The year 2021 has come to an end. If you are still thinking about what you want to accomplish in 2022, now is the time to do it.
These five easy-to-follow actions will get you ready for a new beginning.
Why are goals important?
When we discuss public policy, it is clear that we need a clear goal of where we want to go. In our personal lives, we are not always as deliberate. When compared to those who do not set any goals, those who do have clear goals are ten times more likely to see a positive change after six months.
This blog will walk you through five practical steps for setting and achieving your goals for 2022.
Why don’t you give it a shot?
Step 1: Begin with a year-end review.
I understand that this appears to be a lot of work, but it is well worth your time. Don’t overthink it; be honest with yourself. You want to know about the year that just passed without being judged. The simplest way to do so is to answer the following five questions:
- Consider 3 to 5 things that will make you proud in 2021.
- How far did you get if you set goals for 2021?
- Try to figure out what worked well, what didn’t, and why.
- Is there anything you’d like to change, start, or stop doing?
- What are some of the lessons you’ve learned this year that you’d like to carry with you?
Step 2: Determine which aspects of your life you want to prioritize.
What are some of the areas of your life that you would like to focus on now that you have completed a brief review of 2021? It could be family, improving your friendships, health, job, or something else. One thing to remember is that this isn’t about anyone else but you. Choose the three areas that are most important to you.
Some of you (like me) loves to travel and explore the other side of the world. With that, you will need to consider buying a journal that fits your needs and interest or perhaps a calendar so you can mark the dates of your itinerary!
Step 3: Determine your objectives for 2022.
It’s time to set your goals after you’ve gone through your year and identified the areas to focus on. Try to limit yourself to no more than 12 goals. Ideally, you should have two to three goals per quarter. Make sure that each of your objectives has a clear why. In other words, a specific plan.
Some journals are available based on your interest and designs too! This will add more excitement if you love to take in your creative thinking.
Step 4: Create a system to help you achieve your goals.
All we’ve done so far is set our intentions. It’s now time to put that into action. These five pointers will assist you in taking action:
- Prepare for it.
If you want to achieve something, you must make time for it. The most effective strategy is writing it in your journal and scheduling time on your planner or calendar. This simple action has the potential to increase your chances of success by 300 percent.
- Divide your objectives into manageable steps:
If the goals are too large or complex, they can be paralyzing and serve as an excellent excuse for procrastination. Breaking it down into manageable steps is the simplest way to get started. For example, if you want to exercise more, you can begin by subscribing to or finding an exercise program, setting the alarm, and blocking time in your calendar.
- Create an environment that will assist you in achieving your objectives.
It can be your greatest ally if you set it up correctly. Continuing with the gym example, you could prepare your gym clothes the night before. Other examples include turning off your phone during work hours and avoiding buying sweets if you’re on a diet.
- Don’t be afraid to begin small.
According to Stanford Professor BJ Fogg, one of the most common mistakes we make when setting goals is at the peak of our motivation when we should be doing so at the bottom. Willpower is unreliable, especially on bad days. Fogg suggests starting with two-minute actions that you could do regardless of what you were doing to create a habit.
- Celebrate both your small and large victories.
One of the long-term problems with change is that we see all the effort but no reward, at least in the short run. Bringing gratification forward is one way to change this. While you won’t notice much of a difference in your body after just one day of working out, you could start filling a jar with coffee beans every time you exercise. It’s a tool for tracking your progress.
Step 5: Plan for potential setbacks.
Finally, try to identify potential roadblocks and devise a strategy to overcome them. There are two common ones, as well as a small trick to help you overcome them:
- Procrastination: An excellent antidote for this is to write down your main tasks for the day and break them down into small, simple, and manageable steps.
- Researchers estimate that we waste 28 percent of an average workday due to ineffective multitasking. Try blocking off time to do one thing at a time and identify the time when you are most productive and allocate the most important tasks to that time.
Set and achieve your objectives.
Setting goals and writing them down in your journals and planner increases your chances of success. Why not give it a shot in 2022? Begin by considering 2021, what went well and what could have gone better. Then, consider the areas you want to focus on in 2022, and set no more than 12 goals. 3-4 per quarter is ideal.
Create a system to achieve it and try to anticipate potential setbacks by planning ahead of time to overcome them. For a fantastic 2022 for you and your family!