4 Tips for Setting Achievable Goals

It’s that time of year when we make resolutions to improve the quality of our lives. New Year’s resolutions can vary from improving your health to better managing your time. And they can genuinely help us enhance the quality of our life if we set realistic goals and identify tangible ways to reach them. 

Despite our best intentions, however, many of us find that within the first couple of weeks of the new year, we have failed to keep our commitments. In fact, only 9.2% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions each year. With these odds, you may already want to throw in the towel—this video may help.

Achieving your goals can be challenging, but it is possible if you put in the effort. So, are you ready to ring in the new year? Here are some powerful tips to help you set achievable goals this new year.

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#1: Get SMART

The more specific and challenging your goals are, the more likely you will be able to achieve them. To set yourself up for success, consider setting SMART goals. 

From personal responsibilities to job duties, setting SMART goals can help you accomplish your New Year’s resolutions.

#2: Expect slip-ups

Even with the best of intentions, slip-ups are inevitable. You’ll eat that piece of cake, miss going to the gym, or decide to watch your favorite show instead of doing your homework. But don’t let one misstep derail your progress. If you plan for the hiccups in your journey, you will be better equipped to get back up, re-evaluate your goals and accomplish them.

#3: Keep yourself accountable

There are many ways you can keep yourself accountable to your goals. Reporting your progress to others will keep you honest and help you see your progress. Your support system can also offer suggestions for improvement and help you see your successes along the way. Together, you can identify common goals that your friends or family might have and work as a team to accomplish those goals.

#4: Don’t stress

The less stress that you have in your life, the more likely it is that you can accomplish your goals. Stress is perhaps the number one reason people fail to achieve their goals. Stress also has an extremely detrimental effect on your health. Here are a couple of suggestions that can help limit your daily stress:

• Talk about it: Many of us attribute a lot of stress to our job. Touch base with your manager about your responsibilities and work with them on your daily tasks. If you’re stressed about another aspect of your life, talk with a friend or family member. They can provide support and help you decrease your stress.
• Practice time management: Your daily “to-do” list can pile up if you’re not careful. Purchase a planner or organize your agenda on your phone to keep track of everything you need to do and when you’re going to do it.
• Focus on the task in front of you: When working on a goal, don’t get distracted by other goals. Focus on your goals one at a time.

So, evaluate and reflect. Decide what you want. Be SMART. Have accountability. When you put these four key pieces together, you put yourself in a position of power to catapult toward achieving your goals and the kind of life you desire.

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Sources

“New Year’s Resolutions. Overcome the Odds.” Med School Insiders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEF6ipQFEkY

“SMART Goals: A How to Guide.” University of California.

https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How%20to%20write%20SMART%20Goals%20v2.pdf

“Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation.” International Journal of Management, Business and Administration.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b0b8f55365f02045e1ecaa5/t/5b14d215758d46f9851858d1/1528091160453/Lunenburg%2C+Fred+C.+Goal-Setting+Theoryof+Motivation+IJMBA+V15+N1+2011.pdf

“Ringing in the New Year with less stress.” United States Department of Agriculture.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/ringing_in_newyear_wlessstress.pdf