Anchoring Your Life Goals In The Long-Term
Our focus for today is long-term goals examples.
So, we will review a comprehensive list of long-term goals. Also, how to set your long-term goals. And how to achieve them.
Because goal setting might be one of the most important things you do in life.
So, let’s get moving…
Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
List Of Long-Term Goals Examples
Here are 60 examples of long-term goals. They are broken down into 6 convenient categories.
Long-Term Personal Goals Examples
- Develop a vision for your life
- Establish a positive mindset
- Learn sound interpersonal skills
- Expand your network of friends
- Find your perfect life partner
- Become a better spouse
- Grow into a better parent
- Volunteer for a cause you believe in
- Discover your best place to live
- Achieve your “bucket list”
Long-Term Financial Goals Examples
- Live within your means
- Eliminate all debt
- Save for retirement
- Save for your children’s education
- Own real estate
- Build a relationship with a money mentor
- Create a long-term money plan
- Make arrangements for the end of life
- Become financially independent
- Accumulate 1 million dollars
Long-Term Career Goals Examples
- Determine what you love to do
- Develop a career plan
- Find a career mentor
- Master your trade or occupation
- Develop new job skills
- Earn a promotion
- Land your dream job
- Obtain a professional certification
- Expand your professional network
- Maximize your earning potential
Long-Term Business Goals Examples
- Expand into a new geographic market
- Market through a new channel
- Penetrate a new demographic
- Broaden product and service offerings
- Acquire a competitor
- Expand personnel and facilities
- Migrate to a new technology platform
- Put financing sources in place
- Increase cash flow
- Improve profit margins
Long-Term Continuous Learning Goals Examples
- Learn from success and failure
- Practice reflection
- Become a better listener
- Improve upon your weaknesses
- Learn a new skill
- Further your education
- Master a foreign language
- Learn a musical instrument
- Get straight A’s in your courses
- Adopt a new technology
Long-Term Fitness Goals Examples
- Eat a healthy diet
- Develop an exercise routine
- Maintain your perfect weight
- Find the perfect bed
- Get enough sleep
- Join a sports team
- Complete a long-distance run or ride
- Do your personal best
- Learn to manage stress
- Become proficient in meditation
Okay. Now that you have some examples of long-term goals to consider. Let’s step back and make sure we have a solid foundation.
As it relates to identifying, setting, and achieving your intentions. Starting with…
What Are Long-Term Goals?
First of all, a goal is the desired outcome that a person envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.
Furthermore, goals can relate to many aspects of your life. For today, we have broken those aspects into 6 categories…
1. Long-Term Personal Goals
This group is closely tied to your friends, family, and what you deeply believe in about life.
Good personal goals are a great place to get started with your goal setting.
2. Long-Term Financial Goals
Money isn’t everything. But having enough money supports many other objectives you may have.
Furthermore, we use the free app from Personal Capital to manage all of our finances. It’s an excellent tool to make the most of your money.
Then, when you are ready…
Dive deeper into long-term financial goals. They are my favorite type of goal. So, I encourage you to do so.
3. Long-Term Career Goals
Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder. Or just trying to be the best at whatever you do.
That’s what long-term goals for professional development are all about.
4. Long-Term Goals For Business
If you have a business, setting the right targets for it is a must. Whether you have a small business. Or, a large one.
Since achieving long-term business goals is critical. For sustaining and making money from your enterprise.
5. Long-Term Learning Goals
Excelling in this area of life is closely related to being a life-long learner. Thus, setting learning targets is very important.
Think about your continuous improvement and ongoing learning goals by remembering this phrase…
Be better today than you were yesterday. And better tomorrow than you are today.
It’s all about continuous improvement. As you try to achieve these types of goals.
6. Long-Term Fitness Goals
This area relates to improving your physical fitness and mental well-being. Because you can’t be your best. If you don’t feel your best.
Contrasting With Other Types Of Goals
Finally, a long-term goal is something you want to complete in the distant future. Most noteworthy, I define this as a goal to be accomplished in five years or more.
Long-term goals can be contrasted with other types of goals. For example, short-term goals should be accomplished within one year. And good medium-term goals should be achieved between 1 and 5 years.
Most importantly…
Any of your objectives with a shorter time to complete should support and be consistent with your long-term planning.
How To Prioritize Long-Term Goals
Now, you might be thinking that’s a big list of 60 examples of long-term goals. And I would agree.
Therefore, you can’t pursue them all.
So be selective. And choose one or at most two examples from each of the 6 categories.
Furthermore, if you are like most people. And do not have both a career and a business. You can narrow it down to 5 categories.
Then, one example from each category gives you 5 long-term goals examples to work on. That should be a manageable number. In addition to providing diversity across your personal life.
Okay. So, you have picked 5 from the examples of long-term goals. And you are ready to get started.
Now it’s time to start goal setting. Most importantly, setting them in the right way.
How To Set Long-Term Goals
For goal setting, I suggest using the SMART goal-setting system. It is based on the following 5 characteristics:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
Allow me to explain…
The first step in making a SMART long-term goal is to make it specific.
