If you’re like me, you’ve probably made a New Year’s resolution or two. Maybe it was to exercise more, eat better or drink less.
Maybe you did great at those resolutions for a few weeks and then forgot about them altogether. In 2023, what do you want your life to look like? What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of impact do you want to have on the world? If these questions keep coming back up in your mind — and they should — then maybe it’s time to think about setting some goals for yourself (and keeping them).
Being clear about your goals and outlining steps to achieve them will help you achieve success in a way that’s right for you.
The first step to achieving your personal goals is to set them. This may sound obvious, but the truth is that many people don’t take this step seriously enough. If you want something to happen—a promotion at work, or a new home or car—you must first clarify what it is you want and then create a plan for how you’re going to get there. The key is being specific about what exactly it is that you want (e.g., “I want more money in my paycheck so I can pay off my credit card debt and be able to afford an apartment on my own”).
It’s also important not only to set goals but also define steps toward achieving them (i.e., “I need an extra $100 per month in order for me to be able save up enough money for my own apartment within five years”). Having clear, measurable targets will help keep your eye on the prize throughout the year, even when life throws curveballs at you (like losing your job).
Then, go through each goal and decide what the first step is toward getting there.
Once you have a big-picture idea of what you want to achieve, it’s time to break that goal down into smaller steps. For example, if your goal is “I want to get in shape and lose 20 pounds by February 2023,” then the first step might be “I will exercise for 30 minutes three times per week.”
Each of these steps should be achievable and achievable within a short period of time—maybe even in as little as one week. If they’re too difficult or long-term, they could lead to discouragement during the process instead of motivation and forward momentum (which is what we want).
Be flexible with your goals; don’t let yourself get discouraged if something doesn’t go according to plan. You may find that an unexpected event causes you to take a detour from your original path—and that’s okay! In fact, once I made my day-to-day goals for 2023 public on Twitter, many people commented with suggestions about different ways I could achieve them (some even suggested starting new habits sooner than expected).
Plan ahead for the roadblocks you’ll run into along the way so that you can keep moving forward.
Plan ahead for the roadblocks you’ll run into along the way so that you can keep moving forward.
Don’t let setbacks derail you.
Be prepared to ask for help when needed (and don’t be afraid to ask).
Forgive yourself for past mistakes — and move on.
As you set your goals and begin to work toward them, it is important that you forgive yourself for past mistakes. These days are just one part of an ongoing process. We all make mistakes, but the key is that we learn from them and move on so that we can continue to work toward our goals.
You should not let your past hold you back. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s a natural part of life! Don’t dwell on what has already happened or what could have been different if only this or that had gone differently; instead focus on the present moment and creating a better future by taking action now!
Keep a gratitude journal.
Write down at least three things that you are grateful for every day.
Focus on the positive, not the negative. Be specific in your gratitude by writing about what you have instead of what you don’t have or lost.
Write in the present tense, not future or past tense: “I am so lucky to have this opportunity” versus “I was so lucky to have this opportunity before everything fell apart.”
Celebrate each step along the way as well as your ultimate goal.
To stay motivated, celebrate each step along the way as well as your ultimate goal. Celebrations can be small or big and might include:
a self-congratulatory pat on the back for something that went well in your day
a celebratory text to a friend who helped you achieve something great
an end-of-the-day step count that puts you closer to your fitness goals
Hope these were as helpful to you as they are to me. Excited for what’s to come in 2023!
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