6 Effective Ways To Set Goals For 2022

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HOW TO SET GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR 

For many of us, the last two years have been chaotic and turbulent at best, and most of us are thrilled to put the many trials of this year far behind us as we welcome the new year. 

I have always loved the beginning of a new year, and maybe that is because I am such a planner and my entire life revolves around accomplishing goals.

Ringing in the new year has always felt like hitting a much-needed reset button on my current life goals and plans.  

This makes the new year the perfect time to get re-excited about old goals, create new ones, and reflect upon the old!

As a child, it was a tradition for our family to scrawl out new years resolutions; mine were usually simple, things like getting a pet tarantula, having a playdate with my best friend, or reading three chapter books by the end of the summer.

Then I would tuck the paper away somewhere to be forgotten. 

As I’ve grown, I have realized the importance of setting yearly goals and have come to the realization that every day is a great day to get reinvigorated with one’s goals, though the new year is undoubtedly a great place to start. 

As human beings, we are happiest when in a state of growth. Stagnancy in our daily lives can be detrimental to our goals as well as our emotional health. 

“The worst place is at the fork. You can’t keep going the same direction as you came. You have to choose one or the other path. Whatever the choice, at least, it is movement. Otherwise, you are just forking around getting nowhere.”

-Donna Goddard

1. CREATE A CLEAR PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR 

The first and most crucial step to reaching one’s goals is creating an actionable plan. 

It helps to sit down and break out a notebook, laptop, phone, or whatever works best for you in preparation for creating your goal plan for the year. 

Here are a few tips to consider as you begin crafting your roadmap for 2021:

• Be creative and dream big.
• Review and reflect on the year prior.
• Break your goals down into small actionable steps.
• Set specific goals in each area of your life, i.e., health, career, relationships, and personal growth.
• Set SMART goals.  

Now, what exactly are SMART goals?

Specific- As you set goals for the new year, they should be precise, simple, and straightforward.

Measurable- A Great question to ask is, how will I measure each goal’s progression so that I know I am on track? 

Attainable- When Creating a goal, it is essential to set goals that can be reasonably achieved within the time frame you have allotted. 

Realistic- One should always assess the realisticness of their goal. Is this a realistic goal? Can I accomplish this goal within the time frame I have set?

Time- It is important to set time constraints for each goal and manage your time appropriately. This will ensure that you reach your goals more quickly. 

When creating goals for the new year, you don’t have to stop at a one-year plan; in fact, I recommend mapping out the next five years of your life and reevaluating that plan yearly. 

If you would like some help creating your own 5-year plan, be sure to check out my article, How To Create The Perfect 5-Year Plan! 

2. SET REALISTIC TIME FRAMES FOR EACH GOAL 

We hit a little on this idea earlier. Not only is it essential to set time frames in which you plan to accomplish your goals, but it is also essential to track your progress. 

You can do this by:

• Checking in with others
• Keeping a detailed goal log
• Rewarding yourself when you hit specific milestones along your goal journey

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.”

-Abraham Lincoln

3. CREATE THE PROPER GOAL-SETTING MINDSET 

Cultivating a growth mindset before setting out on your new year’s goal journey is one of the best ways to ensure you ACTUALLY reach your goals by the end of the year. Many overlook this step and quickly become discouraged, therefore losing motivation. 

There are a few steps to take when shifting your mindset to a more goal originated space,

• You must toss aside self-limiting beliefs.
• Find your “why.”
• Create long-term habits.
• Try creating a positive mantra to chant, such as “I can” when you are feeling low.

For a more detailed map to creating a positive growth mindset, be sure to check out my article, 12 Ways To Find Your Motivation. 

4. NARROW DOWN YOUR GOALS

Once you have an idea of the goals you would like to accomplish for the year, it is essential to narrow them down to define that goal. 

As with any goal, it is best to break them down into small actionable steps. Without a proper action plan, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. 

Remember, don’t overload yourself! 

If you spread yourself too thin, all of your goals will suffer, and it will likely result in burnout.

I find that choosing 1 or 2 primary goals and primarily focusing on those goals during the year is the best path to crushing your goals each year, and this year will be no exception. 

5. CREATE VISUAL REMINDERS FOR YOUR GOALS

A fantastic way to stick to the goals you have created is to create visual reminders and place them somewhere; you will see them often throughout your home. 

You can create visual reminders such as:

• A vision board.
• Write out your goals on your bathroom mirror with dry-erase markers.
• Set google calendar reminders.
• Write your goals down in your journal or planner.

Having small reminders placed throughout your home is a wonderful way to be reminded of your goals each day and keep yourself motivated. 

6. BE KIND AND PATIENT WITH YOURSELF 

Remember to be kind to yourself. Developing lasting habits to help you reach your new goals for 2021 will take time. 

So be patient, and most importantly, remember that you will have off days. 

Everyone does! 

The only difference between those who reach their goals, and those who don’t, is that no matter how many times they stumble with their goals, they keep working until they get there. 

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”

-Saadi

• How To Create Short-Term Goals For The New Year
• How To Reach Your Goals Through List Making

YOUR TURN 

Now that you have the tools to tackle this new year, I challenge you to sit down and create your plan for the year! An hour or less should be sufficient for creating your new year plan. 

The hardest part is always getting started, so just do it! A year from now, you will be so glad that you did! 

Want to learn more about working for yourself and achieving your best life? 

Stick around for future articles, be sure to SUBSCRIBE for our FREE mind reboot camp, and don’t forget to check out my new Printable Planner for 2022!

How do you feel about creating a plan for the new year? What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to sticking to your goals?

I’d love to know! Be sure to let me know in the comments below. 

Have a bright day!