The end of 2020 is in sight! This year especially we’re looking forward to a fresh start, a new year, and all the things we can do and accomplish. The practice of making new year’s resolutions often gets a bad rap as many people have difficulty continuing with their resolutions past a couple of months. Let’s be clear, there’s no need to arbitrarily set goals or push toward something you’re not truly invested in just because there’s a tradition of setting goals this time of year. But if there are things you truly want to accomplish but can’t seem to follow through, here are some strategies to feel more empowered and do more of what you want to.

SMART goals

One way to set more effective goals, is to follow the acronym SMART:

Specific - Too often new year’s resolutions, or other goals, are forgotten is because they are too vague and broad. “Save money,” “eat healthy,” “work out more” are common resolutions that don’t do you any favors! Goals like this seems daunting and unattainable. Challenge yourself to get more specific: “Save $20 per week,” “eat 2 servings of vegetables per day,” or “work out 3 times per week” for example.

Measurable - You’ll notice above that as the goals got more specific, they also acquired a measurable aspect— something that can be easily identified and tracked. This helps you stay on top of your progress and gives you concrete steps to achieving your goals.

Attainable - One of the reasons new year’s resolutions get left by the wayside is because we set ourselves up to fail by setting goals that are unrealistic to achieve. For example, if you’ve never even taken a jog around the block, planning on running a 10K race this year might be setting the bar a bit too high. Be realistic about what you can do, and don’t be afraid to start small. Small successes activate feel-good brain chemicals that inspire us to keep going!

Relevant - This speaks to the Why of your goals. How do your goals fit into your life? Getting clear on why these goals are important to you will help you set goals that are specific to you, and that you feel more motivated to accomplish.

Time-based - Go back to the example Specific goals. You’ll see that they all include a time factor for how often something is be done. You can add to this in a few different ways to make your goals even more specific and attainable. For example, Save $20 per week for 4 months or work out for at least 20 minutes, 3 times per week for 4 weeks in a row or Save a total of $100 by February 1. Making a lifestyle change can be daunting, so much so that sometimes we don’t even start. Starting with an end date in mind can reassure you that this challenging change won’t be forever. A due date can also help combat procrastination.

Be Flexible

One of the ways to attack the “A” in SMART goals, is to allow your ultimate goal to be somewhat flexible. One way to do this is by setting a Minimum, Bonus, and Stretch goal. For example, if your goal is to take up running, your minimum goal might be Run 1 mile per week. If you hit that, then you’ve accomplished your goal and you can celebrate! Your bonus goal might be Run 3 miles per week, and your stretch goal Run 5 miles per week. Splitting your goal into a few different tiers can make your goal more attainable while also encouraging you to push yourself. You can set yourself up for success while still dreaming big!

Be Creative

Most of the cliché new year’s resolutions have one thing in common: they’re based on action. Maybe instead of asking yourself what you want to do this coming year, ask yourself how you want to feel. This might change the goals you set or the way in which you achieve those goals. Remember that life is not always about the tangible; your inner life matters too! As many of our abilities and actions will continue to be limited by circumstances related to the pandemic, it might seem like we can’t set goals this year. Setting goals with a more internal focus could be just the thing to keep you focused and growing even during this crazy time!

Allow Change

Just like everything in life, it’s important to know when to let go of a goal. As much as we try to plan, we have no way of knowing what the future holds (2020 is proof of that). It’s ok to get partway through the year and decide that goals you had set at the beginning are no longer something you want to pursue. While the new year is a convenient starting place, remember that you can start anew at any time.