Mastering Success: The Art of Setting Goals

Setting goals is not just about envisioning the future but also about crafting a well-organized plan for achievement. In this article, we'll explore the art of setting goals, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, and introduce the role of rationalize.me in seamlessly integrating goal management with sub-projects for a more structured and efficient approach.

Goal setting provides guidance, motivation, purpose, and a roadmap for personal and professional development. Regardless of their size, goals act as a motivator, directing your efforts and helping you focus on what truly matters.

How to Set Effective Goals:

Follow the SMART criteria to ensure your goals are:

  • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve, avoiding vague or ambiguous language.
  • Measurable: Establish criteria to track your progress and determine when the goal is achieved.
  • Achievable: Establish criteria to track your progress and determine when the goal is achieved.
  • Relevant: Ensure your goals align with your values and broader objectives.
  • Time-Bound: Set a timeframe for achieving your goals, creating a sense of urgency and focus.

Breaking Goals into Achievable Segments

Deconstruct each goal into specific projects and tasks. rationalize.me's task management system supports the breakdown and organization of complex projects:

  • Manageable Tasks: Breaking down goals into small projects makes them more manageable and less overwhelming, increasing the likelihood of success.
  • Progress Tracking: Smaller projects allow you to track progress more effectively, providing a sense of accomplishment and momentum.
  • Flexibility and Adaptability: Smaller projects allow for greater flexibility and adaptability, accommodating changes and unforeseen challenges more seamlessly.

Utilizing rationalize.me

rationalize.me has a special "Goals" area designed explicitly for outlining your objectives, breaking them down into manageable projects, and detailing the tasks necessary to bring you closer to your ultimate goal. The upcoming guides will lead you through the effortless handling of goals and projects in our application.

Creating a new Goal

  1. Open Goal Form:
    • Click on the "Add new:" Goal link.
    • Tap on icon and select Goal menu item.
    Please find Add Goal buttons in related animations.
  2. Enter the name of the goal and, if necessary, provide a brief description.
  3. Save changes.
Add new goal on a mobile phone
Add new goal on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.

Edit the Goal

  1. Locate the Goal you wish to modify.
  2. Toggle the context menu for the Goal:
    • By right-clicking on the Goal.
    • By tapping the icon.
  3. Select the Edit menu option.
  4. Apply the necessary modifications and save the changes.
Edit the goal on a desktop computer
Edit the goal on a mobile phone
Double-click to view the full image.

Delete the Goal

  1. Locate the Goal you wish to modify.
  2. Toggle the context menu for the Goal:
    • By right-clicking on the Goal.
    • By tapping the icon.
  3. Select the Delete menu option.
  4. Confirm it.
Delete the goal on a mobile phone
Delete the goal on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.

Change the active Goal

Locate the Goal:
  • It will be displayed on your desktop computer screen.
  • On touch-based devices, tap the Goal button and select the desired Goal from the Goal Change Menu.
Details can be found in the associated animations.
Change the active goal on a desktop computer
Change the active goal on a mobile phone
Double-click to view the full image.

Creating a new Project

  1. Open Project Form:
    • Click on the "Add new:" Project link.
    • Tap on icon and select Project menu item.
    Please find Add Project buttons in related animations.
  2. Enter the name of the project and, if necessary, provide a brief description.
  3. Save changes.
Add new project on a mobile phone
Add new project on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.

Edit the Project

  1. Locate the Project you wish to modify.
  2. Toggle the context menu for the Project:
    • By right-clicking on the Project.
    • By tapping the icon.
  3. Select the Edit menu option.
  4. Apply the necessary modifications and save the changes.
Edit the project on a desktop computer
Edit the project on a mobile phone
Double-click to view the full image.

Assign the Sub-project

  • You can designate the selected project as a sub-project using drag & drop functionality on desktop computers.
  • You can use the Project Context Menu to change the parent project for the selected project.
    • By right-clicking on the Project.
    • By tapping the icon.
Details can be found in the associated animations.
Change the parent project using context menu on a mobile phone
Change the parent project using context menu on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.

Unparent Project

  • On desktop computers, you can unparent a sub-project by dragging and dropping it into an empty space.
  • You can utilize the Project Context Menu to remove the parent project for the selected project.
    • By right-clicking on the Project.
    • By tapping the icon.
Details can be found in the associated animations.
Unparent project using context menu on a desktop computer
Unparent project using context menu on a mobile phone
Double-click to view the full image.

Change the active Project: Desktop and Mobile phone

Locate the Project:
  • It will be displayed on your desktop computer screen.
  • On touch-based devices, tap the Project button and select the desired Project from the Project Change Menu.
Details can be found in the associated animations.
Change the active project on a mobile phone
Change the active project on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.

Change the active Goal and Project on a tablet device.

A tablet device offers a compromise between a desktop and a mobile, providing a bit more functionality than a regular mobile phone. Please refer to the associated animation to see how you can change the active goal and project on it.

Change the active goal and project on a tablet device
Double-click to view the full image.

Add new Task into selected project

  1. Locate the project to which you want to add a new task.
  2. Find the New Task form situated at the top section of the screen in the Tasks area, accessible when you have an active project or are in the Inbox.
  3. Enter the necessary details for the new task, including its name and any additional information.
  4. Click or tap the button to save the new task, or press the Enter key on desktop computers.
Add new task into the active project on a desktop computer
Add new task into Inbox and moving it into required project on a mobile phone
Double-click to view the full image.

Use the Inbox as an intermediary task storage

You can add your tasks to the Inbox and keep them there according to the GTD methodology.

However, you can also use it as an intermediate storage. So, when you are able to identify the most suitable project for that task, you can easily move the task from the Inbox to the designated project.

Add new task into Inbox and moving it into required project on a mobile phone
Add new task into Inbox and moving it into required project on a desktop computer
Double-click to view the full image.
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