Goal setting during uncertainty can feel overwhelming and daunting.

A good starting point might be to take a step back and ask the following question:

“What is truly important in life?”

Often, we only start asking this question when faced with death as we rush through life. In coaching, when working with clients experiencing significant life changes, such as an unexpected end to a relationship that often brings financial uncertainty or the loss of a job they truly loved, I ask them, “And what is really important in your life right now?” The response I often receive is, “I don’t know, Nina. I really don’t know.” It can be a journey to arrive at that answer, and often, people prefer to start this journey with the support of someone who is objective, such as a coach.

Sometimes, I wonder how our lives would look if we regularly paused, slowed down, and asked ourselves this question. Perhaps, we would be better prepared when confronted with major setbacks that can be completely unexpected.

Once a person has identified the values they want in their life and what truly motivates them, the question of how to instil those values in their current life can seem almost impossible to answer. That’s when a plan around goal setting can make a massive difference.

How to set goals when facing uncertainty

Goal setting during uncertainty requires you to:

• Embrace change, accept the circumstances in your life, and be grateful for what you have achieved so far.
• Leave the fear of the unknown behind: Analyse where the fear is coming from; this is often a good way to find ways to overcome it.
• Be open-minded to new ideas: Explore by connecting with people and listening to ideas; open up to seeing things from different angles.
• Be resilient: Embracing something new is never easy. It requires a lot of work and energy, and there will be plenty of setbacks to overcome. Keep pushing!
• Prioritise your goals: This will help you focus.
• Go for ‘baby steps’: Break down your goals into short-term goals.
• Generate SMART goals

More on SMART goals

Without precise goals, you might be shooting in the dark without improvement. Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Measure your progress towards those goals regularly. Below is an example of a SMART goal:

By making the goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, it becomes a SMART goal that is well-defined and has a clear pathway to success.

• Seek feedback from someone who is objective.
• Celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are.
• Take care of yourself by finding ways to cultivate your well-being: Enjoy time with friends and family, music, art,exercise or go hiking.