What is the major difference between those who stick to their goals and those who don’t? Today, we’re going to go over the process of setting goals and what makes us more likely to actually follow through. 

In his book Atomic Goals, author James Clear outlines four points to consider when creating a goal.  These include making the goal obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. But what do each of these mean? Let’s elaborate:

Making a goal obvious is to make sure you have a way to remember the goal you set.  This could be done by putting a sticky note on your fridge, having an app that reminds you each day, or even having an accountability partner to check in with you.  If we merely make the goal mentally, it is far too easy to forget and move on without an actionable plan to tackle said goal.

Making a goal attractive is to do everything you can to make your goal seem fun. This could be by including friends or loved ones in your goal, using your goal as a means to a reward, or adding a playful element to add some fun to your day.  However it is accomplished, making sure your goal is attractive and desirable could make or break how well you are able to stick to it.

Making a goal easy is doing everything in your power to remove any potential roadblocks that stand in your way.  Before you start, write down on paper exactly how you plan to accomplish your goal.  Identify any barriers that may come up and what you can do to mitigate those.  The easier you make it for yourself to stick to your goal, the more likely you are for it to form into a habit.

Making a goal satisfying relates to not only the end result of said goal, but the rewards you get along the way.  Analyzing your goal and making sure that each step of the process is fulfilling and rewarding will help you attain your larger goal and give you more likely odds of completion. 

Making your goal obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying are the first steps to setting a goal that you will actually stick to and will actually make a difference.