How Many Goals Should I set?

by Panteha N
(Sydney, NSW, Australia)

How many goals are the optimal number of goals?

I have just planned my life for the next 12 months.

I have set about 16 goals.

I was just wandering if I have too many goals in my plan.

How many goals should I set in a short period of time, say 6 or 12 months.

Kell's response

Hi Panteha,

Goal setting is a great way to stay focused and motivated. However, when we set too many goals, what happens is that it can spread your focus, so that you don't devote sufficient time on a particular goal.

This is why I recommend the athletes, students and business professionals that I work with to focus on probably at most 5 of the most important goals in their life.

Try this goal setting activity so that you can rank your goals in order of importance.

There is plenty of research and also common sense that says a balanced life is a happier life.

Thus it is also a good idea to set goals in the different areas of your life.

This can be in by setting family goals, career goals, and personal or spiritual goals.

I write more about these different areas of goal setting at:

• career goal setting



• setting financial goals



• setting personal goals



• fitness goal setting



• family goal setting.

Hope this helps,

Kell