So 2016 is underway but you may only be just starting to think about your goals for the year (like me!) So often the busyness of holidays, Christmas and New Years leaves us entering the year in a whirlwind. I still have some planning and goal setting to do so thought I would write some tips on not just some nice-sounding New Years Resolutions, but how to set goals and stick to them! I hope this helps you achieve your goals this year.
Write down your goals. Once your goals are out of your head and onto paper it’s a lot easier to stick to them. Don’t just write them in a notebook you’ll never look at again, but put them up plain and clear, in places you will see them often to give yourself a reminder, like on the fridge or above your desk.
Set measureable goals. Sometimes its hard to tell if we have actually reached our goal or not because it wasn’t set out the clearest. For example, if you want to save money for travel, rather than writing down ‘save for travel’, put a dollar amount on it so you are clear on what you are aiming for.
Make sure your goals are realistic …And that they can be realistically achieved in a year. There’s no point in setting a goal that you know is unreachable or near impossible! Rather than being just a nice idea, make sure your goals are something you feel compelled to achieve. If they are too big and too out of reach we can end up feeling even worse than when we started when they don’t come to life. So to help make them realistic…
Break down your goals. For example, the amount of money you want to save for the end of the year might sound like such a big number on the page! Break down your goals into monthly, weekly or even daily smaller goals, that will help you achieve the bigger picture. If you set a weekly goal of putting away $50 a week, before you know it by the end of the year you will have saved up $2600.
Realise you may need to sacrifice some things to achieve your goals. Count the cost of achieving your goals and ask yourself if you are willing to sacrifice these things. Saving might mean not spending money on the weekends. Going to the gym might mean getting up extra early before work. In the first scenario, you are exchanging things you would normally spend money on to save your money instead. In the second scenario, you might miss out on a bit of sleep or need to change your sleeping habits to accommodate your new goal.
Tell someone your goals. Speaking out what you’re aiming for definitely makes your goals feel more real. If you are the type that may need some accountability, ask a friend to check up on you every couple of weeks or so. Knowing someone is going to ask you how you’re going in an area can definitely motivate you to get moving!
Lastly, don’t give up if you start to go backwards! Sometimes we give up on the main goal because we mess up once. So you didn’t go to the gym last week? Don’t let it stop you from starting afresh the next week. Once you start to see a little bit of progress it will give you the motivation to continue. Starting to see your goals crystalize in front of you is an exciting thing, so don’t forget to celebrate it either! Before you know it you will be well on your way to achieving your dreams.
So what do you think of the above tips? Have you come across any other methods that helps set and achieve your goals? Let me know and comment below!
