One positive way to ensure that your goals will work for you is by making them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). This can be applied to goals relating to any aspect of your life, and doesn't have to be work related. It means that you should know exactly what it is you want to achieve (S), you should be able to measure your progress (M), it should be possible for you to achieve it, though not too easy (A), it should relate to your wider goals (R) and you should know when you want to have reached your goal by (T).