Are you familiar with these stats about goal-setting?
- 37% of people have a goal in mind at the start of the new year
- Of the 60-70% of Americans who don’t set a New Year’s resolution or goal, 56% state “not wanting to” as the main reason why. Other reasons include breaking the resolutions too easily (12%) and forgetting (6%)
- 59% of young adults (18-35) commit to goals, dropping to 19% at 55+
- 3-9% of people will keep their goal/resolution (this “negative experience” for the majority may be one contributing factor to the drop in goal-setting as people age)
- 79% of New Year’s goals involve improving health; few set relationship, financial, family, or professional goals
- Those who practice goal setting and work on their goals are almost 90% likely to set new goals at the start of the new year (and continue doing so)
- Those who set SMART goals with an accountability group, and accountability date, are 95% likely to achieve their goal(s)
One beautiful aspect of goal-setting is that you don’t need a “new year” to restart on the right foot. You can simplify, redo, or recommit to your goals at any point — including today.
And, here are three articles to help you restart, recommit, or redo your goals on the right foot! Recommit to meaningful, motivating, fun, simple, and achievable goals!
Don’t miss the article on habits, habit stacking, and rituals!
Set Roles and Goals
Would you rather … set and achieve one meaningful goal, or set five goals and achieve none? If goal setting has been a challenge for you in the past, start simple. Set one (perhaps two) goals for your key life roles (e.g., personal, professional, significant other). Your goals are then laser focused and balanced (vs only focused on health).
Here is your goal-setting guide for setting 1-2 goals for each life role. This is called “Roles and Goals” and is a complete game-changer when it comes to goal setting!
Relevant Goals
The “R” in “SMART goals” stands for “relevant” — but relevant to what? Your goals should align with and be relevant to your personal vision — your life compass — to be meaningful, motivating, and even fun. When you set goals that align with your vision, your goals become a measurable and specific plan for realizing your vision. So, for each life role that has a goal, ensure there is also a “vision statement” that the goal aligns with.
You can find examples of “SMART” goals that align with a vision statement, by role, in this article on achieving your goals.
Changing Habits
Have you ever considered a new habit as a goal? New habits make awesome goals! Can you replace a bad habit — or no habit — with a positive habit or habit stack? Like the drops of rain that create a flood, small habits exercised day in and day create tidal-wave sized life changes!
Is there a “tiny habit” that can lead to life-altering changes in your life? Have you tried habit stacking to make it stick? Or routines? This article on replacing bad habits with good habits, outlines how to use habit stacking and routines. A single habit (or habit stack or routine) can be a great single goal if you’re looking to set “one goal” that can drastically change your life!
So ....
Lead a life by design, rather than by default — choose to set your sail instead of get carried around by the currents of life! How? Create and recommit to some simple yet highly meaningful roles and goals. Ensure they are SMART and align with your vision. Be accountable and set a date when you will report to others on how you’ve done. And, if you’ve struggled with goals in the past, consider setting a new “habit stack” or “routine” as a single goal. That’s becoming your best!
“One ship sails East, And another West, By the self-same winds that blow, ‘Tis the set of the sails, And not the gales, That tells the way we go.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Tis’ The Set of the Sail
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