#Lifegoals: What Should They Look Like And How To Set Them

#Lifegoals. That's what it's all about, right? If you look around online, you'll be inundated with information about the importance of setting goals for your life. It can leave you feeling like you're the only person who doesn't have a plan for your life with goals you're trying to reach in every area. But the truth is most people struggle with setting goals and working to reach them. 

There are a few reasons why this happens. Sometimes, people aren't setting the right goals or don't know how to create a plan to help them follow through.

What should #Lifegoals look like?

The answer to this question will look different for everyone. We all have different passions, interests, and backgrounds, leading us to create the dream life we would like to experience. So, part of setting life goals is determining what your ideal life would look like. Here are some areas to consider:

Career

One area where you can set a life goal is in your career. Some people know from a young age what career they want to work towards, and others have no idea what they want to do well into their adult years. Some people closer to retirement age may still wonder what they want to be when they "grow up."

Relationships

Like every area of life, this is an area where everyone's answer might look slightly different or even drastically different. It's also an area you only have so much control over.

For example, if you want to be married, there are things that you can do to improve your chances, but because you can't control someone else's decisions, you can't necessarily make this happen on your own with the person of your choosing. Instead, you can take care of yourself and have healthy self-esteem to be in a healthy relationship. The more you work on improving yourself, the happier you will be, which might also help you stand out to potential partners.

But romantic relationships are not the only ones you should consider in your life goals. You should also make sure that you maintain healthy relationships with family and friends. Working towards this goal could include making sure that you're prioritizing these people in your life and making time for them.

Physical health

Many people like to set goals around their physical health. It could be towards maintaining a certain weight or following a particular exercise regimen. Eating healthy and exercising can help you to reach your physical health goals. These goals can be important because your physical health is directly connected with your mental health. Ensuring that you eat a balanced diet and are physically active can help you overcome anxiety and depression.

Self-care

Self-care is another area that many people are starting to focus on. Knowing how to take care of yourself is very important. Society realizes that we can't neglect ourselves and expect our mental and physical health to be good. Self-care includes exercise and eating right, but it's more than that. It's allowing yourself time to refresh. You could do this through things like journaling, reading, sitting in nature, meditation, mindfulness, and any number of other things.

Self-care allows you to step out of the busyness of life and do good things for yourself. It helps you to stay connected to yourself and avoid getting so caught up in what's happening around you that you never take time for yourself. When you participate in proper self-care, you can accomplish more and help others more because you have more energy.

Financial goals

Financial goals can be different for everyone as well. Some people want to be financially independent by the time they hit 30, others want enough money to retire when they're older, and still, others aim to break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.

Finances are one of the leading causes of stress, so it's a great area to set and achieve goals. Refrain from comparing your financial goals to someone else’s. Choose what will be best for you and your situation.

Think of the fun things

Life should be fun! While some goals will be serious, others should be fun. Do you want to travel the world? See all 50 states? Get on the Price is Right? This is your life, so set goals that inspire and motivate you and allow you to enjoy working towards them.

It's easy to feel that life is so serious, and some days feel like gloom and doom, but it doesn't have to be that way. Life is meant to be enjoyed. So, think of some goals you will have a blast working towards.

Tips for setting your goals

Don't be afraid to dream big

You have the power to create the life that you want to live. However, many people get stuck in their past or spend too much time looking at their current situation and think the life they want to be living isn’t realistic. Your dreams will probably never happen if you aren’t willing to work toward them.

Allow yourself to dream big when you set your life goals. These aren't goals you can quickly achieve in the next week or month. These are the dreams and goals that are going to propel the direction that your life goes.

There is no one-size-fits-all life goal

Stop trying to look for the "right" goal to set. It doesn’t exist. You won’t find something online that tells you what goals you should set for your life. You have to do that on your own because your goals might look different from others. Everyone is unique, and every life has a different story. That means everyone's goals are different, and that's good.

Make them personal

Most people will only work towards achieving a goal if it is something they care about. Your goals need to be personal. They need to matter to you.

As mentioned above, take time to think through what you want. This isn't about what direction your mom wanted you to go in or following in the family business if that's different from what you want to do. It isn't about getting married to please your partner or getting rich because everyone else seems to want a lot of money. Setting life goals is about determining the life that you want to build. Where do you want to be in the future?

What if you don't know?

You might not know what you want life to look like. Or, you might struggle with low self-esteem and feel that setting goals is a waste of time. Or, maybe you've experienced hurt, pain, or abuse in the past, and life goals don't even seem to matter right now. Maybe you have set goals but lack the discipline to follow through on them. You might experience self-sabotage or have many people in your life that discourage you from achieving your goals. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

If you feel discouraged, defeated, or like a failure, it can help to talk to a therapist. While they won't be able to set your goals for you, they can help you reach a healthy place where you can identify the goals you want to work towards for yourself. While the stigma surrounding mental health leaves society feeling like they shouldn't talk to a therapist because they don't want people to think there is something “wrong” with them, the truth is that a therapist can help you with everyday life. You don't have to have a diagnosed mental health disorder for a therapist to help you.

Online therapy is a great way to get the support and guidance you need without having to meet with a counselor face-to-face or commute to an office. When you sign up for online therapy, you’re matched with a vetted, qualified professional who can begin helping you right away. Online treatment is convenient and effective. One review of 14 studies determined that online therapy is just as effective as in-person treatment. If you’re ready to take the next step, sign up with Regain to get started.

Takeaway

If you've been struggling in life, it's time to get some help and set some goals. Life was meant to be enjoyed, and you have a great one ahead of you. A therapist can help you determine your priorities, learn why you keep getting in your own way, and teach you strategies and skills to help you start experiencing positive changes in your life.