Goal Setting for 2024
Setting goals, creating resolutions, and discovering new dreams isn’t and shouldn’t be saved for preparing for the New Year, though it’s the most common time to delve into those topics.
Starting the year with new goals, especially after a busy holiday season where many of us feel overwhelmed and out of routine, can help set a positive tone for the next year by making it feel like a fresh, new start. (Disclaimer: you can choose to be a new you and start over any time of the year)
A common mistake when sitting down to either write down goals and resolutions or create a vision board (we love using Pinterest for this!), is forgetting to include the smaller steps it takes to get to the bigger things.
For example, your goal may be to run the NYC Marathon when you’ve only run 2 miles before. Include goals like ‘run consistently for 30 minutes by February 15,’ complete a 10K race in May, and so forth. Celebrating little wins along the way can be a great way to continue having a positive mindset throughout the year.
Whether it’s your first time putting goals on paper, or this is a yearly tradition, here are some tips to set you up for success:
1. Reflect on the previous year.
What worked, didn’t work, made you happy, added extra stress. Were there things you wanted to do, try, or join that you didn’t? Was something missing that could have made your year and life even better? Write it down.
2. Create a list of categories.
An easy way to see all of your goals in one place, and not become overwhelmed, is to write down different buckets to fill. For example:
Financial
Career
Emotional
Platonic/family relationships
Romantic relationships
Fitness
Diet
General wellness
Before you commit to anything, determine WHY each of your potential goals or resolutions, are your goals and resolutions. Make sure they’re serving you.
4. Set realistic metrics for your goals.
Aggressive resolutions and goal-setting can cause frustration when they’re not being achieved right away. Data has shown common goals include saving money, eating healthier, exercising more, and improving mental health.
Creating a timeline for check-ins may help increase the chances of success. If you want to exercise more, start by blocking out time on your calendar for 1-2 workouts per week and treat them as a business meeting with yourself. Write down that you’d like to be consistent for two months. Once you are, try adding another day and do that for another two months, and so forth.
If you’re looking to eat healthier and reduce takeout, try making a goal of cooking 4 to 5 nights per week and ordering out only two. Learn to prep certain things so you have grab-and-go meals (Superhero Muffins are nutritious and easy to take with you!).
For those looking to advance their career, talk with your direct manager at the beginning of the year to explore what opportunities are available to you at your company, and what you’d have to do to be considered for them. Create a timeline to check in again, and discover what the next appropriate move is – push for the promotion or raise, or start to apply for new jobs to secure something new that will fill your cup.
5. Find an accountability buddy if you can.
Having someone to keep you accountable can play a role in your success in achieving goals. Whether that’s a friend, someone working towards the same thing as you, or a professional accountability coach, having someone alongside you can help keep the inspiration and motivation going when you may want to slow down or quit altogether.
6. Just start.
There’s never a ‘good time’ to sign up for a marathon (you need about 4 months to train), start a business (goodbye comfy salary), or go on a health journey (you have to be dedicated and consistent). So why not start today? Or if you miss January 1, start January 2, or the 20th. Or in February. Just get started.
7. Be kind to yourself.
One (of many) reasons yearly goals and resolutions fail is because one day or week of falling off spirals into giving up. Be kind to yourself. Maybe you have a lot of family stuff going on, work is causing added stress, you forgot to meal prep, you didn’t hit your goal mileage, or your partner is having a tough week so you need to be 80% on. It’s OK! Pick up where you left off and keep going. Don’t speak poorly to yourself, act defeated, or just give up. Say something like ‘I had a tough week or two but I’m feeling good now and am ready to keep going. These days/weeks aren’t going to derail my entire year.’
8. Have fun and adjust things as you go.
The most important thing is to have fun, smile, and adjust your goals as you go. If you feel like they were too ambitious, scale down or add smaller ones. If you’re meeting them, add more or make them bigger.