“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” -Vern McLellen
It’s a new year, and you may be taking advantage of this time of transition and reflection to learn how to set better goals and resolutions. If you allow it, this process can give you a chance to make a fresh start, and achieve progress toward your most important life goals.
Want support in reaching your goals? Join our Free 90-day Goal Getter Challenge here.
Why Do I Need Goals?
When you set goals, you gain clarity on what you truly want from life and ensure that your actions will help you achieve that vision. With these goal-setting tips, you can stretch yourself and achieve more this year and beyond.
#1: Let Your “Why” Motivate You
Finding your “why” is the first step in achieving your goals. Before you can commit to a goal, you need to understand why you set it in the first place. Your “why” should motivate you to work toward your goal. In fact, your “why” is usually the reason your goal exists in the first place. Think about what it is that is driving you to succeed. It may be increased income, better health, or greater life satisfaction. No matter what your “why” is, use it to help you stay focused and progress in your goals. If you have several goals, it can be helpful to put them into categories such as health, wealth, connection, intellect, organization, and the like.
#2: Write It Down
When you write down your goals, you can stay focused and avoid distractions. Just the simple act of writing it down can help make it seem more real and tangible. Once you have written your goals down, place them in a location where you will see them often. Place your goals above your desk as your phone wallpaper, on your refrigerator, or on your bathroom mirror. It doesn’t matter where so long as it is somewhere that you see frequently to have numerous reminders throughout the day.
Click here to write your goal on our free goal-getter worksheet.
#3: Use the SMART Goals Formula
Choosing the right type of goal can often determine whether you succeed or fail from the beginning. The best type of goals are SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for:
SPECIFIC
If your goals are too broad it’s hard to identify the individual habits that will help you achieve them. We all want to “get healthier” or “save more money” or “read more” but you’ll be more likely to achieve your goals if you can get specific. What does get healthier mean to you? Do you want to be able to run a 5K or wear your favorite dress again this summer? Those goals are both great but will require different efforts and processes.
MEASURABLE
What can be measured, can be improved. So what can you measure in relation to your specific goal? If you want to work toward running a 5K, you can measure how far you’re able to run each time and with each effort, you’ll be able to track improvement!
ATTAINABLE
As much as we believe in the power of hard work and hustle, you have to make sure to set an attainable goal. There’s no way you can run that 5K next weekend! Setting reasonable goals will keep you from getting discouraged and beating yourself up. Have some self-compassion when you set those goals and give yourself time to grow!
RELEVANT
Case the dreams that matter to YOU. Don’t run a 5K just because your sister loves to run and you think that’s what health looks like. Identify what success looks like for you and build your goals accordingly.
TIMELY
Give yourself a specific timeline for your goals. When will you start? When will you end and how will you check in with your progress along the way?
By making sure your goals meet each of these five requirements you can help ensure your success in reaching them.
Click here to download our SMART Goal Tracker.
EXPLORE: Eat To Live Well
#4: Find an Accountability Partner
Whether it’s a trusted friend, a loved one, your calendar, or a really cool goal-tracking app, it is crucial to check in with someone/something to stay on track with your goals. Choose the method that is most motivating for you and helps you stay on track.
In our Goal Getter Challenge, you’ll have a group of thousands who are cheering you on daily, and you can in turn help others. You’ll get the accountability you’ll need to succeed. Did we mention there are prizes?
Habits vs. Goals: Why Are Each Important?
Habits and goals both contain value. While a habit is a fixed way of thinking and a behavior that is repeated so regularly that it begins to occur subconsciously, a goal is something that has been planned and envisioned with a desired result and outcome. Both are extremely important as good habits are quite valuable and achieved goals lead us to form better habits.
3 Ways To Set Better Goals in 2021
Setting goals is an important key in achieving the life you have always dreamed of. The new year is the perfect time to reevaluate your goal-setting strategy to ensure you are setting effective goals. Remember these tips when setting your goals for 2021:
- Put your goals where you can see them every day.
- Plan to celebrate the smaller goals as well as the big ones!
- Set aside time to track your progress and revisit your goal strategy.
And if you’re ready to get started on setting new goals, we’re here to help!
Joining our free Goal Getter Challenge Facebook group is a perfect first step, You’ll get accountability, support, motivation, and also be eligible for weekly prize drawings!
Want to learn more? Click here to check the group, and download our Goal Worksheet to get started.
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