Write down your goals: writing down your goals greatly increases your chances of meeting them, it exposes undefined terms, unrealistic time frames and fuzzy thinking.
 

Write specific goals: Specific goals make clear what actions are needed or what results are expected. For example, instead of saying " I want to get good grades", say "I want to earn a 3.5 GPA next semester". 
 

Write goals in several time frames: 

• Long-term goals: Represent major targets in your life. These goals can take 5 to 20 years to achieve. They can include goals in education, careers, personal relationships, travel, financial security- whatever is important to you

• Midterm goals: Objectives you can accomplish in 1 to 5 years. They include goals such as completing a course of education, paying off a car loan, or achieving a specific career level.

• Short-term goals: You can accomplish them in 1 year or less. These goals are specific achievements, such as completing  a particular course, hiking a trail or organizing a family reunion.
   

Write goals in several areas of life: People who set goals in only one area of life may find their personal growth becomes one-sided. They might experience success at work while neglecting their health or relationships. To avoid this, set goals in a variety of categories.
 

Reflect on your goals: each week take a few minutes to think about your goals.
 

Check in with your feelings: If you don't feel a significant emotional connection with a written goal, consider letting it go or filling it away to review later.
 

Check for alignment: Look for connections among your goals. Do your short-term goals align with your midterm goals?
 

Check for obstacles: anticipate obstacles like time and money and start looking for workable solutions.
 

Move into action immediately: Decide on a list of small, achievable steps you can take right away to accomplish each of your short-term goals. Write these on a daily to-do list. Take note of your progress and celebrate your successes.
 

Reward yourself with care: when you meet your goal on time, reward yourself.
There are two types of rewards. 

1. The first one is the reward that follows from achieving a goal. For example, your reward for earning a degree might be getting the job you have always wanted.

2. The second type is something that you design. For example, after turning in a paper, you might reward yourself with a nap or an afternoon in the park.
    

Get back to benefits: You might go through periods when you lose enthusiasm. The payoff in the future seems so distant and the work in the present seems so hard. Take the future rewards of your goals and make them as vivid as possible in the present. Post visible reminders of the benefits you'll gain. If you want to graduate, then post photographs of people wearing caps and gowns at a ceremony.