How to Set Goals That Actually Work

A Step-by-Step Guide Backed by Science

Most people have goals. Fewer people have a plan. Even fewer turn those goals into reality.

If you’ve ever felt stuck setting the same resolutions, or frustrated your goals never fully come to life, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: there’s a better way. One that’s backed by research and built into every page of the Multi-scale Planning System in our planners.

This blog post is your guide to setting clear, science-backed goals, and turning them into action, every day.

Why Goal Setting Fails (and How to Fix It)

Goals often fail because they’re:

• Too vague
• Too big
• Disconnected from daily action

But research shows that people are far more likely to succeed when they:

• Write their goals down
• Break them into small steps
• Attach habits to them
• Track progress
• Reflect and adjust

That’s exactly what the Multi-scale Planning System helps you do.

Step 1: Write Clear and Specific Goals

A goal like “get healthier” is too vague. A clear goal sounds more like:

“I want to walk 30 minutes every weekday for a month.”

Use this formula:
I want to [do what] by [when] so that [why].

Example:
“I want to build a consistent morning routine by July so that I can start my day with energy and focus.”

Step 2: Choose Supporting Habits

Under each goal in the planner, there’s space for three habits. These are the building blocks of your success.

If your goal is to write a book, your habits could be:

• Write 30 minutes every morning
• Outline one chapter per week
• Read 20 minutes a day for inspiration

Little actions. Big results.

Step 3: Use the Multi-scale Planning System

This system connects your dreams to your daily life:

Yearly Goals – Your vision
Monthly Goals – Your current focus
Weekly & Daily Plans – What you do today that brings it to life

In your monthly section, you can:

• Write one main goal and three habits, or
• Choose three smaller goals with one habit each

You’re in control.

Step 4: Track Your Progress

Each week and day has habit trackers—because tracking = accountability.

Studies show people who monitor their progress are more likely to reach their goals.

Even small wins keep you motivated!

Step 5: Reflect and Recalibrate

At the end of each month, you’ll find two full lined pages for reflection.

This is where the magic happens.

Ask yourself:

• What worked well?
• What slowed me down?
• What do I want to focus on next month?

Reflection isn’t optional, it’s how we grow.

Ready to Set Goals That Stick?

You already have the dream. Now you have the system.

Grab your planner (here) and start working on your goals, from big vision to daily action, with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

 

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References

Doran, G. T. (1981). There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives. Management Review, 70(11), 35–36.

Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans. American Psychologist, 54(7), 493–503.

Lally, P., van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998–1009.

Hull, C. L. (1932). The goal-gradient hypothesis and maze learning. Psychological Review, 39(1), 25–43.

Schön, D. A. (1983). The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Basic Books.

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery.