Mini or short-term goals are small, more immediate milestones that are more easily manageable and attainable than larger goals, which can take years to accomplish. Because long-term goals are far off and can seem daunting at times, they can lead to stress and anxiety when it doesn’t appear like you’ve made any progress between point A and point B. On the other hand, mini-goals are a great way to provide demonstrable progress through smaller, more easily achievable milestones. While you might not have reached your ultimate goal, knocking off a mini-goal means you’ve achieved something and are closer to where you’d like to be than you were before doing so. The sense of accomplishment experienced by making progress through the achievement of shorter, manageable goals will reward you, fueling your motivation to continue onward.

 

Long-term goals can seem overwhelming, like eating an elephant. But as the saying goes, it’s only possible by eating it one bite at a time. Mini goals make the seemingly impossible possible by taking things one step at a time.