With the new year upon us, we begin thinking about what we want to accomplish by year’s end. However, we abandon them about a week after we’ve made them, dropping these goals because of a loss of motivation, the goal is too big to accomplish or we think we won’t it get done at all.
In this article you will read about five simple things you can do to choose and then follow through with your 2021 new years goal.
1. Make your goal realistic.
One of the best goals you can make is one that is realistic and one that can actually be accomplished. Treat it as if you’re preparing for a test in school: take a look at your grade and how many points your test is, calculate how many points you need for a certain grade, and begin studying to potentially earn that grade on the test.
Similar to the process of getting ready for a test, when you have a goal in mind, you should take a look at what it will take to accomplish something to your standards. This way, you can better determine if the goal is achievable for you.
Solely looking at what it will take to accomplish the goal is not enough; you also have to think if this goal you’ve chosen is realistic. For example, buying the newest Porsche car while being thousands of dollars in debt from school is probably not the most realistic goal to go after.
Instead try and set a goal that can help you in the long run, such as saving money in order to take off a chunk of your school debt at the end of the year. For instance, if you save $15 a week for a year, you will have $780 to put towards your student loans.
Keeping goals as realistic as possible for yourself is the best way to stay focused and motivated to complete a goal by the end of the year.
2. Make your goal a part of your life.
When choosing a goal, many people will keep it out of their daily or weekly routine and make their goal something they have to set aside time for. Normally when people feel like they have to take time out of their daily lives to complete something out of the ordinary, for something special, they eventually lose motivation to continue with their goal.
An example of this is when people set the goal to work out more. People will set specific times per week, outside of their normal schedule, to go to the gym to work out. After a few times of having to find time specifically for this action, it becomes a nuisance. Instead, try working out from home before or after work, starting with a couple times a week and growing that number as you get more comfortable with the new routine.
When you set a goal for yourself to accomplish by the end of the year, it should be incorporated into your daily or weekly life. This way achieving the goal won’t become a hassle or an inconvenience.
The reason why we set goals is to be better in some area of our lives, and the best way to do better is by simply adjusting our daily lives. So when you choose a new goal for this year, make sure to incorporate it into your daily life in a natural way to avoid losing motivation, and you will be able to accomplish it.
3. Start when you are ready.
One of the strongest self-motivating actions you can do for yourself when implementing a new goal is to start going after it when you are ready. Everyone’s life is different, and each person is on a different path; so when you select a new goal for yourself, enact it when you think the timing is just right.
Many believe that new year’s goals have to begin on Jan. 1, but goals can be started at any time. The whole point of a having a goal is to fit into your lifestyle while making your lifestyle better in the way you intend to.
As said before, all lives are on different paths, and we are all going at different paces. No two lives are exactly the same, neither are our objectives, and the same can be said for timing. Timing is different for everyone, so don’t feel discouraged if you begin your new objective later than everyone else. The right time is perfect for each individual at one’s own chosen point.
4. Make a plan.
Depending on what your goal is, it might be best to set up a plan on how you are going to get it done. Sometimes it takes steps to fulfill your wishes, and having those steps mapped out can help you see what is to come and how you can stay prepared.
Knowing what is expected of you in any situation can make a person feel better about starting a project or beginning a job, and the same can be said for our new years goals. Mapping out what you think accomplishing your chosen goal might look like can help boost your confidence and help validate your decision.
In general, working towards accomplishing goals is a journey, whether it takes a while to complete them, or they are completed in no time at all. Either way, goals are set to better one’s self. While you may stumble and trip, or unexpected things happen, it’s a good thing to at least plan your steps ahead of time to get to your finish line.
5. Have confidence.
No matter what you choose, no matter how you follow through with your goal, you should go into it with confidence. After all, confidence is key.
Having confidence is a big factor in determining how much people are able to accomplish in their lives. People with a lot of confidence are able to go after what they want, because they feel as though they can achieve anything they set their mind to.
Your ability to accomplish your life’s challenges all stems from your mindset and what you believe you can do. Confidence in your ability to complete work should also be applied to your goals. The same energy you apply to your daily activities should be applied to what you wish for, so you can better stay motivated.
It’s known that the more confident you are in your work, decisions and relations, the better the outcomes will be. The same thing can be said when you apply confidence to all aspects of your life, including your goals. So in the new year, even if you don’t have a goal, have more confidence in whatever you do.