal. It doesn't have to be as black and white as doing or failing. What would you be willing to settle for? For example, home improvement; do you HAVE to redo the whole house or would you be OK with doing 1 or 2 rooms and re-painting others or waiting a few years on another room?

maccabeth · Mar 30, 2008

Perhaps the way to go about the goals is to set smaller goals in the meantime? As in, goals that lead to the bigger goals? 
I'm sort of in the same boat in terms of lots of larger goals and I need to come up with a plan. 
-Finish my master's paper (40 pages in Spanish comparing/contrasting Spanish and Catalan! Gulp!) 
-Get a job overseas and move there and be fruitful! 
-Improve my financial situation---> be completely out of debt! (this is a long term goal for sure at this point!) 
-De-clutter my living spaces 
-Break 60 mins in the 10K and 30 mins in a 5k

maccabeth · Mar 30, 2008

D'oh! Backwards jen posted while I was writing!

RunsTheBitterroot · Mar 30, 2008

I would think setting priorities on my list of goals is a good place to start. Some of the lower priority things then can be changed or eliminated for now. 
Larry

Lintu · Mar 30, 2008

I do the "smaller goals" along the way thing. It really helps!

muzicgrl · Mar 30, 2008

I have the sam problem especially because some of my goals conflict with each other. 
* I want a PhD and I am getting pressure from everyone (boss, friends, coworkers,etc) to get one. I live in the right place and have all the right connections to get in to the perfect program at Berkeley right now. 
* To run another marathon and get what I consider a "decent time" for myself. 
* To start getting into triathlons. 
* To buy a house. 
While on the outside these may not seem to conflict, they all do. If I do the PhD thing there is absolutely no way I will have the time to train for a marathon and I wont be able to afford the triathlons or a house for a VERY long time. Right now I am saving every bit of my measly "extra" money for the whole house goal which is why I cant afford a decent bike for triathlons. Ugghhhh....

Jensparks · Mar 30, 2008

Smaller goals, and re-evaluating goals works well for me. I've had to do it a lot in the past few years, and it's really been beneficial. 
For instance, instead of making my goal for my 2007 marathon to BQ (3:45), I set the goal of having my first sub-4 marathon - which I was finally able to do. Jumping from a PR of 4:01 to a 3:45 would have been difficult, especially for marathon #3. I am still learning what the distance is all about and what training works well for me. I was able to do a 3:57, and met my goal for that race. 
Prioritizing goals is key, and sometimes you have to put some goals on the back burner until you are able to take the time to work on them. Having too many goals at once is often overwhelming.

Tithers · Mar 30, 2008

I say degrees BEFORE kids...I did that...I don't know if it's just my field...but we either had "young folk" or "old folk" in my classes. By old folk, I mean people who have mainly kids who are in HS and can take care of themselves. 
At least in ED you get paid per degree. If those people got their masters before kids...just sayin.

Snowboy · Mar 30, 2008

I always have a large goal in mind but make small goals that help me to accomplish the large goal. That way it's not a huge undertaking whatever it is at least in my mind.

bikegirl72 · Mar 30, 2008

word. I went right from my BA to going for my MA in Education. Then I got pregnant with #1. I was able to do the course work and keep up with it until I was pregnant with #2 and then #3. I wasn't able to finish my student teaching and with 4 kiddos I don't see it happening for a long time if I decide to go back and finish.

Lintu · Mar 30, 2008

I would say masters before kids only if that's the priority for you. It's different for everyone.

RaisingArizonainNH · Mar 30, 2008

It's great to have a definite set of goals to aim for... but take bite size chunks out of them and write that into the plan. The goals should not overwhelm you , they should motivate and you have control over that. The goal list need to eb adjusted as you progress through life sometimes. 
Ex though I grew up in the Boston area, the idea of me EVER qualifying was out of the question, but I did the race as charity entrant ( which I know brings our disfavor with many here.. 'nother thread, 'nother story) but it is a goal I made happen ..and I am glad I did now that my knees have deteriorated lately. It is a precious memory for me. 
Keep chipping away and pick the one that means the most and go for it .

OldBaldHippie · Mar 30, 2008

I like to set my goals low, that way I can keep my self-esteem high... 
like this morning, I shaved!...woo hooo!

ferrellk · Mar 31, 2008

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> 
I aim to wake up every morning. 
So far, I haven't failed.

McTortle · Mar 31, 2008

<img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif"> 
Reasonable AND Achievable!!!

toe jam on crusty feet · Mar 31, 2008

Thanks guys.....I guess the small goals sounds like the way to go. Excellent inside and a few of you goofs are funny! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

muzicgrl · Mar 31, 2008

If it helps any I think eventually you can acheive every last one of them!

Setting goals----and reigning them in. How?

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