Summary of To Achieve Long-Term Goals, Focus on the Short Term
- How do you achieve short term goals?
- What are 10 short-term goals examples?
- What are the 5 steps for achieving short-term goals?
- What are the benefits of achieving a short-term goal?
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AI Overview
AI Overview
To achieve short-term goals, use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) to define them, break them into smaller, actionable steps, write them down, schedule time to work on them, track progress, and find an accountability partner to stay motivated and celebrate small wins.
1. Define Your Goal (SMART)
Specific: Clearly state what you want to achieve (e.g., “Complete first draft of report”).
Measurable: Set metrics to track progress (e.g., “15% sales call increase”).
Attainable: Make it realistic for your timeframe and skills.
Relevant: Ensure it aligns with your bigger picture.
Time-bound: Give it a clear deadline (e.g., “by month’s end”).
This video explains how to use the SMART goal-setting framework:
1m
Admin Career Guide
YouTube · Dec 10, 2025
2. Create an Action Plan
Break it Down: Divide your goal into smaller, manageable tasks.
Schedule: Block out specific time in your calendar for these tasks.
Prioritize: Organize your tasks by importance.
3. Stay Motivated & Accountable
Write it Down: Keep your goals visible so you can’t ignore them.
Track Progress: Check off completed steps to build momentum.
Find Support: Ask a friend, coach, or use an app to hold you accountable.
Reward Yourself: Celebrate milestones to maintain motivation.
This video demonstrates how to create an effective goal-setting system:
52s
Matt Ragland
YouTube · Oct 29, 2025
4. Review & Adapt
Regular Check-ins: Review your progress weekly to stay honest and adjust if needed.
Be Realistic: Don’t get discouraged by setbacks; adjust your plan, don’t abandon the goal.
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To Achieve Long-Term Goals, Focus on the Short Term
- By
- July 21, 2016
- CBR – Behavioral Science
If you’re running a marathon, writing a novel, or trying to get healthy, try focusing on short-term rewards. These can help you achieve that goal, research indicates.
According to a study by Chicago Booth’s Ayelet Fishbach and Booth PhD candidate Kaitlin Woolley, immediate rather than delayed rewards inspire people to achieve long-term goals. The findings could help people motivate themselves and others.
“Although pursuit of long-term goals is primarily motivated by the desire to receive delayed rewards, we find consistent evidence that immediate rewards are stronger predictors of persistence in goal related activities,” they write.
In a study, the researchers asked 80 gym goers to fill out a short survey about the immediate and long-term benefits of their exercise. The study asked whether participants enjoyed the day’s workout (a short-term reward) and felt it was useful to keep fit (a long-term reward). The researchers then compared participants’ answers with the number of minutes they spent on cardio machines.
People who persisted with their cardio workouts were the ones who reported receiving immediate rewards from the workout. “The importance of having a fun workout better predicts the amount of time they spend exercising,” according to the researchers.
Long-term benefits are still important, of course. They can help someone set goals—for example, you might start exercising because you want to achieve the long-term reward of good health.
But if need be, modify your workout to increase your short-term rewards. “For example, a person can listen to music while exercising to increase the immediate rewards he receives from working out,” the researchers write. “Maximizing the presence of immediate rewards when pursuing long-term goals, rather than relying on the importance of the goal to carry him through, should increase goal persistence.”
Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach, “Immediate Rewards Predict Adherence to Long-Term Goals,” Working paper, 2016.
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