And just like that another year is starting. With that comes the pressure of setting resolutions, gym memberships are on sale and fitness equipment is flying off the shelves. While living a healthier life is a commendable feat, it’s not the only area of our lives that may need attention.  When it comes to looking forward to a new year, I can’t think of a better way than setting goals.

Where do I start?  

Look backwards. It may seem counterintuitive, but having a clear picture of where you’ve come from and where you are is imperative to goal setting.  Take a look at the last year, what went well, what would you change?  How can you take what you learned to bring wisdom towards planning for next year?  What is the most important thing for you to improve upon?  Turn this into an actionable goal, be specific, and write it down.

What could go wrong?

Consider any obstacles that may arise, and there will be some, anything that is worthwhile comes with challenges. Try to mitigate these challenges with a solid plan.

What’s the plan?

Now that you have a clear goal in mind, create a plan to give you a step-by-step guide to achieving your goal. Keep the obstacles you identified top of mind so that you can incorporate steps to overcome the obstacles as they occur.   Incorporate the nitty gritty of what you need to get to the finish line.

Set a timeline.

When do you want to achieve this goal? All goals should have a start date and a completion date.  That way, you can keep your motivation level high to help you make it to the end. Create a target date and a couple of dates to check back in on your progress.  In 3 months or ¼ of the way through the year you should be well on your way.  Check in and adjust your actions as required.

Block it off

Set out the time in your calendar. This may be weekly, daily, bi-weekly–whatever it takes to make it happen.  Set reminders to pop up so you can’t ignore them.

Get a coach

Choose to share your goal and timeline with someone close to you. Think about who you have in your life that you could trust to hold you accountable to your goals. This should be someone that will check in with you at least once a week to see how your goal is coming, and if you didn’t follow through, ask you why. This person needs to be someone who will hold a mirror to your face, reminding you why you made the goal in the first place. It’s one thing to write something down and forget about it, by sharing your goal you bring it to life.

The ability to focus your mind on something that will improve your life, and outline a road map of how to achieve it is a skill that is critical to being successful.   It’s important to be calculated in your planning, and work through the obstacles to accomplish what you are capable of.  Best of luck with setting your goals-here’s to a successful 2023!  Of course, if your goals include home ownership, downsizing, upsizing, buying a second property, doing a major renovation or anything of the sort we are here to help.

Call Kevin, Jason or Blaire to see how we can help 250-753-2242