Every January, millions of people make a New Year’s resolution to better themselves in some way. But it’s not enough to set a goal; you need to have the right strategies and tactics in place if you want to make sure that your goals become a reality.
Maybe you want to move more, connect with loved ones regularly, or take control of your finances. No matter your goal, here are some tips on how to set yourself up for success when setting goals for New Year’s 2023.
Start Small and Build Momentum
It can be tempting to take on too much when making New Year’s resolutions, but it’s important to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Start by setting small, achievable goals, and then work your way up. Once you start seeing progress toward those smaller goals, you’ll gain momentum and confidence which can help propel you further toward the bigger goals you have in mind.
Make It Measurable
When it comes to goal-setting, vague resolutions like “be healthier” or “save money” aren’t going to cut it. Instead, make sure your goals are measurable so that you can track your progress over time and celebrate every milestone along the way. For example, if your goal is “be healthier” make it more specific by saying “I will go for a 30-minute walk 5 days a week” or “I will drink 8 glasses of water each day”. This will give you something tangible to measure and track as you move closer to achieving your goal.
Set SMART Goals
SMART goals narrow your focus and give you structure around your goals. SMART is an acronym for:
- Specific – your goals should be clearly written and contain information that gives structure to your goal.
- Measurable – How will you know when you’ve met your goal? It should be written in a way that is quantifiable so you can know with clarity when you’ve met it.
- Achievable – Do you have the tools you need to meet your goal? Make sure you have access to what you need or you’re in the right place mentally or physically to meet the goals you’re setting. Your goals should be challenging, by attainable with effort.
- Relevant – Your goal should also connect to your life and overall intentions for what you want to see happen. Don’t pick a goal that won’t actually benefit you in some way.
- Timely – Give yourself a deadline! Having a certain date or time period to accomplish something will give you a sense of urgency that can be motivating for more people.
Sometimes, you’ll also see an additional letter added to the end – R for Reward. How will you reward yourself for your hard work when you finally accomplish your goal?
The benefit of a SMART goal is that it really helps you narrow your focus and think through your goals. Instead of vague resolutions, you’ll be taking time to sit down and think through all aspects of your goals and come up with an actionable plan.
Create an Action Plan
Once you’ve identified what success looks like for each of your goals, create an action plan with steps outlining exactly what needs to be done in order for that goal to be achieved. Break down larger tasks into smaller steps so they don’t seem overwhelming, and then prioritize those steps according to importance or urgency. Knowing what needs to be done next will keep you focused on achieving the end result without getting discouraged or overwhelmed along the way.
If you’re looking for more guidance to help you identify and plan your goals for 2023, be sure to check out our 2023 Goal Planning Workbook available now!
Set Your Goals to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution
Setting resolutions is easy but achieving them is hard work! With these tips on goal-setting however, anyone can achieve their New Year’s resolutions with ease! Make sure that each of your goals is measurable and break down tasks into smaller steps so that they don’t seem too daunting at first glance. With this strategy in place, there’s no stopping what 2023 has in store! Good luck!