You should set goals so that they are slightly out of your immediate grasp, but not so far that there is no hope of achieving them: no-one will put serious effort into achieving a goal that they believe is unrealistic. Personal factors such as tiredness, other commitments and the need for rest, etc. should be taken into account when goals are set. Thinking a goal through When you are thinking about how to achieve goals, asking the following questions can help you to focus on the sub-goals that lead to their achievement: • What skills do I need to achieve this? • What information and knowledge do I need? • What help, assistance, or collaboration do I need? • What resources do I need? • What can block progress? • Am I making any assumptions?