QUIZ: Which Type of Goal Setter Are You?

Your results are in

Goal-free (and maybe a little guilty)

So you're not much of a goal-setter. That's fine! This is a judgment-free zone. But you did take the Which Type of Goal Setter Are You? quiz, so maybe setting goals is something you'd like to try or try more often (this might be where the guilt seeps in).

Sometimes, goal-free folks just weren’t raised to see big goals as important. Other times, they just have too much going on to focus on what society typically views as “goal worthy.” Still other goal-free folks focus on taking care of others more than they focus on themselves.

Instead of framing being goal-free as doing something wrong, examine what you’re doing right. What are the things you currently want to celebrate about yourself and your life? What are some things you have done in the past that have brought you fulfillment and made you feel grounded? And what patterns do you see across those things? Those might be your areas of focus, so instead of doing a total 180, you know two or three areas of your life that might be very impactful and fulfilling for you to focus on.

This can be hard work, especially if your life experiences or circumstances make goal-setting hard. That’s one place a therapist can help.

Your results are in

Pie-in-the-sky (and maybe a little scatterbrained)

Based on your answers, your goal setting type is pie-in-the-sky. You might be an imaginative dreamer and that’s great, because it means the sky is truly the limit.

While it’s awesome to dream big, it can be hard to achieve goals when they’re unreasonable or we haven’t really thought them through. Because of their lofty aspirations (and occasional lack of follow through), pie-in-the-sky folks can sometimes end up feeling discouraged and defeated and lose motivation when their big dreams go up in smoke.

To become a goal setting (and achieving) pro, you want to stretch yourself just the right amount so that the goal will take work, but will also be achievable. Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals can help.

If the thought of all of this planning makes you cringe, a therapist can help you break down your larger goals and desires into manageable steps that are specific, reasonable, and stretch you just the right amount to get you moving in the direction of your dreams.

Your results are in

Relentless achiever (and always onto the next thing)

You eat goals for breakfast (and lunch…and dinner…and maybe dessert). That can be awesome — or it could be a fast track to burnout.

Chances are, others see you as a role model for achievement. What’s more important is how you see yourself. If you’re A-OK with your goal lifestyle, keep on achieving!

But if you feel like you are constantly moving on from one goal to the next without ever celebrating what you have achieved, or you feel like it might be time to slow down and take a breather, a therapist can help.

Your results are in

Low bar (with a side of impostor syndrome)

Based on your answers, you sound like a low bar goal setter. This might ring true to you if you easily achieve most of your goals with little effort.

While this might sound good at first, it could mean that you’re falling short of your full potential. Whether your desire to keep your goals (extremely) achievable is due to self-confidence, impostor syndrome, or other factors, it might be time to self-reflect and see where your desire to keep things simple comes from.

If you’re struggling to figure this out on your own or you’re ready to shoot for the stars and need some guidance and accountability as you make progress, a therapist can help.

Your results are in

The Goldilocks of goals (just right)

Based on what you’ve shared, you’re in the groove! From figuring out what goals to set to achieving them in the SMART-est way possible, you have goals down pat.

Remember to celebrate your wins and make time for self-care as you keep achieving. And if you work with a therapist or you’re interested in working with a therapist, it can help to take some time to talk about how you go about setting and achieving goals now so you can develop a better understanding of what’s working now and what you can do to keep the momentum going.

Remember, therapy is most effective when you start from a place of strength and stability. If you’re not working with a therapist yet, you can use therapy as a proactive tool to further strengthen your relationship with yourself and others.