Short-term goals shape long-term success.

Starbucks in Tianjin used to be the best place to come for quiet focus time in this city of 15 million, but now the energy here is electric, pulsing with the promise of opportunity. Yet even with all this commotion around me, I’m laser-focused on what I must achieve today. That clarity, that unwavering sense of purpose, is what drives progress—and it’s something I’m committed to helping you discover for yourself.

Over the past two decades, I’ve helped thousands of clients—from university students to high-powered executives—master one simple yet transformative skill: setting short-term goals.

In China, where competition is fierce, and progress moves at lightning speed, those who master short-term goal-setting thrive, leaving everyone else just surviving.

Short-term goals give you direction. They keep you from drifting, from getting lost in the noise of daily life. In this article, we’ll cut through the fluff and get tactical—how to set goals that matter, how to stay hungry, and how to push past every obstacle standing in your way. Because in a world that moves fast, you can’t afford to stand still.

We’ll also examine real-life examples, from my own journeys across Asia to the stories of the clients I’ve coached, to show you exactly how short-term goals drive success, one small step at a time.

What are short-term goals?

Before diving into how to set short-term goals, let’s define what they are. Short-term goals are just things you want to achieve soon—anywhere from a few days up to a few months. These are not the five-year plans of major career moves or grand life ambitions. Instead, they’re the day-to-day or month-to-month milestones that build upon each other and ultimately make those more significant dreams possible.

Long-term goals are the distant peaks on the horizon. Short-term goals are the next ascent and the next base for camp tonight.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Long-term goal: Run a marathon within a year.
• Short-term goal: Run 40km this month
• Long-term goal: Write a book.
• Short-term goal: Write Chapter one in the next two weeks.
• Long-term goal: Save for a house down payment.
• Short-term goal: Save $5,000 this quarter.

Short-term goals aren’t the daily or weekly sprints, Those are tasks and habits. Instead they are the the next goal post you must reach to stay on track for those big, life-changing goals down the line. They generate quick results (or feedback), and then fuel motivation and build momentum. Their importance lies in providing immediate targets to work toward, increasing focus, and reducing procrastination.

the science behind short-term goals

My fascination with the science of short-term goals began during my time in Nepal. I was coaching a young woman who wanted to quit her job at a large consulting company and open a yoga studio, but the thought of it overwhelmed her. We made a simple list of short-term goals, like finding a location, creating an ad to share on social media, and finding her first student. Completing these small wins released dopamine in the brain, reinforcing her sense of accomplishment and encouraging her to keep going. Neuroscience calls this phenomenon the “progress principle,” where consistent, small achievements feed our sense of well-being and motivation.

While large ambitions can be motivating in their own right, they can also be intimidating. Learning a new language is just such a huge goal to think about, but finishing this one textbook in 3 months – is not so scary! (This is one of my short-term goals right now.)

Why short-term goals matter in the big picture

Ultimately, short-term goals matter because they turn aspirations into action. They bridge the gap between dreams (long-term) and what you do on a Tuesday morning (short-term). By aligning each short-term milestone with a longer-term vision, you create a coherent path toward success—one action at a time.

How to Set Practical Short-Term Goals

Over the years, I’ve refined my short-term goal-setting method, synthesizing research from behavioral psychology and my own real-world experiences. At its core, you just need to identify what needs to be done now to move you toward a larger objective later. Here’s how you can do it, step by step.

1. Reflect on your long-term vision. Even though we’re focusing on short-term goals, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your bigger picture. Career advancement, improved health, or stronger relationships, make sure you know what you’re ultimately working toward. This vision provides the direction that informs your short-term plan.
2. Brainstorm potential short-term targets. This means writing everything you can think of, the good and the bad, don’t worry we’ll choose the best ones in the next step.
3. Now let’s figure out which should be the next goal to work on. The yoga teacher I worked with who aspired to open her own studio. Her first short-term milestone? Holding free weekend classes in a local park for two months. This allowed her to build a small community of students and test her teaching approach. There was no point looking for a studio or building a website or social media following until she knew she could actually do it.
4. Use the OKR methodology to make your goals or make SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Applying one of these frameworks ensures your short-term goals are well-defined and actionable.

5. Create an action plan.
6. Once you have your OKRs or SMART goals, outline the action steps. If your short-term goal is to gain 5kg of muscle before April, detail what exercise plan and when (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings). Building a specific schedule makes it easier to stick to your plan.
7. Monitor and adjust: Even the most well-structured goals can require tweaking. Perhaps you find that running Monday mornings is too tough because you’re tired from Sunday’s activities. Rework your plan—maybe move the runs to Tuesday. By keeping track of your progress and adapting, you optimize your goal-setting approach over time.

Staying motivated and accountable

Motivation is a struggle for us all. So don’t let it be the only thing pushing you toward your goals. Keep your goals somewhere you can see them. I have mine front and center in my PKM.

But the goals themselves aren’t enough to keep you motivated. You need to be constantly reminded of the actions you must take to achieve them. That’s where a task management system comes in. You don’t have one? You won’t be as productive as you could be. Simple as that.

For those times you just need a kick up the ass, tell ChatGPT to pretend to be David Goggins and to tell you to get moving, it works for me!

Rewards

Celebrate small wins. After consistently exercising three times a week for a month, treat yourself to a relaxing massage (it’s a great active rest idea) or a new workout outfit. If you’ve saved a certain amount of money by the end of the month, indulge in a small purchase or a day trip. Rewards don’t have to be extravagant, but they serve as positive reinforcement and make the journey enjoyable.

