Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with goal

An app to track completions?

phritosan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:37:17 -0800

An app for that? I want to give my iPhone a list of things I want to collect data on. "How many of the last n days have I completed x" is exactly want I want to know. It's not a goal, it's not a habit, I'm not trying to hit a target weight, and I'm not trying to quit smoking. Touch Goal is close to what I want, but it has a horrible interface.

GoalKeep is close to what I want, but I don't want to drop $4 if there is a better choice that gets it all correct. The calendar with check marks is a step up from Touch Goal, but I cannot track that I did something more than once in a day like Touch Goal does.

Habit Factor and HabitCheck are not what I want. I don't want it to hold my hand, I don't want encouragement, I don't need quotes.

I have a to-do app that I'm happy with. I don't want a list app with check boxes I clear each day. I have a calendar program I'm happy with.

I want to track data.

How do I figure out what the hell I want?/Let's start 2009 off right!

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:26:30 -0800

I have no job and in this economy, I figure its worth investing in my dreams so that I’ll be all set when the economy bounces back. The problem is…I don’t know what I want! After years of mulling over the “what should I do with my life?” question/having a quarter life crisis, I have decided that perhaps I should attack this problem indirectly. I just think the whole question is far too massive to really conceptualize and the ensuing inability to answer it and find a perfect solution is making me quite depressed, honestly.

I’m tired and frustrated with trying to find an answer and my remaining options are: consult a psychic, work on my spirituality or lack thereof, or try to sell off my possessions and travel around the world

So when attacking these questions head on doesn’t work (and by head on I mean doing career inventory exercises, finding out everything I can/doing various professions I’ve considered, taking personality tests (I’m an INFP), charting my astrology (Virgo sun, Pisces moon!)), how have you, Mefites, found answers?. Any anecdotes/time-tested techniques would be much appreciated!

I'm 25, in Boston, and about to finish a master's degree in a field I don't really think I'll pursue. Anonymous for various, irritating reasons

Setting realistic freelance goals and sticking to them

El Curioso — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:06:08 -0800

Freelancers and other creative self-employed types: How do you set realistic, meaningful work goals and stick to them when the main person you're answerable to is yourself? When you're your own boss, how do you set work goals that are both challenging and attainable - and more important, how do you take them seriously? (What happens when you don't meet them?)

As a freelance writer I struggle with this. Motivation isn't really the problem. (I often struggle to make myself stop working.) It's more about how to keep yourself answerable to yourself without driving yourself nuts.

I try setting goals, but either a) I meet them and then think, hmm, that goal must not have been challenging enough, or b) I don't meet them, and feel bad about it for a while but then that goes away. So then I just give up (if the boss is never satisfied, why bother?) and work hard all the time, which is its own problem, never not thinking about work.

I love what I do, and I want to keep doing it better and better, setting my sights ever higher, but I'm also tired of not knowing how high is high enough, what's reasonable to expect. I know this is a bit of a psychological issue - never being satisfied with yourself, being your own toughest critic, etc - but I'm sure there is some good advice out there.

I'm especially interested in hearing from creative types whose workflow is often dictated by people and/or events outside of your control (i.e. no matter how much you bust your ass, sometimes they're just not buying, assigning, etc.)

How can my dreams of being a baseball player come back?

stedman15 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:29:24 -0800

I need help finding goals and dreams for my life I don't have any goals or dreams for my life. I used to when I was a child, but I just can't come up with anything I can do as far as work or pleasure that would truly make me happy.

I work 40 hours a week, but my work doesn't excite me. After going home, I hang out with my roommate.

I know I should do something more. When I think about what I'd rather be doing, my mind goes blank. I feel like I've become so bogged down in practicality that I've lost the ability to have hopes and aspirations.I just don't know how to go about it.

I want to be able to dream big dreams, and find out what truly makes me happy.

How can I do this?

How do you stick to your long-term goals?

schroedinger — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:14:55 -0800

How do you maintain sight of your long-term goals? I chronically sacrifice long-term success for short-term gains and it's not working out for me. You know the tale of the Grasshopper and the Ant? Yeah, I'm the grasshopper. As soon as I make a resolution to, say, do my homework, eat more healthfully, stick to a budget, etc, within five minutes I've broken it. I can make all kinds of beautiful plans but I fall woefully short at implementation. On a day-to-day basis I just don't make the visceral connection that all the little breaks I give myself now create a big pile of crap in the long-term--though when it comes around to bite me in the ass it is all too clear.

I've tried to-do lists. I've tried GTD. I have ADHD, and have tried medication and therapy. I put little post-it notes everywhere. I can get the system to work for a few days--even a few weeks--and then I slack off or something comes up that breaks my concentration and it's all over. I think the problem comes at making the transition from the "good" behavior going from a temporary fix to incorporating it into my life.

I'm living like I'm five and there are no consequences, though they hit me again and again. It's gotta stop. What tricks do you use to activate your willpower and implement long-term change so you can ultimately realize your goals?

How do I figure out what I want in life?

Waffle_King — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:59:57 -0800

I'm unhappy with my job, it's affect on my life, and where it's taking me. How do I find out what it is I really want in life and start doing it? I'm 23 and working as a PA in animation-- I hate it. I hate making copies, being a mucky-muck, being entry level, working seven days a week on a cartoon movie I don't give a hoot about. Worse, I have no aspiration to climb the ladder and become one of those fabulous producers who are stressed beyond belief and are dominated by a need for money and position. It's just not me.

I studied fine art in college (loved it), I would love to do something where I can get my "hands dirty" and not be in a cubicle all day- maybe interact with others. My interests are somewhat diffuse so it's been hard to decide where to go next. I don't just want to try some random job to find another job I don't like- I want to find out what I like and start pursuing it. Has anyone else ever felt like this? I am ready to quite my job but I don't know where I'd go at the moment- I don't want to go work at starbucks either, and I don't want to retreat to school for a masters.

Help!

Do Goal Buddies Work?

clairezulkey — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 14:27:29 -0800

I've often read that the way writers can maintain their momentum is to get a 'goal buddy,' someone you'd meet with or talk to once a week so you can encourage each other and kick each other in the butt and give advice. Have any of you done this? Has it worked for you? What was the secret to staying on topic and staying motivated/focused instead of getting distracted and talking about gossip/family or general complaining?

FIFA World Cup

queue_strategy — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:51:00 -0800

FIFA World Cup -- in today's ARG SMT 6-0 drubbing it was clear when viewed slow motion on TiVo that goals #3 and #4 came off the feet of the opposing players. Question -- does anyone care? The players actedf the same and the announcers didn't note any difference. Is this standard operating procedure when the scoring is "close enough" by an offensive player?

Looking for a soccer match

tetsuo — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:18:08 -0800

I recently saw a great soccer goal, the US team juggled the ball across three players (about) and then scored. Anyone know the particular match and where I can download a video of it? The game took place within the past month or so...