How to Set and Track Your Goals in Google Sheets
It’s one thing to know what goals you want to achieve, and it’s another to plan how you want to get there. Writing them down can certainly help, and you don’t need paid software or yet another app on your phone to do so.
All you need is Google Sheets, and you can create a goal-setting template to help you get going. Keep reading to learn how.
Outlining Your Goals in Google Sheets
Goal-setting is best kept simple. Some goal-oriented apps use pre-determined templates that might not apply to you or your objectives, and others are meant for specific goals only, requiring you to use more than one. But you can make this goal template your own, from how you set your goals to how you review your progress.
As you follow the steps in this guide, think of features or columns you would add or change to make the template your own. To get started, add the following titles to the top:
These columns will help you map out your goals, almost like prompts, to help you answer the following questions:
For example, if your goal is to walk 100 miles in a month, you’d fill your sheet in as follows:
A Note on Setting Goal Benchmarks
Not all goals are the same. Sometimes they won’t have a clear numerical benchmark. For example, when learning to code, your goal may simply be to build your first operational website.
In that case, you may want to list some milestones as objectives and mark your progress as you tick them off. It could look something like this:
If you’re feeling stuck, take some time to create aSMART goal planonce you’ve outlined your template.
Building a Goal Tracker in Google Sheets
Achieving your goals doesn’t just happen. You need to put in some work and make a small series of changes to your habits in order to reach them. Creating a tracker and checking in on your objectives daily is much like creating a mini scope of work for yourself.
it’s possible to build a weekly tracker below your goals by following these steps:
Once your tracker is ready, fill it in daily. it’s possible to update your progress above as you go, or wait to do so once you’ve filled out your tracker. It can be tempting to track more than a week at a time. But tracking your progress over a smaller timeframe can help you identify whether you need to adjust your goal.
Create a Progress Overview in Google Sheets
If you’re working toward a larger goal, and you want an overview of your results along the way, create a progress overview tab. While it may seem like an added step, keeping this data could help you identify trends later on.
For example, when tracking a fitness goal, you may notice more progress in the weeks you changed up your routine, and less when you kept it the same. So, now you’d have a better idea of what’s working. To create a progress overview:
Since all your goals will have different timelines and milestones, repeat this for each one. To archive older goals, right-click their rows and selectHide.
Tips for Tracking Your Goals in Google Sheets
Here are some tips to help you set and track your goals in Google Sheets:
Stay on Top of Your Goals With Google Sheets
Setting and tracking your goals doesn’t need to be difficult. Nor do you need to invest in new software or download yet another app. Google Sheets is available at no cost, and you can access it across your devices.
If goal-tracking helps you get things done, you’ll know the need for a handy tool to do this. Here’s how to use Notion to set and track your goals.
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