January feels like new beginnings. It is the first month in the first quarter. It’s the peak of winter for those of us that live in the Southern United States of America. And, New Year celebrations happen for many cultures – Lunar New Year, Three Kings Day, and of course New Year’s Day!
So, with a new year comes a renewed energy and enthusiasm to set new goals and push yourself to reach higher heights than you ever have before. And although setting goals for the new year may seem daunting at first, it is the perfect time to take the opportunity to reflect, to fight for who you want to be and set a path for the things that you want to accomplish.
K.I.S.S.: Set simple, meaningful, and achievable goals
Keep It Simply Simple…that’s the family-friendly version. Make sure that your goals are measurable and achievable, but also meaningful and inspiring. If your goal is too general, it may become easy to talk yourself out of it or forget about it. Instead, try to set specific, timed goals that challenge and motivate you.
Break your goals into smaller targets
Once you’ve set meaningful, achievable goals, break those goals down into smaller targets that you can use to measure your progress. This will keep you motivated, as you’ll see yourself making progress and it’ll give you a sense of accomplishment every time you reach a mini-goal.
Set A Date
Create a timeline so that you can track your progress and identify any areas where you’re falling behind. This will help you stay on schedule, as well as show you where you may need to adjust your timeline or break your goals down into even smaller targets.
Be Held Accountable
Your support system can be anyone in your life – friends, family, a mentor – as long as they are encouraging and have your best interests at heart. Having a support system in place will give you someone to turn to for motivation when you’re feeling down, or for advice when you’re stuck.
Celebrate your successes
Make sure to take time to celebrate the victories along the way. Celebrating your successes will keep you motivated and will make your goals seem more achievable, as it will give you the confidence to push through any setbacks.
Adjust When Needed
Sometimes, life happens and your goals may need to be adjusted or put on hold. It’s important to be flexible and adjust your goals when necessary to stay on track and achieve success.
Embrace failure
Failure is just part of the journey, and part of the challenge of achieving goals. Don’t be afraid to fail – instead, embrace it. Learn from your failures, use them as fuel to keep going, and don’t let them define you.
Stay focused and disciplined
It’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of your goals. To help stay focused and disciplined, limit distractions, create a schedule and stick to it, and stay connected with people who will help keep you accountable and motivated.
No matter what goals you set for yourself, know that you have the power within to achieve them. It won’t always be easy, but if you set meaningful goals, break those goals down into smaller targets, maintain a timeline, seek the support of others, and remain persistent and disciplined, you’ll be well-positioned for success.
