Now that we have reflected on what mini goals we have and the benefits they provide to the here and now, it is the perfect time to break down our goal into short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Every long-term goal should have a clear beginning (short term), middle (medium term) and end (goal achievement). Thinking about the end point is a good way of setting a long-term goal. Long-term can be any duration of time. Most goals have a beginning, middle, and end.

To craft the beginning of a goal, consider what would be a good starting point. A good starting point for most goals is to gather and organize the tools necessary to complete the goal. Some standard goal setting tools are calendars, organizers, and tracking apps. Finding tools you enjoy using is essential because tools that are a hassle are less likely to be used. Once we have our tools, we can input the information and figure out a time that we can consistently input and review data. For example, a calorie tracker may work for some people trying to lose weight, and a budget tracker may work for some people who are trying to save money and pay off debt.

Once we have organized our tools (and remember to build in time to consider your goals and reflect on your progress), we are ready to consider a good medium-term goal. The purpose of the medium-term goal is to provide both accountability and evidence of progress.  If we aren’t achieving our medium-term goal, we will most likely not achieve our long-term goal. The medium-term goal allows us the opportunity to adjust what we are doing by taking an honest look at out habits. For example, eating out three times a week might be causing the medium-term goal to be missed for weight loss or for budgeting. Assessment at the midpoint allows us to identify the barriers we are actually encountering in achieving our goals.  

Another way that the medium-term goal helps to deconstruct barriers is by providing positive reinforcement of the hard work performed to reach the midpoint. We often forget to catch our moments and celebrate our achievements. Having a midpoint to reflect helps remind us to take notice of how far we have come.  Sticking to a goal is not easy. Making it to the midpoint deserves acknowledgement, at minimum the simple acknowledge that fact that we have not given up. In the planning the starting point for our goal, we have the opportunity to gather our tools and problem solve to overcome barriers to beginning the goal. At the midpoint, we have the opportunity to acknowledge how far we have come and to check in and determine whether we are moving toward our goal.  Having a beginning, middle, and end will improve the likelihood of goal completion by providing checkpoints that allow for the deconstruction of barriers.