Every year it’s the same old story. We all have a New Year’s resolution that is completely forgotten about before spring even arrives. Did you know that only 8 of 100 people actually accomplish their goals by the end of the year? That’s a sad statistic! Instead of failing yet again this year, how about becoming one of those 8 people? I’ve compiled several steps that can help you make better goals and keep you motivated to finish strong in 2020.  Here are 7 steps to creating better goals for yourself in 2020:

MY # 1 RULE: Keep Your Goals Realistic

It seems like every year we make goals that will transform us into the person we long to be, but we keep falling short. The goals that you laid out looked good at the time, but maybe they were unrealistic and unattainable. Make sure that you are setting goals that you can actually grasp within that yearly time frame.  

#2 Break Your Goals into Smaller Chunks

Another easy way to stay motivated throughout the year is to set smaller goals that will help you reach your ultimate goal. For instance, if your goal is to run 5 miles this year, break it up to where you only need to run 1/2 mile each month. That looks easy, doesn’t it? Reaching those smaller goals each month will keep you motivated to stay on track in reaching your final 5 mile goal by the end of the year.  

#3 Make Measurable Goals

There needs to be a way that you can measure your successes, that way you can celebrate your small victories throughout the year. You can do this by setting small goals with realistic deadlines on your calendar. If your goal is to spend more time with your friends this year, set up a day once a week on your calendar where you are able to make time for it to actually happen.   

#4 Write Your Goals Down and Track Your Progress

It’s also a good idea to physically write down your goals and keep them in eyesight each day. That way you can track your progress and have a visual reminder to keep you on the straight and narrow. 

#5 Set Up Similar Goals with a Partner

Setting goals with a partner, friend or family member is a great way to help you reach your goals. There’s the accountability that you may not have had before on past goals that you’ve given up on. They can also encourage you to get back on track when you mess up.

#6 Remember to Push Back Against Setbacks

Maybe your goal is to be a kinder and more generous person this year and you may have lashed out at a family member or turned your eye from a person that was in need? Those are mental setbacks that can be discouraging and make you give up on your goals of being a better person. Just wake up the next day with a fresh mindset and keep on trucking. 

#7 It’s Not a 50 Yard Dash

Remember, you’re setting goals that you hope to accomplish throughout the rest of the year. That’s a long stretch to completely go cold turkey on some of your old habits that you’re hoping to squish out. Think of it as more of a very long marathon, where slow and steady wins the race. 

No matter what areas in your life you’re setting goals, you need to pace yourself and still enjoy life a little, so that you don’t give up this time.   

These are several steps for you to take so that you can actually accomplish your New Year’s resolution this year. What goals are you planning to set for yourself this year and what steps will you take to make it happen?