Why You Should Write Down Goals—The Simple Formula To Success

~ Marie

It’s Sunday again—the perfect day for reflection. I often use Sundays to take a step back from the busyness of life and think about where I am and where I want to go.

Reflection is essential for living a good life. It helps us assess our current path and redirect if necessary. But reflection alone isn’t enough to drive change. While I already make a habit of writing down my goals—I am insanely forgetful and come up with new or slightly tweaked goals every day if I don’t—I recently learned just how crucial this practice is for achieving success.

The Power of Writing Your Goals Down

There’s something transformative about putting your goals on paper. It’s not just about the physical act of writing, though that plays a part. When you write down your goals, they become real. They move from vague ideas in your head to tangible commitments.

There’s a reason why goal-setting experts like Michael Hyatt, as well as neuroscience studies, emphasize the importance of committing your goals to writing. Here’s why:

  • Clarity: Writing down your goals forces you to clarify what you really want. It’s no longer a vague idea floating in your mind but a concrete target.
  • Accountability: A written goal acts as a commitment. It’s harder to ignore something that’s on paper, staring back at you.
  • Focus: Goals in writing help you maintain focus. It’s easy to get distracted by daily life, but a visible goal keeps your attention where it matters.
  • Motivation: Neuroscience suggests that writing triggers certain areas of your brain, making your goals feel more real and achievable.

Personal Goals I’m Committed To

Writing down my goals has helped me stay on track with several long-term ambitions, and I’d like to share a few with you:

  • Goal 1-Daily Blogging: Writing every day for a year. Yes, 365 days of content!—Subscribe for more. 😉
  • Goal 2-Launching an Etsy Shop: By the end of next year, I aim to have my Etsy shop up and running.
  • Goal 3-Marathon Goal: Running a marathon by October.
  • Goal 4-75KM Trail Run: Before June 2025, I’m planning to join a 75KM trail run, pushing my physical and mental limits. This is the follow-up goal to my marathon goal.
  • Goal 5-Work-Life Balance: Landing a job that allows me to work four 9-hour days, in an organization that has clear societal relevance.

These goals are clear in my mind, but writing them down has given me direction and accountability. Seeing them on paper (or on my desktop) makes them seem more achievable, and motivates me to stick with them.

How to Get Started

If you’re new to goal-setting or feeling overwhelmed, start small. Write down just one goal that you want to accomplish this week. It doesn’t have to be life-changing—something as simple as reading a book or going for a daily walk can kickstart your personal growth. By putting pen to paper, you’ll take the first step toward turning your ideas into reality.

Having trouble making up goals? Check out my article on discovering goals:

Become a Goal-Setter Today

If this post resonated with you, I encourage you to take a moment to write down your own goals and watch how it transforms your personal growth. Whether big or small, putting them on paper is the first step to making them real.

If you enjoyed this article, please like, share, or comment below—I’d love to hear about your own goals! And don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated with more tips on personal and creative growth. Let’s grow together! 🫴🏽💚

Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

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