The year started off with a bang and before we knew it we were back in the grind and the good intentions and changes we planned for the new year became something of the past.

Here are some tips to keep focused and stay goal orientated so you’ll have the best year yet.

Start at the Beginning

In the words of Balley Frumen, “you need to start at the beginning”. We have a tendency to skip to the end of the book, after we read the first chapter. Do yourself a favour and enjoy the journey; you’ve got 12 months to prepare for; give yourself a little time to plan accordingly.

What’s Your Why?

When you think about the year ahead, what do you want to accomplish? Amazingly enough, knowing WHY you want to achieve your goals is more important than the actual accomplishment! Your WHY is your fuel and without it, you won’t make it very far.

Get Some Clarity

One of the biggest mistakes people make is focussing on the wrong goals or on stuff that ultimately will lead to disappointment, like: “I just want to make a lot of money,” or “I just want to feel good” and the like. It is important to first get some clarity on what truly matters and what will make this a happy, healthy, and successful year.  Break your week down into hours and see how much time you are spending on what activities; from there decide what you should prioritise. Self-Care, Family, Friends, Finances, Career, Spirituality? One of the number one regrets of people according to research is, working so much at the expense of family and friendships. So start your year with clarity and don’t end it with regret.

Think About It

If you aren’t clear about what you want to experience or achieve in the year ahead, you will have nothing to keep you on track and you won’t have anything to measure it to. Have a list or a note on hand that in one sentence describes what you want to achieve this year and daily look at it, evaluate where you are at and think about it. As Ralph Waldo Emerson pointed out, “We become what we think about all day long.” So be clear about what you want and then keep it at the forefront of your mind daily.

Attention to Detail

Do you often focus on the bigger picture, the big goals? Research suggests that focussing on the details are equally as important as focussing on your end goals. Imagine your goal is to run a five kilometre race – achieving this successfully isn’t just about putting on your trainers and showing up.  The key to achieving your goal is in the details –getting enough sleep, eating right, making time to train and actually getting out of bed the morning of your race. So focus on the details and breakdown the goals you wish to achieve into manageable steps– through that you will ensure a successful run this year.

You Can’t Do It Alone

A research study conducted by Dr Gail Matthews from the Dominican University of California, revealed that we are 76% more likely to achieve our goals by holding ourselves accountable to someone than “going it alone.” It’s not that surprising – how often do you set a goal then fail to meet your mark? You are less likely to let down a friend or coach than yourself. But choose your accountability partner wisely – someone that will really “call you out” if you slack on your goals.

Source: Bailey Frumen, MSW, LCSW