We all have some goals to achieve in life. These goals have to be time-bound.
Based on time, categorize the goals into short-term and long-term goals.
Short-term goals are the goals that we want to achieve shortly. This can be three days, five days, one week, a month, or a year.
On the other hand, long-term goals are goals that have a timeline of 5 to 10 years.
Even the timeline given above can change from individual to individual. An individual’s age will also be a deciding factor for his short-term and long-term goals.
Key Takeaways
- Short-term goals are achievable within a relatively brief period, such as days or months, while long-term goals require a more extended period, such as years or even decades.
- Short-term goals often serve as stepping stones toward accomplishing long-term goals, providing motivation and momentum along the way.
- Short- and long-term goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to increase the likelihood of success.
Short Term vs Long Term Goals
The difference between short-term and long-term goals is that short-term goals are for less than 1 year, and long is for 5 years or more.
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The best part of having goals is that you can start on a goal at any age in your life. While creating a goal for yourself, you must check that the goal is realistic.
If you create a goal that is difficult for you to complete, you will also get demotivated to complete your other goals.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Short Term Goals | Long Term Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | The timeline for short-term goals is around 6 months to 1 year maximum. | The long-term goals start with 3 years timeline and can run up to 20 years. |
| Number of Goals | A person is bound to have a lot of short-term goals in multiple categories. | There would be limited long-term goals in a person’s life. |
| Types of Goals | The type of goals that come under this umbrella are health, social care, and relationship related. | Financial goals and family-related goals are usually categorized under long-term goals. |
| Patience | Lesser patience levels are required in the case of short-term goals because of the satisfaction you get on completing a goal. | There is no immediate satisfaction from long-term goals, so a lot of patience is required. |
| Failure | There are fewer chances of failure with short-term goals because they require less effort. | There are more chances of failure in the case of long-term goals because of the distractions and unexpected circumstances in life. |
What are Short Term Goals?
Short-term goals have a small timeline to finish them. The type of goals that come under short-term goals is usually health-related relationships related.
The financial, savings, loans, and investment-related goals are usually long-term and hence do not come under short-term goals. However, some of the financial goals can be short-term, for example, when you are saving money to buy a book.
Some of the short-term goals can be completed within a few days and these are known as Ultra short-term goals.
When creating goals for yourself, you should pay special attention to short-term goals because when you complete short-term goals, they finally help you complete your long-term goals.
What are Long Term Goals?
The long-term goals have a timeline of 5 to 10 years. Even the goals that have a timeline of 3 years + also come under long-term goals.
The type of goals that come under long-term goals are related to finance and savings. Some of the health-related goals can also be long-term goals, as you may want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Since long-term goals require patience and effort to complete, they should be split into short-term goals.
For example, if you have a long-term goal of earning 1 million dollars, then first, you should have a short-term goal of earning $100,000 in one month. Similarly, if you have a long-term goal of owning a company of 100 people, then first you should start the work yourself and then gradually increase the number of people in your team.
Main Differences Between Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
- Short-term goals usually have a timeline of up to 1 year, and long-term goals have a timeline of 3 years plus.
- For any individual, there would be Multiple short-term goals and fewer long-term goals.
- The health-related and relationship-related goals are usually short-term goes, whereas luxury and finance-related goals and long-term goals.
- Short-term goals require less patience than long-term goals
- Short-term goals give the confidence to complete faster than long-term goals
- An individual is bound to fail in the completion of long-term goals as compared to short-term goals.
- https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/mymncareers/english-learner/long-term-goal.html
- https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2000-07799-008
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-012-0051-z
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
