Setting goals for 2020 – tips and guidance for staying on track

The year 2020 has arrived! This is the most popular time of the year for setting new goals and new year’s resolutions – but once January passes, that initial motivation begins to fade. What do you do?

Maintaining the same level of motivation throughout the year is a big challenge and can often spark feelings of disappointment and self-doubt when that vision becomes blurred. So, if your goal is to lose weight, learn a new skill, buy a home or start a business – don’t worry. While every goal begins with a visual of the big picture, maintaining a crawl, walk, run approach can decrease your chances of falling off track.

You can accomplish this approach by using some of the following methods:

1. Write down your goals

When setting goals, the first and most important step is to write them down! Look at it as a way of taking control of your life and creating a purpose! Goal setting is essentially a skill. It’s common to feel motivated and inspired at the start of a new goal, but maintaining that level is the challenge. Goals are easy to make, but it’s also easy to become disconnected and lose track.

2. Take it one step at a time

Keeping your goals in a visible place is a great reminder to keep moving forward.

Once you have an ideal goal in mind, don’t overwhelm yourself with the big picture. Any goal will take effort, so moving at a steady pace will help avoid falling off track. For example, weight loss is one of the most common goals people set for the new year. If your goal is to lose 50 pounds, take it five pounds at a time. Setting mini goals inside big goals is a great way to stay consistent and at ease.

3. Keep track of your progress

Keep reminding yourself you’re making moves and are further ahead than where you already were! This could be keeping a journal, recording statistics or for weight loss – taking photos. Any method you choose, all that matters is that you have some form of evidence about what you’ve already achieved.

4. Look for support and encouragement

Staying on track with personal goals is difficult to accomplish alone. Whether it’s your team of co-workers, your significant other, friends or family – having that sense of positivity surrounding you can provide the uplifting energy you’d need should you hit a snag. You can also look for a group that shares your same goal. This can give you the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and share advice and encouragement.

No matter what you have put in place for your future, nothing is impossible. Do you have goals put in place for 2020? How will you make this your best year yet?