It’s time to understand, How to set your New Year’s goals. Let’s go!
Analyze the goals from the previous year
Prior to setting objectives, it’s critical to reflect on the previous year and determine what went well and poorly. You may use this knowledge to make more reasonable objectives for the future. Thus, attempt to respond to the following queries:
- What were last year’s goals?
- Which of them were fulfilled?
- What were your main difficulties?
- Which ones should be kept?
- Which ones no longer make sense and should be discarded?
- Which ones will be reformulated?
Write down all your wishes
Are you genuinely hoping to go overseas? Next, even if your objective appears unachievable, write it down on your list. Would you like to purchase a piece of land on which to construct your ideal house? Put it in writing as well. Would you like to lose a few pounds and have a healthier lifestyle? If you want it in writing, then put it in writing. At first, don’t worry about filtering or prioritizing anything. The goal here is to generate a complete list of possible New Year’s goals. During this brainstorming, you may even come up with an unconscious desire that deserves your attention.
Set priorities
Now, evaluate each of these desires in terms of importance and urgency. Rank them in order of priority and ask yourself: which of these goals is most significant and impactful for my life? Furthermore, it is necessary to think about goal compatibility. For example: if you intend to move abroad to study, it doesn’t make sense to buy a new car right now, you know? The ideal is to set a few goals so that you can really focus. As you achieve them, then you can make new plans.
Use the SMART methodology to set goals
Paying bills , traveling, getting married, and finding love are all very vague goals. Just imagine a person whose goal is to lose weight. If they lose just 100 grams over the course of 12 months, that means they’ve achieved their goal. But let’s agree that we can’t consider this achievement relevant, right? That being said, it’s good to think of very precise and direct New Year’s goals. And a good way to achieve them is through the SMART methodology . Let’s simulate the formation of an emergency fund to make it easier to understand. Understand what the acronym means:
- S (specific): goals must be clear and specific. For example: creating an emergency fund;
- M (measurable): the goal must be quantitative to allow progress to be measured. For example: save R$18,000 — enough to cover monthly expenses of R$3,000 for six months;
- R (relevant): the goal needs to be aligned with your values and life goals. In the case of financial reserves, they are relevant because they provide security and peace of mind to cover unexpected expenses without going into the red;
- T (time-based): goals need deadlines to be met. If you decide to save R$300 per month, for example, it will take 5 years to reach the goal.
Record the goals
Don’t let your ideas stay in your head, okay? The best thing to do is to keep a physical or digital record of your goals to keep them tangible, increase your level of commitment and even make it easier to follow through throughout the year. A good tip is to keep a visual record as an incentive. If you plan to travel, for example, you can gather photos of your destination, articles with tips about the region, your dream itinerary, etc. Every time you look at this board and see the inspirational images, you’ll feel even more motivated to achieve your goals.
Making dreams come true: how to achieve goals
Achieving your objectives is a process that begins with setting New Year’s resolutions. After all, knowing how to accomplish your goals is crucial. We’ll provide you with some advice below to assist you maintain discipline and focus while working toward your objectives.
Break goals into smaller steps
Losing 20 kilos in a year, for example, may seem difficult. Now, if you divide that number by the number of months in the year, the goal seems more realistic: 1.7 kilos per month. Did you notice how the new number doesn’t scare you so much? So, break your goals down into smaller steps to ensure long-term motivation.
Create an action plan
It’s time to plan how you’re going to achieve your resolutions for the next year. From a practical standpoint, now is the time to write a guidebook of sorts explaining how to achieve your goal. For example, if your goal is debt repayment, you could create a checklist similar to this one:
- check the amount of debt;
- organize your personal budget;
- calculate an installment value that fits your budget;
- contact the creditor to negotiate;
- make the deal;
- maintain financial control to pay the installments correctly.
Also remember to create a schedule with specific steps and deadlines for completing each task, okay?
Involve loved ones in the process
Just imagine the temptation: you want to save up for a trip and your friends invite you to go out every weekend. This makes it hard to achieve your goal, doesn’t it? So, our recommendation is to share your goals with friends, family or support groups. After all, they can provide motivation and accountability to increase your chances of success.
Celebrate small achievements
Have you managed to pay off some of your debt? Celebrate! When you reach important milestones, you can set small rewards to generate enthusiasm and keep you motivated. You can order a pizza, buy a book you really wanted, have lunch out or something that is meaningful to you. But be careful not to overdo it and fall into the trap of saying “I deserve it”, okay? The best thing to do is celebrate sparingly so as not to compromise the rest of your work.
Review: How to Track Goals Throughout the Year
There are many surprises in life. Despite our best efforts to prepare every step, unforeseen events sometimes arise and priorities might shift. As such, it’s a good idea to check in with your New Year’s resolutions midway through the year and tweak them as needed.
Revisit the planning
Our suggestion is to set regular times throughout the year to assess the progress of your goals. For example: monthly, quarterly or half-yearly. This close monitoring is important to keep the action schedule on track.
Don’t be afraid to change
If you realize that the trip wasn’t that important, review your planning and replace the goal with something that makes more sense. Life is dynamic and we need to dance to the beat, without suffering or deprivation. Therefore, don’t be afraid to adjust the sails to better align with your current aspirations. Finally, having good financial organization is the key to successfully setting and achieving your New Year’s goals. After all, this care is essential to ensure that you have the resources you need to make your dreams come true. In fact, paying off your debts before the New Year is a good way to start the year with a truly blank canvas.