Write your goals as specifically as possible in order to stay focused on a specific result. For example, rather than writing, "I want to be financially secure," write something like, "My goal is to cut my debt in half."
Make your goals measurable. Do this by setting a time frame. For instance, write, "My goal is to cut my debt in half within a year."
Write goals that challenge you but are possible to achieve. If you don't make enough money to reduce your debt by 50 percent within a year, don't set that goal. Instead, adjust your goal to make it achievable under your real-life circumstances.
Categorize your goals according to time frame and importance. Prioritize your list by writing your most important goals first. Organize your list by writing weekly, monthly, yearly and long-term goals.
Supplement your goals by creating checklists of activities that will bring you closer to achieving them. For example, if you are trying to reduce debt, make a checklist for that goal that has the following activities: "sell extra vehicle, consolidate credit cards and have a garage sale." Check off each accomplishment as you work toward your goal to keep yourself motivated.