If you’re like many people, you’ve made a few New Year’s resolutions in the past that you eventually gave up on. It can be frustrating to set goals for yourself, only to find that you don’t have the motivation or the means to stick with them. However, this doesn’t mean you should give up on goal-setting altogether. With the right approach and a little bit of effort, you can make your New Year’s resolutions stick.

1) Define Your Goals

Setting goals can be a great way to give yourself motivation and direction in life, but it’s important that you don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated by them. Before setting any new goals for the New Year, it’s important to take the time to define your goals in a way that works best for you. When setting goals, it can help to break them down into smaller, achievable steps that you can work on. Ask yourself questions like: What will I gain from achieving this goal? And what do I need to do to get there?

2) Write Your Goals Down

Writing down your goals helps to solidify them in your mind and makes them real. When you put your goals on paper, it can help motivate you to stay focused and work towards them. You can also use this list as a roadmap or reminder to keep you on track and make sure you’re not straying too far from your original plan. Writing your goals in positive terms can help to reinforce the idea that achieving them is possible. You should also consider tracking your progress. As you complete tasks or reach milestones, make sure that you mark it off your list. This will help keep you motivated and remind you of how far you’ve come. 

3) Set Realistic Goals

When creating your resolutions, think about how much time you realistically have and the resources available to you. For example, if you want to take up an exercise routine, consider how much time you can actually dedicate to working out each week and what type of exercise would be most suitable for your lifestyle. If your goal is to launch a business, make sure you have the financial resources and support network necessary to make it happen (spoiler alert, you do have that with the HireMyMom family!). 

4) Set Specific Goals

Making vague or broad goals can make it harder to actually achieve them. For example, let’s say one of your goals is to get healthier. That’s a great goal, but how will you measure success? It’s much better to set specific goals such as exercise at least 3 times a week or eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. These goals give you a tangible way to track your progress. If you want to get more creative, you can break your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. Instead of aiming to exercise more, why not plan to take a 30-minute walk three times a week? Or commit to joining an online yoga class twice a week? These are more achievable and measurable goals that will help you stay on track and motivated.

5) Create a Plan of Action

Creating a plan of action to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions is an important step in making sure you can stick with them and actually follow through. Without a roadmap to success, it can be easy to get sidetracked or overwhelmed. Make a timeline to work with, and it will help keep you accountable. Make sure the deadlines are realistic and achievable — there’s no point in setting a timeline that’s too ambitious and then failing to meet it. Also check out HireMyMom’s free goal sheet to help you set and reach your goals.

6) Hold Yourself Accountable

It’s okay to call in some help on this one. If you worry that you won’t hold yourself accountable, ask friends and family to help! It’s good to have a set time to sit down and review your goals weekly or even monthly. Ask yourself: Did you meet your goal? Why or why not? What can you change moving forward to meet it before you review your roadmap again?

7) Celebrate Your Accomplishments

Don’t forget to celebrate your successes along the way! Whether it’s a small accomplishment or a big one, take the time to appreciate your efforts and enjoy the process of achieving your goals. For each goal you set, also set how you want to celebrate it! That can really help motivate you. For example, if your goal is to get your first client, and you achieve it, go out to dinner with friends and family to celebrate!

By taking these steps, you’ll be better equipped to stay focused and motivated in pursuit of your New Year’s resolutions. With the right attitude and determination, you can make this year your best yet! If your goals include starting or growing your remote career, be sure to check out our Cultivate course created to help you fast track your work from home career!