Happy New Year! That’s what we are supposed to say on January 1 right? Well, this year the phrase may have more meaning. This past year was one for the history books – school online at home, working from home, Zoom, quarantining, wearing masks, economic problems, social unrest. Who else is ready to say “Bye Bye” to 2020? I say bring on 2021!

I love the idea of hitting the reset button in my life, as each new year gives me a chance for a fresh start. There is a natural motivation for improvement each new year. We feel inspired by the hope that the new year will be better – that we can get it right this time. But not much will change without setting goals.

I know, you are starting to tune me out now. Maybe all your plans for last year went out the window with covid, and you just hung on in survival mode. The thought of setting goals may seem unrealistic and overwhelming this time around.

Setting Goals is Super Important!

But I would argue that having goals for the different areas of your life may be more important this year than ever before. When things are the craziest that’s when having a roadmap is most essential. Things do not just magically come together in our lives. We have to live with intention and purpose. We need a plan.

I’m not in favor of New Years Resolutions. It is pointless to resolve for change when we have no plan. I think it is better to set goals than to make resolutions. Having good intentions accomplishes nothing. If we do not take strategic action in our lives our resolutions are no better than wishful thinking.

If you are not in the habit of setting goals, let this year be when you start. The key to successful goal setting though is to set SMART goals.

How to Set Goals That are SMART

S – Your Goals Must be SPECIFIC.

What do you want to change or improve this year? What accomplishments do you want to achieve? Be clear and specific. Instead of “I want to be healthier” describe what that will look like for you. It is better to say, “I want to lose 10 pounds, be able to run for at least 20 minutes without being winded, and lower my cholesterol.”

Ask Yourself: Exactly what do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important to me? Where is the location? Who needs to be involved? Which resources or limits are involved?

Then back that up and write down the steps that will get you to your goal. This is where you will spell out specific diet and exercise habits. Think ahead of time about any obstacles that might keep you from reaching your goal, and make a plan for how you’ll deal with any potential roadblocks.

M – Your Goals Must be MEASURABLE.

How will you know you’ve reached your goal? How long do you expect it will take you to reach your goal? It is important that your goals are measurable so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. When you can see your progress it helps you stay focused and keep going.

Ask yourself: How much? How many? And how will I know when this goal has been accomplished? For example, if you know your final goal is to lose 12 pounds, that means you will need to lose a pound a month. If you wanted to lose weight faster you would just use math. There are about 3500 calories in a pound, so you would have to reduce your diet by 500 calories a day or exercise and burn off 500 calories a day (or a combo of the two) to lose a pound a week.

Break your goal up into smaller mini-goals. Give yourself steps to follow daily, weekly, and monthly. Focus on one step at a time. When you accomplish one, start working on the next one. Do the next right thing in front of you. Make sure you have spelled out how you will know you have reached your goal.

A – Your Goals Need to be Achievable.

If you set goals that are too high to be realistic for you, then not only will you not reach them but you will also feel discouraged and may just give up on goal-setting all together. The goals you set should be challenging enough to stretch your growth, but they must also be possible to reach.

Ask yourself: How will I be able to accomplish this goal? How realistic is this goal, based on my resources available and constraints such as cost? Do I have the time to complete the requirements?

Be careful not to set goals that someone else has power over. For example, if you set a goal to get a certain job or get a promotion, these goals depend on factors beyond your control such as who else applies and the decisions of others. But the goal of completing a training program that you need in order to be considered for the promotion, well that is within your control.

R – Your Goals Need to be RELEVANT to You.

Don’t try to meet someone else’s expectations. Your goal needs to matter to you and align with your values and desires. It’s OK to get support from others, but you need to have control over your own goals.

Here’s the truth—striving to be or do what someone else wants for your life never works out. You have to live with the consequences of your own choices. Who are you trying to please? If the goal is not your own true desire, then you won’t have the motivation to stick with it. Reaching goals can be hard work, and you have to be passionate about what you want in life to keep going.

Just because your parent or spouse wants you to get out of debt doesn’t mean you will do it. You have to want it too. The goals you set have to be your goals.  They have to be relevant to you and what you want deep down in your life. When it comes down to it, you’re the one who has to fight to make them a reality. You have to want it.

Ask yourself: Does this match my other efforts and needs? Does this goal seem worthwhile to me? Is this the right time for this? Am I the right person to accomplish this? Is this really my goal? Or is it someone else’s desire for me?

T – Your Goals Should be TIME-BOUND.

You need to set a time limit for your goal. There needs to be a clear finish line. You will need a clear plan for what daily activities it will take to reach your goal by a certain deadline.

Every goal needs a target date. Having a deadline to work toward will keep you motivated. You do not want less important everyday activities to keep you from your priority longer-term goals.

Ask yourself: When will I do this? Do I have a deadline? What can I accomplish six months from now? What can I accomplish six weeks from now? What do I need to do today to get there?

Now Write Your Goals Down!

People are much more likely to stick to and reach their goals when they write them down and review them regularly. Write the goals, the deadlines, and the steps to get there. Written goals create accountability and help you track your progress along the way.

Ask Yourself: Do I know what steps I must take to reach my goal? Have I written my goals down and written out a specific plan (steps) for how to get there?

What Areas of Life Should I Focus On When Setting Goals?

I recommend that you focus on at least four key areas as you set life goals:

Physical Health

This could include things like diet and exercise, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep.

Spiritual Health

This area might include starting a prayer journal, joining a Bible study at your church, or daily Bible reading.

Career Goals

Maybe you have a certain sales target you want to reach. Or maybe you want to complete further training to work toward a promotion or raise. Career goals could also include looking for a new career path. If you have ever wanted to start your own blogging business I highly recommend Pete and Heather Reese’s free course Start a Blogging Business. It gives you all the information you need to get started, and it is how I learned to blog.

Financial Goals

This area is separate from career goals. These goals would be in the area of personal finances. They include things such as using a monthly zero-based budget, getting out of debt, and saving for retirement.

There are other areas you can include such as family, education, social, etc. but these four cover a lot and will be a great way to get focused in 2021.

Don’t get discouraged if you find yourself occasionally getting off track. Just stay focused and keep taking the next small steps forward toward your end goal. Things happen. I mean who could have ever predicted the craziness of 2020? There will be things that happen that are beyond your control. It’s okay! Just get back up and keep going.

Bring on the new year! We can do this!

Have you already written your new year goals down? Want to share any of them? I’d love to read some of them in the comments below.

Happy New Year!