Your dreams take many forms, and often they’re goals that you want to achieve. These goals can become life goals, which are often ways to reach success you’ve always dreamed of. It’s not always easy balancing life goals with other things you want to accomplish, but with enough effort and focus, you can make it happen.
Let’s dive into what life goals are, examples and how you can achieve them.
Whether you want to change your life or just change your day-to-day, setting life goals can help.
Here are our favorite life goal tips and examples from your friends at American Family Insurance. Life goals are all the things you want to accomplish in life.
What are life goals?
Whether they're big and challenging or smaller and more personal, setting life goals can give you a sense of purpose as you move through life. And as you work toward your goals you may notice other benefits, too, such as new skills, better focus, less procrastination and a more positive mindset.
So what do life goals look like?
Only you can decide which life goals are right for you.
But here's some common themes to help get your ideas flowing.
Some life goals are health goals, like running a marathon, climbing a mountain or practicing yoga.
Or they can be career goals such as starting your own business, getting a big promotion or planning a well-earned retirement.
They could also be educational, like graduating from college, getting an advanced degree, or learning a new skill like how to code.
Sometimes they're financial goals, including doubling your income, learning to invest in the stock market or paying off your student loans.
Many life goals focus on big milestones, such as finding a lifelong partner, buying a new car or building your dream home.
Or maybe they're more adventurous, like seeing the Northern Lights, skydiving or traveling to a new country. So now that we've covered what life goals are, it's time to think about how to pursue them.
Here's an easy five-step process to get started.
First, decide which goal you want to achieve. Don't be afraid to set multiple goals at once.
Next write your goals down. Seeing them in writing can make them feel more real.
Then, tell someone about your goals. Share your excitement with the world and you might find a friend who can help you achieve your goals.
Next, outline the steps you're going to take to achieve your goals. Be sure to describe what success looks like for each step.
Finally, if you have a goal that seems extra big and ambitious, break it down. Consider breaking it down into smaller objectives. You'll be amazed at how far you'll get when looking at your large goal as many tasks.
Now that you have some ideas, it's time to get started. With enough motivation, focus and hard work, you can make your life goals a reality.
Interested in more tips on setting and achieving your dreams? Visit AmFam.com for resources to help guide and support you along your dream pursuit. American Family Insurance.
What Are Life Goals?
Life goals are all the things you want to accomplish in your life. Often your life goals are very meaningful to you and can make a lasting impact on your life. They can be large and challenging goals, or they can be smaller and more personal. It all depends on what you want to achieve.
Why Are Life Goals Important?
Setting life goals can help shape your future. By working hard to accomplish them, they can really help you to find the long-term happiness and success you’ve been seeking. Life goals are important because they can also help you:
- Improve your focus
- Master certain skills
- Overcome procrastination
- Gain a more positive mindset
100 Life Goals Ideas
Life goals come in all shapes and sizes. While your life goals will be personal to you, there are several common life goals many people share. To help you think of your own, here are 100 life goal ideas to consider:
- Become an inspiration to others
- Master a difficult skill
- Become a thought leader in your industry
- Get promoted to an executive role at your company
- Learn about how to become a millionaire
- Go on a trip around the world
- Travel to your dream country
- Double your personal income
- Publish a novel
- Take a motorcycle trip
- Volunteer at a hospital when it’s safe to do so
- Run in a marathon
- Get six-pack abs
- Achieve zero debt
- Invest in the stock market
- Drive or buy your dream car
- See one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Plan for your retirement
- Graduate from college
- Learn to fluently speak a foreign language
- Meditate daily
- Donate to a charity annually
- Have a long-term relationship
- Climb a mountain
- Learn how to surf
- Master a musical instrument
- Learn how to rock climb
- Live in a foreign country
- Drink enough water everyday
- Give up junk food for a year
- Paint a picture
- Craft something using pottery skills
- Master ballroom dancing
- Compose a song
- Maintain your ideal body weight
- Get paid doing what you’re passionate about
- Find your life partner
- Learn how to prepare healthy meals
- Learn how to lift weights and build muscle
- Regularly call your parents
- Create multiple income sources
- Keep a life journal
- Go deep sea fishing
- Buy your first house
- Build your dream house
- Go skydiving
- Go hang gliding
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Snorkel in the ocean
- Climb on a glacier
- Go whitewater rafting
- See your favorite football team play at their stadium when it’s safe to do so
- Go to the Olympics
- Get a hole-in-one while golfing
- Golf 18 holes under par
- Assemble a collection of your favorite books or artwork
- Run a six-minute mile
- Declutter your home
- Appear on a podcast
- Read two books every month
- Leave a financial inheritance
- Trace your ancestry and visit their country of origin
- Try a vegan diet for a month
- See your favorite musician in concert as often as you can
- Create a new family tradition
- Maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Start an online business
- Celebrate your relationship anniversaries
- Meet an athlete or celebrity you admire
- Practice gratitude everyday
- Start a small business
- See the ball drop in person on New Year’s Eve when it’s safe to do so
- Adopt and care for your dream pet
- Give up drinking soda
- Witness the Northern Lights
- Watch a volcano erupt (from a safe distance!)
- Go to Mardi Gras
- Develop a good credit score
- Learn self-defense
- See your doctor and dentist regularly
- Always say “yes” to trying new, positive things
- Learn yoga
- Expand your vocabulary
- Participate in a recreational sports league
- Grow a thriving garden
- Go on a electronics-free camping trip
- Write a movie script or TV episode
- Learn how to sing
- Make your own website
- Become a venture capitalist
- Sponsor a child in need
- Go on a cross-country road trip
- Pay off your student loans sooner than later
- Learn how to code
- Improve your drawing skills
- Give up TV for a week
- Spend a full day at the spa
- Go on a solo vacation
- Throw friends a surprise party
- Learn how to knit or sew
Ways to Jump Start Your Dreams
How to Set Your Life Goals
Your life goals are personal to you. By no means do you need to have 100! Instead choose as many as you want to accomplish. Here’s an easy way to set your life goals so you can start working towards achieving them:
- Decide which goal you want to achieve. Don’t be afraid to set multiple life goals at once.
- Write your life goals down. This way you’ll be more likely to remember each one.
- Tell someone about your goals. They may be able to help you complete them!
- Outline steps to complete your life goals. Be sure to map out what needs to be done to consider each goal reached as best you can.
- If you have big and ambitious goals, consider breaking them down into smaller goals to achieve first.
Create SMART Life Goals
Another great way to set your life goals and make a clear path to achieving them is SMART goal setting. SMART is a methodology where you map out a clear path to achieving your goals by using this acronym:
S – Specific: What you want to accomplish, when you want to achieve it and why it’s important.
M – Measurable: How you can measure progress to successfully complete your goal?
A – Achievable: What skills you need to complete your goal and how you can learn these skills?
R – Relevant: The reason why you are setting this goal now and if it aligns with other goals.
T – Time-Sensitive: Your deadline and how realistically you can complete your goal.
By using this acronym, you can ask yourself questions about your goal and how you can reach it. Write out these questions using a worksheet like this (Opens in a new tab) and you’ll have a strong blueprint for meeting your life goals head-on. Learn more about SMART goals and how they can help you achieve your dreams.
Work Toward Your Life Goals Today
Now that you have some ideas for life goals and the know-how to set them, it’s time to get started. With enough motivation, focus and hard work, you can make your life-long goals a reality.
Do you have more dreams you want to pursue? Join the dream movement today — we’ve got more tips and resources to help guide and support you and your family along any dream pursuit.
