By Avreet Jagdev

It’s a new year, so it’s time for many people to think about new goals and habits. Although setting New Year goals and resolutions can be a great practice, it is important to remember that you don’t have to wait for a specific time of year to decide to set new goals for yourself. It is never too late or too early to do this — in fact, the most effective time to set goals is as soon as you see the need for them.

It’s a month into 2023, and if you haven’t set or stuck to your New Year’s Resolutions, there is no need to worry! With these tips and strategies, you will be able to set goals that you will actually achieve.

1. Start with some serious reflection

The best goals are the ones that directly respond to an area of your life that you think you lack in or need to work on. In order to find these areas, it’s important to sit down and reflect on the past year, month, or semester. What are some good and bad habits that you have? Which aspects of your life do you want to improve in? How can you do this? What habits do you want to employ?  These questions will help you formulate goals that are specific to you and the areas of your life you want to improve in.

2. Avoid using the internet as a starting point

These days, it can seem like the first step to everything is to consult Google. Although using the internet can be great for inspiration, try avoiding using it as a starting point. Many of the goals you will find online will be generic, or simply won’t apply to you. This can make the process of goal setting more confusing and complicated than it has to be. Instead, begin with self-reflection, as listed in the first point. If you still need inspiration once you’ve done this, then you can consult the internet!

3. Make your goals specific and achievable

To ensure you will be able to follow-through with your goals, make sure they are specific instead of generic. Once you’ve identified an area of your life you want to improve in, think about what specifically needs to be done to improve it. For example, if you have been struggling with your morning routine, you might start with a goal that looks like ‘wake up earlier’. But for your goal to be achievable, you’ll want to make it more specific. To do this, think about questions like: What time do you want to wake up? Are you going to aim to wake up at the same time every day, or a little later on weekends? In order to get up at this time, what time should you be in bed by the night before?

4. Hold yourself accountable

The last step of effective goal setting is holding yourself accountable to that goal, and there are many ways to do this! You can write your goal down on a sticky note and stick it on your bathroom mirror, so that you are forced to face it every day. If you feel comfortable, you can share your goal with a family member or friend, and ask them to help you stay accountable. Whatever your method is, make sure it helps you stick to your goal!