We often think of New Year’s Eve as the perfect time to set resolutions for the upcoming year. But why limit it to just that one time? Here are some helpful tips for setting goals that will keep you on track throughout the entire year!
### Why Only Consider Resolutions When the New Year Starts?
Setting goals should be a year-round activity, and here’s why:
When you only make resolutions at the start of the year, it’s easy to forget them. People lose sight of their New Year’s resolutions all the time. By setting goals constantly, you always have something to work towards.
Short-term goals help you stay focused and prevent boredom. They also give you more chances to feel accomplished throughout the year. For larger long-term goals, breaking them down into smaller steps can keep you motivated. It’s encouraging to see progress, which is easier when you focus on smaller achievements.
Sometimes life feels like it’s on autopilot, and you’re unsure what you want. Goals provide clarity and a sense of purpose, helping you avoid that aimless feeling. They help you achieve things you’ve always wanted and eliminate excuses for not doing them.
If there’s a project you’ve always dreamed of but don’t know where to start, take the first steps. Does it require money? Consider starting a crowdfunding campaign. Although you may not get all the funds at once, even an average crowdfunding campaign can raise about $7,000. Make securing that funding your first goal and then proceed from there.
### Making Dreams a Reality
Goals help you turn dreams into reality—you just need to work towards them. They help you achieve what you truly want in life, allowing you to live fully and feel proud of your accomplishments. Goals require action, and you are the only one accountable if they aren’t met. This means you can’t blame anyone else if you don’t achieve your goals.
For example, if your goal is weight loss, make exercise and healthy eating habits. Plan your schedule in advance and set workout times that fit. Use weekends to plan healthy meals for the coming week. Integrating your goals into daily life turns them into habits. Soon, missing a morning run or a healthy breakfast will feel odd.
If you have a friend with similar goals, keep each other accountable. When one of you lacks motivation, the other can act as a motivator. It’s easy to skip a day when you’re alone, but having someone else rely on you makes it harder to miss.
Success comes from prioritizing your goals and understanding why you want to achieve them. Keep educating yourself about your goals to reinforce your motivation. The more you understand their importance, the more driven you’ll be to accomplish them. Reflect on what you want to achieve and use that to fuel your motivation further.
### Becoming Your Best Self
Goals allow you to become the best version of yourself and live the life you dream of. They provide opportunities to reach your full potential, break out of routines, and learn new things. Goals challenge you to improve continually.
Instead of drifting through life, goals help you take control and make deliberate changes. They guide you to shape your life the way you want it to be. If you’re still searching for your life’s purpose, goals can help you find it. And if you already know your purpose, goals ensure you accomplish it.
### Goals Should Be Constant
Think about how you can set goals to accomplish your New Year’s resolutions throughout the year, rather than forgetting them by February.
Set goals this year to push yourself to be the best you can be!