How to set goals for the next year correctly

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

New Year is on its way! Some of us earlier, some later spend the outgoing 2016 and make a cherished wish.

Dear Cleo readers! We sincerely wish you a magical and joyful New Year's Eve. Let your plans come true in the best possible way!

And in this article, our author Alexandra Andrianova will talk about how to correctly sum up and set goals so that they come true.

According to statistics, there is no worse day to start a new life than January 1. 70% of people give up in the first month, and of the remaining more than 90% do it before the beginning of the second half of the year.

It is not enough to want or promise yourself - you need to start acting independently and, finally, to realize what seems so desirable.

1. Summarize the results of the year

A method that helps many people is to map past events by drawing a simple diagram. In the center - 2016, and from it in 4 directions the rays depart, as from the sun: “what was done”, “what was not done”, “what we liked”, “what did not like”. It may be difficult at first, but then the memories will go as from the Pool of Memory in "Harry Potter".

The beauty of such a map is that you can clearly see in which direction you can work and what goal to set. And what has already been achieved inspires new achievements. By the way, this can be done not only on the 31st, but at any time.

Photo: 123RF / Volodymyr Melnyk

2. State the goal and write it down

It is better if you write not "I want to lose 10 kilograms", but "I weigh so much, I am beautiful, slim and self-confident." First, formulate everything in the present tense, as if you have already achieved what you want. And secondly, describe the emotions you feel when you reach your goal. Thus, you will be one step closer to the implementation of your plan.

3. Understand why you need to achieve this goal

It is not enough to say: “I want to lose weight because I want to be thin” - there is not the slightest explanation of the reasons for getting what I want. In this case, you begin to think: "Do I really need it?" It is another matter if you realize that losing weight will make you self-confident, will allow you to buy various and beautiful smaller clothes, and will solve some health problems. When you realize what you need it for, you will want to go to the goal even more.

4. Describe the means to achieve the goal

In order to reach the final destination, you must at least walk, that is, take one step after another. Now you need to clearly understand what steps you will take. For example, you want to save up for a trip to Europe in a year. An approximate scheme for achieving the goal will look like this:

1. Calculate the cost of the trip.
2. Save a certain amount of money every month.
3. Examine information about the country (or countries) that I am going to visit.
4. Book hotel and flights.
5. Prepare all the necessary documents, get a visa.
6. Go on a journey.

Photo: 123RF / maridav

5. Set a time frame

Your plans have almost no chance of being realized if you don't set a time frame. You can calculate the cost of the trip as much as you like and hold out until April, or you can decide that for this stage you set aside the first half of January, talk to knowledgeable people, go to a travel agency and, having an idea of the amount, calculate how much you need to save monthly.

6. Motivate yourself

Keep before your eyes the example of those who have already achieved what you only wish to achieve. Let it be a friend who has lost 20 kilograms, or a relative who has earned an apartment. Whoever it is, he should inspire you, demonstrating the reality of all your desires, even the most daring.

A list of all your accomplishments can be a very strong motivation. We usually do not keep such things in memory and we can not immediately realize what we have already achieved in life, what difficulties we have not given up on. You can dig deeper and see even the algorithms that usually work for you to achieve your goal, and apply them in a new business.

And most importantly, be happy and believe in yourself every day of the year

Thank you for being with us! See you in 2017

Love, editors Cleo!