Do You Have Short-Term Goals?

[Jenster]

Hey, does anyone here have goals for the next six months to a year? IF so, what are they and how did you decide on them?

Aside from work and keeping myself fed and sheltered, I don't have concrete goals. I want to have them, and have even done some research into time management. In one book I learned that it's wise to set goals and work steadily towards them. Probably best to only set, like, 3 to 5 goals or else you'll drive yourself crazy.

One example: this guy values knowledge, so each year he picks a new topic to research. One year it might be nanotechnology. The next, endangered eco-systems.

Here's my problem: I'm afraid on settling on any ONE goal because then I'm afraid of missing out on OTHER possible goals. I know ... that sounds totally ridiculous. The result is inevitable -- I don't do anything.

But the thing is ... my list of "possible goals" could fill a whole page. I'd like to learn foreign languages, develop my cooking skills, read a ton of books, get involved in overseas missions, improve at my creative hobbies, get into shape, etc etc etc. It doesn't help that I have a mind that likes to explore, so more and more things keep getting added to the list!

How does one decide what to do???? It completely baffles me. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[~HopeFloats~]

I have a few short term goals..

Get Baptized again and that should be happening in Sept or this fall

Deepen my Faith with God by trying something new in teh church( this is huge for me)

Stay out of Debt

 

[Jenster]

Sounds like great goals, Lost! Congratulations on your renewed baptism. Do you know what new thing at church you will try?

 

[~HopeFloats~]

Hey!

I have not decided yet. With Fall coming there will be a few new things happening I am sure..

I went to a Church tail Gate party tonight

There is a greive retreat I would like to attend in October and really going to those scare me cause I would be facing the truth and well that is scary to me..:o

 

[BeautyForAshes]

I have a few....

1. Lose 20 lbs
2. Start speaking French again (this will be hard because I know not ONE French speaking person in Kansas and my grandma is deceased but maybe I'll get lucky and find someone to talk with )
3. Decide (for real this time) whether or not to sit for the CPA Exam. If not, there will be a bonfire of study guides happening this fall.
4. Save and invest more. (I ain't getting any younger)
5. Get a cat (I miss having a kitty around )

 

[Singing Bush]

I'm not usually a goal oriented person myself, either, but I do kind of, sort of have one now pertaining to my grades in school this year. Aside from that -- like yourself -- while I realize I should develop some goals as there are many things I would like to do, it doesn't come easy for me. I tend to have allergic reactions to goals actually, and tend to make sarcastic remarks to those who develop them.

My personality disorders aside, whenever I do decide to focus a large amount of time and energy on something and when I do have numerous options I just choose the one that appeals the most to me. That's probably stupidly obvious, but sometimes people get stuck in dreaming mode and never progress to the actual doing mode. Don't make choosing your goals a philosophical debate. Just choose the one you're interested in most, work at it, and if it turns out you change your mind then pick up something else. Now if you are interested in everything equally I'm afraid I can't help you. Unfortunatley you're doomed.

If you do ever finally set up a goal for yourself, here's a friendly piece of advice I learned from my handy dandy Air Force training this summer. Don't develop vague, abstract goals like "serve in the church more" or "learn such and such language" as you'll never follow them. There are no means of measuring progress with such goals. If on the other hand your goal is to "find a ministry in the church I can serve a couple of hours one day a week in by whatever date" or "spend x hours a night doing vocabulary flash cards each week," you'll make much more progress. It probably seems a bit over organized -- and it probably is -- but there's usually a remarkable difference in how much easier goals are to obtain when you have measurable objectives established. This is all in my most excellent opinion of course.

 

[mina]

um keep my house clean

and I want to go on a mission trip next summer

 

[Jenster]

It probably seems a bit over organized -- and it probably is -- but there's usually a remarkable difference in how much easier goals are to obtain when you have measurable objectives established. This is all in my most excellent opinion of course.

Thanks for your most excellent opinion, Singing Bush. I think you're right on. I do occasionally choose goals, but then find myself frustrated because I don't break it down into something I can see progress over. It's almsot like I want to know that I'm going to have success --and how long it'll take -- before even starting. Yikes, call me crazy.

I'm going to try to still go with the flow during my free time, but try to focus that flow into a couple of different areas. I mean, I don't NEED to accomplish anything besides work ... I just want to make sure I'm going in a direction instead of spinning in endless circles, yah know?

One goal will definitely be to spend at least three days a week in some kind of exercise. I sit at a desk all day, so I'm just going to get out and walk a half hour, for starters!

 

[kelco]

Does getting up in the morning count?

 

[Jenster]

Does getting up in the morning count?

For some of us night owls, most definitely!!

 

[Singing Bush]

One goal will definitely be to spend at least three days a week in some kind of exercise. I sit at a desk all day, so I'm just going to get out and walk a half hour, for starters!

Yeehaw. I'm so proud.

 

[WITNESS8]

Hmmm....

1. Get a job.
2. Lose weight.
3. Join ANG.
4. Buy a car.
5. Go to college.
6. Move out on my own.
7. Get my pilot's license.

 

[JPPT1974]

1. Get a better-paying job with benefits
2. Lose like ten pounds though I exercise a lot.
3. Buy a car that's less expensive