6 Steps to Goal Modification

Contributed by Diane Harrison, www.healthpsa.info

Image source: Pixabay

​Is the toughest part of goal-setting making the goals or modifying them correctly? Even if your goals are reasonable yet challenging, you’ll likely have to change them—and that’s okay! Everyone can benefit from actually figuring out their goals (long-term and short-term) and coming up with a visual means of working towards them. However, writing them down with a pen can be intimidating. It makes goals feel permanent, unmoving, and unchanging. Goals are actually very fluid and should be changed.

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Physically writing down goals is always the best approach because there are numerous benefits attached to the act, many of which are psychological. Does a goal exist if you don’t hand-write it? Perhaps, but it doesn’t have the same odds of getting done. Write them down with a sharpened pencil and keep the goals visible. Re-visit them regularly as motivation and a reminder of the short-term goals you can tackle immediately. If a goal doesn’t fit with your current or changed situation, modify it. You haven’t failed; the circumstances have simply changed.

Here’s how to modify with meaning!

1. Ask yourself why the goal needs to change. Be honest with yourself. Was it a factor outside your control? Maybe one of your short-term business goals was to spend more time working from home, but it didn’t happen because of an unexpected change in business direction and an uneven work-life balance. Don’t be too tough on yourself; just find a solution that works for you.
2. Give yourself a modification max. There are generally two types of goal-setters: Those who hate modifying and do so sparingly, and those who start to see it as having free reign. Granted, there are always exceptions, but a modification max can be a helpful tool if you fall into the latter camp. Three is a reasonable number, but may vary based on the goal.
3. Dismantle the goal. If you’re not sure why the goal didn’t happen, it might not simply be a case of being too busy or unforeseen circumstances. Maybe you didn’t make the goal because on some level you don’t feel comfortable with it or even know that it’s counterproductive for your needs. For example, if you run your own business and need to stay compliant with state reporting but you’re unsure of what needs to be done, then reach out for help by contacting a business formation service. That way, you can still achieve this goal and avoid suffering any consequences that result from skipping it altogether.
4. Figure out what needs to be modified. Is it simply a case of changing the date, or does the body of the goal need to be changed, too? You might find that after dissecting the goal, it becomes a brand new one—one that’s much more manageable! Don’t just change the date, as this often leads to frustrations and never achieving it. Rather, explore what needs to change to make it an achievable goal.
5. Set short-term goals more often. Short-term goals should be relatively easy and fast to achieve. Even though you’re dealing with business, comparing an endurance sport to short-term goals is fitting. You wouldn’t set out to bike 30 miles if you haven’t been on a bike since you were a kid. That’s a long-term goal. A short-term goal would be cycling on flat terrain for 10 minutes to get acquainted with the sport.
6. Modify in the right mind and environment. If you’re rushed or stressed, save the modification for a better time, but one that’s in the near future. You want goal-setting to be linked with relaxation and a positive mind. Goal setting first thing in the morning is a savvy move.

​Goals are designed to change, so don’t be afraid to exercise that right. When you created your business plan, you didn’t go without any edits or re-drafts. Consider your goals to be a tool that’s working for you, not against you, and one that welcomes change.