Here we are in a new year and it’s a great feeling to look ahead and see a clean slate full of opportunities.
It’s this time of year when most of us strive to make (and keep!) New Year’s resolutions. The important thing to remember is that these resolutions don’t need to only be about quitting, avoiding and getting rid of the “bad” things.
Goals should be things you want to start doing, like learning new skills or finding an activity you love. And they can be big or small, as long as it’s something you really want.
But it’s no secret that staying positive and on track can be challenging, so we’ve put together a few tips for setting and achieving your 2019 goals.
1. Be S.M.A.R.T – When thinking of goals for yourself, be Specific, make sure they are Measurable, Achievable and Realistic, and set a Timely deadline.
2. Variety - Choose some short term and long term goals. Think about what you’d like to achieve by the end of January, June and December. Choose goals that are small and big – that way when you achieve smaller ones, you’re more motivated to achieve the bigger ones.
3. Think about the ‘why’ – Write down the reasons why you want to achieve these goals, for example to feel happy, improve your health, or help others. This a great reminder along the way for why you are doing what you’re doing, and will hopefully motivate you to keep going!
4. Talk about it – Tell your friends and family about your goals and keep them updated along the way. Talking about goals can help you to brainstorm how to achieve them, plus it keeps them fresh in your mind. Tip: you can also tell people what your deadline is to keep you accountable.
5. Action! – Thinking about your goals is great, but you also need to take action in order to achieve them. Try to do something every day to work towards your goals; even if it’s something tiny, you are still making progress.
Hopefully these tips get you thinking about what you really want to get out of 2019.
Let us know what you think, and if you have any other helpful tips or tricks for goal setting or staying motivated, we’d love to hear them! Contact us here.