Accountability partners

An accountability partner can be a friend, coworker, or family member who holds you to your commitments. During my time in Beijing, I coached a group of entrepreneurs who regularly shared their weekly short-term goals with each other. The fear of letting the group down was often enough motivation to meet those deadlines. Alternatively, you can join an online community on Reddit or Discord, where you can check in daily or weekly and share progress updates.

build routines

Integrate your short-term goals into your daily or weekly routines. This is known as habit stacking—attaching new behaviors to established ones; it’s one of the habits higher up on the self-improvement hierarchy. If you already drink a cup of green tea every morning, use that time to review your daily goals. Or, if you have a 15-minute commute, listen to an educational podcast related to your professional short-term goals.

the art of overcoming common obstacles

Procrastination

Procrastination often results from feeling overwhelmed or uninterested. One approach is to use the two-minute rule: if a task can be done in under two minutes, do it immediately. Another is breaking a task into minuscule steps, so it’s not intimidating. If your goal is to write a report, start by drafting just the title or outline. That small initial action often creates momentum.

Lack of Focus

In our modern world, distractions are everywhere, from social media to endless emails. Time-blocking is a powerful technique, especially when combined with some form of Monk Mode. Dedicate a set chunk of time to work exclusively on your short-term goals. This technique can be similar to the Pomodoro Technique, where you do short stints (25 minutes isn’t long enough,) take a break, and then come back to it. By removing distractions and focusing intently for a set period, you can make more progress than scattered, unfocused efforts.

Unrealistic Expectations

When you set lofty, near-impossible goals, failure can feel imminent and demoralizing. In my personal life, I love setting stretch goals but once decided to learn 300 new Chinese characters in a week. By day three, I realized this was not sustainable alongside my other commitments. Instead, I adjusted my pace to 80 characters a week and saw steady improvement. The lesson? Scale back if you find your goals are too demanding. It’s better to start small and build gradually than to crash and burn from unrealistic expectations.

Practical solutions for common pitfalls

• Use micro-deadlines: Instead of having one final deadline, split it into several mini-checkpoints.
• Track daily progress: Keep a simple log of successes and challenges.
• Plan for obstacles: If you anticipate a busy week, adjust your goals accordingly.
• Practice self-compassion: Mistakes happen. Learn from them and keep moving forward.

Real-world short-term goal examples

Let’s now look at short-term goals across different life areas. To give these examples context, I’ll draw from clients I’ve worked with and even my own personal routines. Want more? I have a huge list of goals to work on this year!

Fitness Goals

• Running three days a week for a month: This was the short-term goal of a marketing executive from Hong Kong who wanted to run a half-marathon eventually. She gradually built up her stamina and, after a month, felt confident enough to increase her distance and sign up for a local race.
• Daily 10-minute yoga routine: A college student in Thailand found it hard to maintain a workout schedule during exam season. Committing to 10 minutes of yoga in the morning was a small but consistent habit that helped her manage stress and maintain flexibility.

Career Goals

• Update your resume within two weeks: A young professional in New Delhi wanted to switch industries. Her first step was dedicating two weeks to thoroughly revamping her resume, tailoring it to the new field she wanted to enter.
• Schedule 3 informational interviews this month: An aspiring entrepreneur in Singapore reached out to people in her network, hoping to gain industry insights and expand her connections. This short-term goal helped her clarify her business ideas and build valuable relationships.

Financial Goals

• Save $50 per week for three months: A client in Shanghai had trouble controlling impulsive spending. By automating $50 into a savings account every week, he gradually built a habit and saw tangible improvements in his finances.
• Plan and stick to a monthly budget: Simple but powerful. Listing all expenses and deciding on spending limits for each category for one month is an excellent short-term goal for someone who wants to develop better financial discipline.

Personal Growth Goals

• Read one personal development book this month: A busy software engineer in Beijing set aside 15 minutes of reading each night, which added up over a month.
• Learn a new skill (e.g., basic coding or drawing) over four weeks: Setting a goal to spend 30 minutes a day learning a new skill is doable for most people with a busy schedule.

Relationship Goals

• Plan one meaningful date each week for a month: A couple I coached in Kathmandu felt they were drifting apart. Making this simple commitment helped them reconnect and enjoy shared experiences without the pressure of an elaborate plan each time.
• Have a weekly phone call with family: As an expat in China, I consistently checked in with loved ones, which helped reduce expat burnout and strengthened my family bonds.

Actionable Exercises to Start Now

Try these quick exercises to give your short-term goals an immediate boost:

• Vision to steps: Write down one long-term goal, then list three short-term goals that would help you get there.
• Daily top three: Each morning, identify three tasks that directly serve your short-term goals. Aim to complete them by the end of the day.
• Accountability outreach: Text a friend or colleague and share one of your short-term goals. Ask them to check in with you at the end of the week.
• Quick review session: Spend five minutes tonight reflecting on what went well today and what you could improve tomorrow. This will build self-awareness and allow quick course corrections.

take your first step today

As I’m wrapping up this article here in the café, I’m reminded of the universal truth that underlies all of these examples and stories: consistent, small steps lead to big transformations. Whether your dream is to climb the corporate ladder, build a business, master a new language, or improve your health, short-term goals are the key to making those dreams a reality.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d emphasize above all else, it’s this: don’t wait for the perfect moment or perfect plan—begin right now! If you’re reading this over your morning coffee, set a quick goal for the day. Suppose you’re winding down in the evening. Plan tomorrow’s top three tasks. The point is to start, to commit, and to keep moving forward despite any setbacks.

So here’s your challenge: pick a short-term goal right now—something you can accomplish within the next week or month. Make it SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Write it down. Share it with someone who can hold you accountable. Start today, and watch how quickly your perspective shifts. These short-term goals will become the building blocks of your long-term success story, one tiny triumph at a time. And trust me—from my journeys across Asia to the global clients I’ve worked with—there’s no better feeling than taking that first step and seeing where it leads. Your future self will thank you for it.