Happy New Year!
The beginning of a new year is always a great time to reflect on the past year. To think about what you accomplished and what you wished you had done differently.
I usually take some time in late January to actually write up everything I accomplished and see how close I came to meeting my previous goals and then create a new set of goals.
My goals are organized by personal, financial and business. Personal goals my include things like weight loss, time with family, exercise goals. Financial goals of mine include attaining certain amounts of savings, investments and income. Business goals would include attaining a certain number of new clients, contacts, sales and income from business.
This year, my big goal, which I had set as my highest priority, was to lose about 60 pounds total. I was thrilled to have reached it in late December.
Below I will discuss how I set goals that I am usually able to meet each year…
Set A Large Goal Along with Several Mini Goals
While, it’s important to have a final ultimate goal, it’s even more important to set smaller goals that lead up to the larger goal. This helps keep you on track and gives you the sense of accomplishment. It’s no fun to go week after week without celebrating your success. Therefore, I have set several mini goals.
This year, my goal was to lose 60 pounds total which while challenging I did it. However, I broke the goal down into a smaller goal of losing 2 pounds a week average. I also celebrated weekly by having a “freebie” meal where I can eat pretty much anything I like as long as I can make up any weight gain and still lose my 2 pounds the following week.
Therefore, I believe the best way of making any goal that seems hard to attain is to break them down into smaller goals that you feel you can reasonably attain within a short time. For example, if you are trying to save $1000 for something, don’t think of the whole amount. Think of it as $2.74/day for a one year and set a goal of saving $19.18/week or whatever you feel you can reasonably do.
Write Them Down!
You must write your goals down and keep track of your progress or your will forget them. I personally use spreadsheets for my goals and enter my progress every day first thing in the morning and at night depending on the goal, but a simple notebook or pad will do, but remember to keep with it.
To summarize setting and meeting attainable goals:
- Set a single large goal.
- Set several smaller, incremental goals that lead up to the larger goal.
- Write them down.
- Track your progress.
- Reward yourself when you meet an incremental goal.