Long-term goals (LTG) are goals that state the desired objective of the goal.
These goals are generalized statements of what we wish to achieve, for example, “I want to improve my health”. This states the goal I wish to achieve, however, it does not state how I will go about achieving it. Long-term goals are not time specific.
Short-term goals (STG) are goals that will support the long term goal. These goals are concise and are specific to the long-term goal we wish to achieve, for example, “I will walk three times a week for an hour each day”. This states what I will do, how often I will do the activity and for how long. Short-term goals are time specific and we may have several short-term goals that support our long-term goals.
When setting goals you may find it helpful to have your list of wants, needs, and dreams with you. It is important that as your skills and abilities improve so should your goals. The goals that you set for yourself should always provide some level of challenge for you.