There are many ways to plan out and organize your goals, but one of the most effective is goal mapping. Created by Brian Mayne in 1995, it’s a simple yet powerful method to help you achieve your goals. If you’re serious about making your dreams come true, you should be goal mapping!

What is goal mapping?

Simply put, goal mapping is creating a map for your life and your goals. It’s like a real map only instead of locations, it will have your personal dreams and objectives laid out. You can include anything and everything you like on it: personal, career, financial, love life, fitness.

The idea is that every aspect of your life is interconnected and they all take up your time and energy. The only rule is that each goal must be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound). You want your goals to be detailed, realistic, and easy to track. Each goal should have a deadline so that it really is a goal, not just a dream or wish that will happen someday.

Why is goal mapping effective?

Having a goal map will give you a clear path for your future and make you feel in control. You’ll essentially be the author of your own life and won’t feel like destiny is just throwing things at you. You’ll be able to see all of your objectives at once and easily be able to plan them out.

Writing down your specific goals will make them much more attainable than just having vague wishes in your head. Goal maps come with timelines and trackers so you can mark your progress and stay on track. It will also help you prioritize your goals and achieve more.

We only have so much free time so having a goal map will help you manage it better. You’ll learn to spend your energy on the things that really count, and start living your life to its full potential.

How do you create a goal map?

You can be creative with this as each goal map is unique to the individual. If you’re more of a creative type you can draw one out like a real map, create a journal or scrapbook, or design one on the computer. Just make sure that you make a format that is accessible and easy to update as your life and goals progress.

If you’re more of a technical person, you can find online templates. The easiest format resembles a flow chart, with your goals written in bubbles or squares and connecting arrows showing your steps on how you will achieve the goal. You can also make why bubbles to remind you of your original motivation. Don’t forget to add a timeline to each goal to ensure you reach your personal deadline!

Mapping your whole life out in one go may seem intimidating, but the beauty of goal mapping is that it constantly updates and changes. Even if you can only think of a few goals right now, it’s still a good time to get started. As you grow, your goal map will too.

Photo Credit @cupsandthoughts