Embracing Goal Setting Anytime in 2024
Here we are, another year, and everyone has started talking about, or asking you about, your New Year’s resolutions. But in reality, goals can be made at any time during the year. In this more personal post, I’m sharing how I plan my goals, how to stay accountable and excited about them, and how you can too!
Start by dividing your goals into areas of your life and put them into what I call categories. See mine below, which you can use as a reference guide and add your own. I also keep them handy in my Google Notes so I can see and edit them at any time.
Categorizing Life Goals:
Each category gets 90 days of your full attention and energy! Firstly, in each of these categories,
get clear about where you are, what your current situation is, and where your mental state is for each. Writing down your current thoughts and habits will help you get clarity.
Setting Clear Objectives: From Current State to Desired Outcome
Secondly, write down and outline where you want to be at the end of those 90 days. Then comes the fun part: come up with a plan to help you get there. Break it down by what you will accomplish each month, then week by week, and then what you can do daily to move the needle forward.
Seek ways to find more information about that particular aspect of your life or category. My favorite way is reading. As your plan of action, have a list of books for each category to read within those three months. Or, maybe listen to a podcast, and of course, if you can and are ready to invest in yourself, hire a professional. This can be a personal trainer to help you with your fitness goals, or perhaps a business mentor to guide you. Also, audit your daily habits when it comes to that category and see areas where you can improve. I highly recommend reading or listening to ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear.
Reflecting and Progressing: The 90-Day Review Cycle
Lastly, the end of those 90 days, focus on and appreciate how much you have progressed, and then move on to the next category. You will most likely still work on that category, but it will become second nature because of the habits you established in those 90 days.
To stay accountable, find a partner with similar goals or, as mentioned before, hire a professional. If you need help staying accountable, try Goalswon, which is a chat-based app where you get personalized daily support from a real person. This adds an element of external motivation and drive!
Commitment to Your 2024 Goals
In the end, you can read countless ways to set and accomplish your goals for 2024, and the fact that you have read this far means you are truly committed! I wish you a fantastic year and know that you are well on your way to accomplishing your dreams!