The more details about the goal that you can document, the better. Because you will become more and more clear on exactly what you want to achieve.
Second, make your goals in life measurable.
Decide on the information you are going to use to measure progress. And measure whether the goal has been achieved.
This is very important. Because you will be working on them for a significant amount of time.
Third, goals must be achievable. Thus, stretch yourself. And make them tough.
On the other hand, don’t set a goal if it can’t be achieved.
By being very detailed in step 1. As specific as possible.
The more you will come to understand whether the goal is achievable.
Fourth, long-term goals are realistic. And a realistic goal has 2 attributes.
First of all, the goal should make sense for your current situation.
Furthermore, make sure you have the resources to achieve the goal. Whether the resource is time, money, or outside expertise.
Fifth and finally, set a time constraint. Doing so increases your commitment. Also, your odds of completing the goal you set.
You should make your goals HARD too. Meaning:
- Heartfelt
- Animated
- Required
- Difficult
Most of all, when selecting from the list of long-term goals examples. Remember, that by definition your time to completion should be more than 5 years from now.
However, you should set steps along the way. That must be completed as you go. For an efficient way to do so. Consider using a goal tree.
Okay. So, you have set some SMART goals.
Next, I want you to achieve them. Here’s how…
How To Achieve Long-Term Goals
I think of achieving goals in 3 steps. The steps are
- Plan
- Act
- Monitor
I call this the PAM system.
First, create a written action plan. A detailed plan may not be necessary. But because of the length of time to accomplish these types of life priorities, I suggest it is.
Your plan is nothing more than the detailed steps required to achieve your goal.
For goal planning, I use the 1-3-5 goal-setting technique.
Second, it’s time to act. In other words, work on your action plan.
Third, monitor your progress. Since you used the SMART financial goal-setting process. Your goal is measurable. And it is time-bound.
So, measure your progress as often as necessary. For five-year goals and longer time frames, it makes sense to assess your progress at least once or maybe twice per year.
Next, I have a few other top tips to help you achieve any of these examples of long-term goals…
Other Tips For Making Long-Term Goals Reality
Good habits are essential for achieving long-term goals examples. So, here are a few good habits to work into your daily routine.
Have Vision
I like to say if you can envision it, you can achieve it.
So think long and hard. About what you and your life will look like in 5-10 years.
First, this exercise will help you identify and prioritize the most important of your desires to work on.
Second, it will motivate you to push on toward the achievement of your stated desires. By seeing the better you and the better life that will result.
Put In The Hard Work And Work Smart
Always ask yourself the following 2 questions…
First, am I working on the right things?
Second, am I working on them in the right way?
If you can answer yes to these two questions. Then you are working smart.
Then, put in the time and effort. That means working hard.
Write It Down
Put your goals and action plans in writing. Doing so is very important.
First, it builds your commitment. Second, the act of writing things down helps you to clarify your thoughts.
Be Flexible, Change, And Adapt As Needed
As time passes, change is constant.
First, your priorities may change.
Second, as you work on your action plans. You will come upon roadblocks and opportunities.
So, be flexible. Adapt your plans as changing circumstances dictate you do so.
Talk About Your Dreams With Others
Having discussions with others about what you are trying to accomplish comes with great benefits.
First of all, by sharing a goal with someone else. You put yourself on notice. So it’s tougher to silently let your goal slip away undone.
Ask the person you share with. To help hold you accountable.
Furthermore, by discussing your aspirations aloud. It helps to clarify your thoughts.
The conversation may shake something loose in your brain. Such as a better way to approach a goal. Or how one life goal relates to another.
Create Daily Activities
By making SMART goals and creating an action plan you are starting in the right direction.
Next, look at your plans once a week. And put a supporting task on your daily to-do list. That relates to one or more of your goals.
Because little daily steps can add up to big long-term accomplishments.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Failure
It’s better to set tough goals. And come up a little short.
Versus setting easy ones. That you are sure to achieve. Especially when thinking about your future self.
It’s okay to fail. Sometimes we learn more from the experience. Rather than when everything comes easy.
Thus, don’t fear failure. Embrace it as part of creating the life you want.
Okay. Allow me to pull it all together for you with a few parting comments…
Long-Term Goals Examples: Wrap Up
Today, I shared 60 examples of long-term goals. They fall into one of the following 6 categories.
- Personal
- Financial
- Career
- Business
- Continuous learning
- Fitness
I suggest using the SMART system for long-term goal setting. SMART stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
Then use the PAM system to get to work on your goals. By…
- Making a Plan
- Taking Action
- Monitoring progress
Finally, we discussed a few good habits to make your goals a reality:
- Having vision
- Working hard and smart
- Writing it all down
- Being flexible
- Having discussions with others
- Creating daily tasks
- Embracing failure
Hopefully, these are all the tools you need. To identify and set the steps to achieve your vision for life.
Along with using the free app from Personal Capital to manage your finances. Put it all together and you are well on your way to success!
More Reading About Short, Medium, And Long-Term Goals
- Strategic living and your finances
- A complete list of business goal examples
- A robust set of money goals
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.