A Simple Guide to Killing Your Goals in the New Year.
I have a confession to make. I did not set New Years’ resolution goals this year. It’s not that I don’t think resolutions are important. They are. But typically, I set 2 or 3 goals, and by mid-January, I am burnt out from trying to better everything about myself, so I give up.
This year I decided I would better myself, but I will do it my way, not society’s. I will give myself grace and pace while working on relevant goals.
If you’re here, chances are you looking for tips to crush your goals in the new year. I have laid out tips that work for me, and I continue to use them.
What is your why?
Everyone sets goals for themselves. It’s human nature. We all have an innate desire to better ourselves and our lives. The first thing you need to do is figure out your why. Why are you creating this specific goal for yourself or your family?
Do you want to get healthy for longevity? Is there a history of health issues in your family, and you want to stop those issues in their tracks? Do you want financial freedom? Or maybe you want to become a better homemaker. Whatever your why is, find it and then write it down.
Take one goal at a time or two if you’re great at multitasking.
But the key is not to overwhelm yourself. We all do it, set high goals, and create too many. We just can’t keep up.
Find the most important and necessary goal you have and tackle that one first. After you pick your goal, you’re ready to crush it!
Tips to crushing your goals, one step at a time.
These tips are easy and applicable steps you can take and apply to any goal you set for yourself.
Set specific time-bound goals.
You have probably heard this, but setting SMART goals will help you stay on track while you crush your goals this year. SMART goals are:
- S: Specific
- M: Measurable
- A: Attainable
- R: Relevant
- T: Time-Bound
SMART goals are pretty straightforward. Pick a specific goal. Don’t make your goal too broad. An example of a broad goal is “I will lose weight.” or “I will become financially stable.”
A specific goal would be “I will eat healthily and work out 5 days a week to lose 30 pounds.” or “I will search for a higher paying job so I can make $20,000 more a year and become financially stable.” If you set a specific goal, you will likely follow through. If your goal is too broad, it’ll be harder to attain, causing discouragement.
A measurable goal is something you can … you guessed it … measure. You can’t measure a goal that says I will lose weight. Weight could be 1 pound, it could be 20 pounds. 30 pounds is more specific and measurable. What is your specific, measurable goal?
Attainable. Can you reach this goal? Is this realistic for you and your life?
Then think about the relevance of this goal. How pressing and important is this goal? Do you need to get healthy because of health issues? Do you owe a ton of debt that is crushing your family? Look at your goal and see how relevant it is to your life and family.
The last one is time-bound. Set a goal that has a time limit. “By June, I will lose 30 pounds by eating healthy and working out 5 days a week.” People thrive when we have a deadline. Set one for yourself.
Write down your SMART goals and post them where you can see them daily.
Writing down SMART goals is a great first step. We all need that motivation to see our goals in writing and hold ourselves accountable. But we need to do more than write down SMART goals, right?
Here are more tips on crushing your goals!
Work on your mindset.
For the last 10 years, I have had a horrible habit of quitting if I don’t reach a goal at a certain time. Think about all the damage I have done to my goals by not following through! If I had stuck out on a few goals I set in the past, I probably would have met them by now.
The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
What about you? Do you have a habit of quitting? What goals have you let slip by you because of a horrible mindset?
Change your mindset from can’t to can. It may be a daily battle but isn’t the battle worth it now?
Stop talking negatively to yourself.
I can’t do it.
I’m not good enough.
I’ll never make it.
This is just the way I am.
Wow. If I spoke to my children like I spoke to myself, I would be a terrible parent. You know it. We all know it. Then why do we speak so terribly to ourselves? Why do we say things about ourselves that we would never tell someone we love?
We must learn to love ourselves, so we can stop talking negatively and meet the goals we set for ourselves. The life you want is absolutely possible with the right mindset!
Set milestones.
Ah, a milestone. We rejoiced when our children hit those precious milestones. We should rejoice when we hit the milestones too! Set specific milestones: I’ll lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks, 10 pounds in 6 weeks, etc.
You will feel more motivated to do what you need to do!
Track your results.
Pull out the old pen and paper and keep track of your results. If you are into technology, then track your results on your phone! Whatever you do, keep track! It’s the best way to see yourself hitting those precious milestones and seeing the journey unfold before your eyes.
Reward yourself.
Who doesn’t love rewards? Set rewards for each milestone you hit! I like to set rewards in the form of treats for myself that I normally wouldn’t do. For example, when I lose those first 10 pounds, I’ll treat myself to a manicure. When I lose 20 pounds, I’ll buy that dress I have been eyeing.
A reward will help keep you motivated and on the right track.
Find a role model.
Inspiration. It helps keeps us motivated. Find someone in your life who has done what you want to or is currently doing it, and talk to them about the steps they have taken. Find inspiration in their journey. This will only be beneficial to your own journey.
Keep a positive attitude.
Everyone hits a hill or brick wall on a goal journey. It’s never smooth sailing. But your goal is completely possible and dependent on your mindset and attitude.
If you believe you will meet a goal, you will most likely meet it.
If you give up at the first hiccup, you will never meet your goal.
Your attitude matters.
Follow through.
You have to follow through. You don’t know what the end journey will be for yourself if you keep chugging toward that future you want. But if you give up and don’t follow through? Well, then, you know what the end journey will be. You won’t meet your goal.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Crushing Your Goals.
What is the goal you set? Write it down. Set your SMART goals, and then crush them this year! You can do what you have always dreamed of doing with a little hard work and a positive mindset. Now, what are you waiting for? Go crush some goals!
The best way to crush a goal is to write it down! If one of your goals is to create a peaceful home this year for your family, get your free Peaceful Nest planner below! It has 20+ pages to help you become the peaceful mom you have always desired!
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Be sure to read my top posts on parenting:
- Why Consistent Parenting Matters
- 12 Habits of Immensely Peaceful Moms
- 63 Mom Hacks That Are Pure Genius
- Connect With Your Child and Build Up Their Heart
- 14 Ways to Say Goodbye to Angry Mom
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Hi there, I’m Jenna! I am a devoted mommy and wife. As well as an advocate for children and creating a peaceful atmosphere for those we love. I co-wrote Faith Actually: Living Life After Tragedy with my husband. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies and currently working toward my Master’s in Positive Psychology. My number one desire is to create a peaceful home life for my family. My second desire is to share with you the tips I learn along the way!