How to set post-New Year goals

Make resolutions that’ll last by finding out how to set post-New Year goals.

Every year, many of us try and fail to keep our New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps all we need is to adopt a different mindset. Rather than trying to keep up a resolution solely for the month of January, let’s start setting post-New Year goals that actually have a chance of lasting in the long run. Here are some tips for setting and keeping post-New Year goals.

Be realistic

More often than not, New Year’s resolutions don’t last that long because they naturally have an expiration date. If you haven’t accomplished your aim by the end of January, that’s it, it’s all over, you’ll just have to try again next year. However, making a positive change to your life is going to take time. You need to have patience and be realistic about your goals. If your aim is to get fitter, figure out how much progress you’re likely to make every month, rather than naïvely expecting to be able to run a marathon by the end of January. Slow and steady wins the race!

Tell people

It’s much harder to break resolutions when your friends and family are aware of your goals. Instead of sharing your New Year’s resolutions, tell everyone what your goals are for the entire year. If your deepest wish is to become better at saving money, declare to the world that you’re going be more frugal from January until December, not just for the first 31 days of the year. That way, you’ll commit to your goals more for fear of disappointing others. Of course your post-New Year goals are about you and no one else, but a bit of accountability can go a long way.

Think long term

There’s no point waiting until the New Year to decide what changes you’re going to make to your life. The best thing to do would be to start as soon as possible, and to think about your goals in the long run. Do you want to make a resolution that’s going to last you a mere 365 days, or would you like to make one that’ll last you a lifetime? It’s all about having the right attitude, so having a long-term mindset will help you achieve your long-term post-New Year goals. If you don’t expect to keep your resolution for longer than a month or two, then that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Make small changes

Before you can accomplish anything big, you need to start small. As Neil Armstrong said when he landed on the moon, ‘That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.’ You may not feel as though the small changes you’re making are amounting to much, but as time passes you’ll start to notice a difference. If your ambition is to become a better runner, five miles may initially seem like an impossible feat. However, in a few months’ time, five miles may have become your warm-up. Start small, aim high and prepare to exceed even your own expectations.

Keep track

A fantastic way to prove to yourself how far you’ve come is to keep track of your progress. When you look back over your notes, you’ll be astounded by how far you’ve come since you first began trying to achieve your post-New Year goals. By the time 2018 rolls around, you’ll be able to look back on the whole year with pride. Find a way of keeping track that works for you, whether you keep a notebook, use an app on your phone or tick off the days on your desk calendar.