It's the beginning of a new year, so naturally, we are all talking about making positive changes and creating resolutions. Unfortunately, resolutions have a bad reputation for being short-lived, fizzling out immediately or soon after being made. Let's focus on making goals, not resolutions. Goals are simply dreams with deadlines. Working on them can be daunting and feel overwhelming at times; it's natural for us to hit a wall of excuses and resistance, either preventing us from even starting or stopping us in the middle when we were doing so well. But pushing through and achieving your goals can reap great rewards.

If you have something that you've been wanting to change in some aspect of your life, and you're truly committed and not just interested in making it happen, we've listed out some things to help you keep that new year's goal alive. 

1. Set SMART goals

Vague goals won't get you anywhere. Start by setting up SMART goals: goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Your goals will be clarified, your efforts will be more focused, and your progress will be easier to track.

2. Break your big goal into smaller ones

Don't overwhelm yourself from the start by setting a mountain of a goal. Break it down into more manageable and quicker to achieve hills. If you want the end result to be your large goal, think about when you want to achieve it and work backward from that date and break it down into smaller goals along the way. Not only will these goals be easier to achieve, but you'll also get a boost from feeling the achievement when you complete each one.

3. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge your wins

Reward yourself along the way. Celebrate hitting your milestones and enjoy the journey. Hitting a rough spot with resistance? Didn't achieve one of your goals in the time frame you wanted? Be kind and patient with yourself. Focus on your wins and don't put so much pressure on yourself that you fall victim to burnout.

4. Be flexible and able to make adjustments

As we have all collectively realized in the last two years, life doesn't always turn out as planned. When setting your goals, don't make them so rigid that when “life happens” it completely derails them and causes you to abandon them altogether. Be open to realigning your goals as necessary to keep making progress, no matter what life throws at you.

5. Do something every day for your goal

It's all too easy to start procrastinating, especially when you're feeling unsure of yourself or scared. The way to prevent procrastination is by doing, even if it's something very small. Make sure to take action every day toward your goal to start to form a habit of doing and break away from the habit of procrastinating.

6. Always remember your “why”

Why do you desire to achieve this goal? What made you create it in the first place? Without a strong “why,” your goal won't have as much personal impact and resonance on you and keep you motivated to achieve it through any hard spots or resistance. Put meaning behind your goal and remind yourself of it often to keep that spark within you to keep pushing ahead.

7. Stop thinking of the “what ifs”

Living with uncertainty and being uncomfortable is par for the course when it comes to creating big changes for yourself. Don't let worries and “what ifs” deter you from going after your dreams. Embrace the journey and turn that anxiety into excitement for what amazing things could be coming your way.

8. Don't compare yourself to others

Tim Hiller said, “Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle, or your middle to someone else's end.” If you compare yourself to the people who are already where you want to be, you're bound to hurt your chances of staying motivated to succeed and possibly open yourself up to making excuses. Focus on yourself instead – focus on your strengths and your “why.” It's not about their journey, it's about your own.

I challenge you today to write your SMART goals down, tell supportive friends to help keep you accountable, and banish any resistant thoughts and excuses that might arise. Momentum is everything, so get out there and start hitting those milestones. It could be remarkable what your life and your goals look like at the start of next year.

_Sources:

_{https://www.mhn.com/members/news/no-excuses--how-to-accomplish-your-goals-in-the-new-year.html
https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-set-goals-and-achieve-them
https://grandhabit.com/stop-making-excuses/}