We’re at the start of a new year. A year with new opportunities and adventures. The time to reflect on the past and making plans for the future. This has to be something that you would like to achieve within the next 365 days. You might kick off the year with good objectives but the sad truth is that new year’s resolutions don’t live long enough to see the end of your first term. Therefore you need to set goals that are realistic and achievable.

If you’re one of those people who don’t reach a goal, perhaps it’s too vague, difficult or unrealistic. Many people lose confidence as they set up a new year resolution every year and only keep it for a few weeks. Don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself by setting up a heavy list of objectives. There’s normally a lack of motivation, resources or you simply just lose interest.

To avoid new year failure, you have to set up a resolution you know you’ll be able to do. Be practical with this. Setting up goals for yourself normally boosts productivity. Without some sort of direction in life, it’s easy to sometimes feel lost and confused. A new year’s resolution will also help you work smarter rather than harder.

Choose an applicable goal

Is reaching your goal relevant to you? Don’t set a goal just because you should or because someone else is doing it. Set a goal because you actually want to do it. You must be committed to doing it. Make sure each goal is relevant to your school work or career. You don’t want to waste time on things that won’t benefit you in the long run. Ask yourself whether this goal is worthwhile and useful. Does it fit in the bigger picture? When you set a goal you know will benefit you, you’re more likely to work hard to achieve it.

Make your goal attainable

Is your goal acceptable to you? Writing down a goal is nothing, achieving it is the problem. Setting a goal that is too big and difficult to reach may lead to you losing confidence in achieving anything. However, that doesn’t mean you should set goals that are easy to reach. Start with setting small objectives and examine them as you go on. The same counts for long-term goals, you can break it up into smaller ones if it works easier for you that way. Whichever way you choose to go, it doesn’t matter as long as you reach them within your restricted time.

Commit to your goal

You have to carry out your goal and actually do what you’ve planned. To succeed, you must believe that you’re able to achieve your goal. Choose something positive that you really want to do. If you want to, you can tell your family and friends about it and they can even help or motivate you to accomplish it. Don’t leave it until the last minute to decide on a goal, that’ll prevent you from thinking about it out clearly. You have to set it in advance in order to work towards it. Remember, you have a full year to achieve it, so take your time.

Getting fit

Every year getting fit and losing weight are on top of people’s goal list. Sadly, in February everyone’s back to their normal habits again. If you set a goal like this, you have to make it fun in order for you to continue doing it. There are different ways for you to get in shape. You can join your local gym, a walking club or start cycling. If you don’t own a bicycle yet, there are bicycles on sale from Chris Willemse Cycles at affordable prices.

Be more organised

This is a common one for students. This counts for setting up notes after every class, creating study schedules and preparing for exams. If you’re organised, you’re getting things done faster and working more effectively. You’ll also enable yourself to spend more time on bigger things rather than minor stuff. This is a great goal to set as organised people normally have extra time on their hands. You won’t constantly have to look for stuff.

Try to make the best of the situation and reach whatever goal you’re setting. Sometimes you have to do more than what’s expected. Remember, a goal is only worth having if it can enrich your life right now. How you experience the present will determine the beauty of what you reap.