How to set goals and stick to them

Can you believe the first month of the new year is already coming to an end? I always get so excited in December to set big goals for January, and it’s always humbling to sit back a few weeks later and see what’s really sticking, and what I might need to re-visit, or re-vamp.

Setting and achieving goals can be challenging. In fact, most people don’t necessarily create goals for themselves at all, much less stick to them. So whether you set goals for yourself earlier this month, worked toward achieving any of them, completed them all successfully, or are looking to set new or improved goals now — just know you’re ahead of the pack!

The process of goal setting should be simple, but oftentimes we get distracted by envisioning ourselves too far away from our current state. For example, having a goal to someday live in a big house with your partner and children is a wonderful thing to strive for, but it might be too broad of a goal to set today if you’re currently renting a single-bedroom apartment and haven’t yet started dating. Often I’ve found it’s this grandeur of goal setting or visualization that leaves people feeling like they’ve failed themselves. That isn’t to suggest achieving big goals isn’t possible, only that we must create actionable small goals first, to set the path.

Here are a few key steps to consider when setting goals that will allow you to find more success in sticking to them and completing them by making the process much more manageable and increases your chances of success.

1. Define your goals clearly. Be specific about what you want to accomplish and why you want to accomplish it. Why is this goal important to you? Ask yourself this question of “why” as many times as possible until you really get to the bottom of it. For example: if you have a goal of eating healthier, why? Is it so that you can achieve a better physique? If so, why do you feel you need a better physique? Or is it to feel healthier? If so, why do you feel you need to feel healthier? Then start to make sure you have a specific understanding of what success looks like. What does feeling healthier look like and feel like? How will you know when you’ve achieved it? By forcing yourself to get as specific as possible about your goal, you will create a more profound sense of whether or not you are tracking successfully as you progress.
   
2. Set a deadline and break your goals down. Setting a deadline of when you hope to achieve your goal is critical to success. Do this by first identifying the main goal you want to achieve and write it down. Then break that goal down into smaller, more specific tasks required to reach the main goal. I’ve worked with a lot of people who simply say “I want to start working out,” but have no plan, timeline, or goal as to how they will do this. For anyone who does not currently have a consistent relationship with fitness, or a specific regimented fitness routine, stating this without effectively goal-setting around it would surely lead to disappointment. Instead, try “I am going to exercise 3 times a week for 4 weeks.” Then break your goal down into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example: do you first need to find a gym to join and sign up for classes? Perhaps you need to do some research before that. These are all small tasks which contribute to your goal. Writing these out ahead of time and creating an understanding of what you need to accomplish and when will make it easier to stay focused and make progress towards your goal.
   
3. Prioritize your goal-oriented tasks and create a plan. Once you’ve broken your goal down into smaller, bite-size pieces, the next step is prioritizing those items. Using the same example as above, let’s say you also need to purchase a new pair of training shoes. Understandably, the shoes would come before the exercise itself. Focus on the most important tasks first and tackle them one at a time. Create a plan to outline the entirety of your desired timeline. For example, if you want to achieve your goal in 30 days, make sure your plan allows for you to achieve all the necessary tasks that support the goal itself in the time you’ve afforded for yourself.
   
4. Hold yourself accountable. The most important way to help hold yourself accountable is by writing your goals down and keeping them visible. Put your goals in writing and place them where you can see them regularly. This simple task will help remind you of your goals and keep you focused. You can also share your goals with others. Tell your friends, family, or mentor about your goals and ask them to hold you accountable by checking in on your progress. Keep a progress journal for yourself. Write down your progress and your successes and failures. This will help you track your progress and identify areas that need improvement along the way. You can also set up reminders using an app or on your calendar, and by checking in regularly with yourself. Take time to reflect on your progress and evaluate if you are on track to achieving your goals on a routine basis throughout your journey.
   
   Whatever you decide, ultimately keeping track of your progress is a super important part of achieving your goals. I like to do this is all sorts of ways. One of the most simple ways I like to track new goals I’m working toward each month is by writing the numbers 1-30 on a stick note, putting it on my wall, and crossing off a number everyday that I stick to a new goal. This step pays off big when you hit unexpected setbacks. Having that personal system of accountability will force you to acknowledge the set back but to keep going toward continuing to make progress.
   
5. Create motivation. Revisit the original goal and your “why” often! Remind yourself of the benefits of achieving your goals and the impact they will have on your life. This is where having bigger, more board goals can pay off too. If one of your near-term goals is simply a stepping stone to achieving something further down the road, that can be helpful motivation as to why you should keep going. You can also create motivation for yourself by incorporating your new goals inside of something else you already enjoy or have a routine around. This can also help a new goal feel more achievable. For example, if you’re just looking to change your diet, perhaps you don’t need to throw out everything in your pantry and start fresh, but you can simply make healthier choices inside your existing diet routine.
   
6. Celebrate your successes. Take the time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may be. Especially if you start to lose motivation, throwing in a more regular celebration for yourself can help you to stay engaged and on track. Think of small ways to reward yourself, and really bask in being able to do so any chance you get.
   
7. Learn from your failures. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, use them as opportunities to learn and grow and pivot to how better to set yourself up for success moving forward. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you even notice early on that your goals are too big. If you find this to be the case, just take a pause, be honest with yourself about what’s achievable, and adjust your goals to keep going. It’s better to stop and adjust your goals to set yourself up for success than to burn out too quickly trying to hit goals that are too far out of reach, only to be left feeling discouraged and disappointed.

All in all, the best path to setting goals and sticking to them lies within YOU! My final tip is the most important which is that first and foremost you must BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN! Even if you follow all the steps above without any belief in yourself to make success possible, you will likely fail. Belief in yourself is so important to get through the hard days of working toward your goals, the setbacks, and the failures. If you enter into a new goal with the willingness to believe it is possible for you to achieve, then you’re already halfway there. Beyond that, a combination of clear planning, hard work, and perseverance will help increase your chances of finding success.