How to Set Goals – Step 4

Now it’s time to establish effective consequences!

This is a step that can so easily be overlooked, after all we are all adults here, consequences are for kids surely! It’s time to trust that there has been loads of research into the influence of this step for adults, and it needs to be respected. So let’s get on with it!

Step 4 – Effective consequences!

Decide on meaningful consequences. Meaningful is the operative word here! When you honour and comply with your plan – really treat yourself and when you don’t, set something up for yourself where you won’t want to have that happen again.

Some further tips…

-     make sure you decide clearly on the steps in your progress which best suit having consequences built in…the milestones perhaps.

-     use immediate, short term, mid and long term consequences

-     use your partner or a friend to monitor you honouring your consequences

Using the goal from step 1, for example:

1.   Each day that I stick to my 850 calorie diet, I will deposit $4 into my special money box. With this money alone I will purchase myself new joggers and gym clothes. Each day I do not stick to my plan I will withdraw $6 and give this to my husband.

2.   When I reach 4 kilometres in 15 weeks as planned, I will deposit a further $40 into my special money box. If I do not reach this, for every 500m short (and part thereof), of 4 kilometres I will pay my husband $20 from my designated money box.

3.   And so forth.