Maybe the year 2020 was disastrous for you. Or perhaps you feel like things can be a lot better come the new year. Whatever the case, smart goal setting can help set you up for success. But don’t just make goals with a “set it and forget it” attitude. If you want them to come to fruition, you have to work towards them. In this guide, we’ll show you how to prevent your New Year’s resolution from becoming a tremendous flop.
A GUIDE TO CREATING 2021 GOALS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE
1. BE REALISTIC
The key to setting goals is understanding and accepting what you can and can’t accomplish within a certain amount of time. For example, if your goal is to stop smoking, don’t just assume you can quit within a couple of days. Accept that stopping this bad habit will take time. Otherwise, you’ll be sorely disappointed in yourself that you weren’t able to stop smoking, and you’ll probably end up abandoning the goal altogether.
2. BE SPECIFIC
Going back to the previous example, just saying you’re going to quit smoking won’t cut it. If you smoke a pack or two a day, instead say, “I want to cut my smoking down to 15 cigarettes a day”. Then, gradually decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke as time goes on.
3. GET MOTIVATED
Sometimes when you set a goal, it can be hard to keep going, especially if the goal has many steps and requires a lot of willpower. That’s why it’s important to keep a positive mindset and focus on what you want to accomplish. Envisioning the great results of completing your goal can serve as motivation. For example, maybe you want to be a successful entrepreneur. One of your methods of achieving that goal may be reading books about entrepreneurship. By picturing your business thriving, you’re likely to feel motivated to complete your goal so that you can reach the ideal outcome.
Setting goals isn’t just listing out a bunch of things you want to accomplish. It’s also about dedication, motivation, and perseverance. Keep this in mind when you’re setting goals for 2021.
