How to set goals for the new year & beyond in 2023
As the new year approaches, it’s a good time to think about setting some goals. If you want to know how to set goals for the new year and beyond, read on.
Now, I’m not one for bucket lists or new year’s resolutions, because these are often designed to set us up for failure when we don’t achieve something by a set date. They often feel forced and over-ambitious when we are already juggling so much in our lives.
I much prefer goal setting as you can make them realistic, achievable and adaptable. You can modify them if needed, without feeling guilty. They can be as grand as writing a book or as small as finding five minutes a day to meditate.
Here are some tips and tricks if you need to know how to set goals for the new year.
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The ‘how-to’:
Get a plan of action together to keep yourself focused and on track.
1. Write down your goals
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to put your goals in writing. Having them written down will help you keep track of your progress and hold yourself accountable. Plus, it’ll be a great way to look back and see how far you’ve come at the end of the year.
Keeping a simple tracker is a great way to see your progress in print or on screen. You could write up a list, or create a spreadsheet to mark milestones
Sign up for the free ‘get organised’ bundle and you will find a printable goal setting tracker to help you get started!
2. Be specific
When it comes to setting goals, being specific is key. Vague goals are more difficult to achieve because they lack a clear plan of action. So, instead of setting a goal like “read more” try something like “read three fiction books by June.”
You’ll have heard of the SMART goal framework (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). This is a more structured way of setting goals and ensuring they can be measured for success.
I don’t follow this exact framework myself as I like more flexibility, but many find it helps them structure and achieve their goals so read more on the framework if it appeals to you.
3. Make realistic goals
Another important thing to keep in mind when setting goals is to make sure they’re realistic. If your goal is too lofty, you’re likely to get discouraged and give up before you even make any progress.
On the other hand, if your goal is too easy, you might not feel challenged or motivated enough to stick with it. Try to find a happy medium between something that’s challenging but also achievable.
Make your goals tangible and try to identify possible pitfalls in advance to give yourself the best chance of success. Don’t set yourself up for failure!
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4. Hold yourself accountable
A great way to stay on track with your goals is to find someone who will hold you accountable. This could be a friend, family member, or even a co-worker. Having someone to check in with on a regular basis will help keep you focused and motivated throughout the year.
You may find a group that have similar goals (perhaps related to career, health or fitness) or you might already have a coach that you want to share your goals with.
5. Review and update as necessary
If something isn’t working well for you, give yourself permission to make amendments to your goals. This isn’t failing, just re-calibrating to ensure you keep things relevant and manageable.
You may find a goal you created no longer serves or interests you and that’s OK. Perhaps you need to shift the deadline or goal altogether. If a goal you can’t meet is making you unhappy, change it up.
6. Make them habits
Ensure you not only have your goals written down but scheduled into your calendar or goal tracker. Stick reminders on post-its around your home and alerts on your phone. These reminders are essential for staying on track and making them ingrained habits of your life and routine.
If some of your goals are actually healthy habits you want to install in your daily life, you need to allow time for that. Keep at it, at a pace you can manage, until they are cemented into your routine.
7. Remember to reward yourself
This is a key way to focus on the end game. You might have a half-way reward such as a new book, journal or a celebration night out when you finally achieve your goal.
Mini rewards are good for long term goals to keep your motivation up, recognise your hard work and how far you’ve come. Give yourself a pat on the back and acknowledge it with a reward.
The ‘what’:
Perhaps you need some inspiration on what to focus on with next year’s goals. Whether you’re looking to improve your health, your relationships, or your career, read on and see if any of the below resonates.
If you already have your list, that’s great! You might still want to add one or two from the below to have a varied bunch of goals which are the right combination of challenging and fun.
1. Finding more time for you
This isn’t easy but to give yourself a chance you need to set a realistic goal such as an hour a week or 10 minutes a day. Decide what you will do with this time (meditate, read fiction, practice yoga) and put the time in your calendar or set a phone reminder so you stick with it.
You may need to cut something out to find more time. Perhaps less time on social media app or less TV time. Consider getting up a little earlier to find pockets of time.
Read more on finding me time and things to do on a day off alone to yourself and maximise your precious time to yourself.
2. Get in shape:
Yep, this old chestnut. But it’s a common one for most of us for good reason. Exercising regularly can improve your energy levels, mental clarity, and overall sense of well-being.
Not sure where to start? Check out some of the exercise posts on this site. Read how to sneak in exercise when you work from home, the benefits of exercising outdoors and how to start running again to give you plenty of ideas on how to get started and keep up at it.
3. Save money
Sadly this is one many of us need, especially with the current cost of living crisis being experienced across the globe. If you’re not sure where your finances stand, now is a great time to take a close look at your spending habits and make some changes.
You may be surprised how much money you can save by making small tweaks to your budget. Read cutting costs at home and how to avoid impulse buying for more essential tips for keeping on top of your spending.
4. Travel more
See more of the world if you’ve not had much opportunity in recent years. If you’ve been putting off a special trip for a while now, it could be time to prioritise your need for adventure.
Read the benefits of travelling alone (lucky you if it’s an option!) and pack everything in a cabin bag for maximum efficiency.
You don’t have to go far though – even a weekend getaway can be refreshing – but getting out of your comfort zone will do wonders for your mind, body, and soul. Read alternative holiday or vacation ideas for inspiration or if money is tight.
If you have little ones now, that doesn’t mean travel is over for the next 10 years, but you do need to be strategic. Read holiday with a baby or travelling with a toddler and be prepared for every possibility!
5. Learn something new
If you’re looking for a challenge, why not try learning something new? Take up a new hobby, learn a new language, or enrol on an online course that interests you.
Not only will you feel accomplished when you reach your goals, but you’ll also acquire valuable skills that could come in handy in other areas of your life. We underestimate the power of transferable skills across different areas of our life.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn a new instrument? Or take up something else creative or social to meet others in your local area. It’s truly never to late to start learning something new.
6. Allow time for your creative side
For some of you, this might be linked to the above if you are taking up a new creative skill. For others it will be about re-igniting a creative interest you may have neglected in recent years.
Or perhaps you just want to carve out time and allow yourself to be creative in whatever way appeals to you. It could be dancing, painting, singing, making things or even enjoying the creativity of others such as visiting art galleries or going to watch live music or dance more.
7. Make headway in your career
If you’ve hit a lull and want to see change in your job or career, there’s no better time than the new year to get cracking. Perhaps you want to start job hunting straight away for something new, but if that’s not an option, look at other ways you can make positive change at work when you can’t just quit.
If you just want more flexibility at work such as working at home, to give yourself better life/work balance or to cut the commute (and your stress levels) that may well be achievable. Fine-tune your approach when asking to work from home in a way that justifies the benefits to your employer.
Working from home or more flexibility will also give you more time to achieve all the other goals on your list!
Some more ideas – how to set goals for the new year
- Career/work such as starting your own business or setting income targets
- Relationships/family such as taking a young niece/nephew/older relative out regularly or saving together to buy a home with a partner
- Health and well-being such as quitting smoking or eating a minimum number of fruit & veg a day
- Personal growth such as starting therapy/counselling, journaling or reading a self-help book a month
- Community focus such as volunteering or donating blood
- Environmental focus such as recycling/composting more, taking public transport more and eating particular foods less
Conclusion: How to set goals for the new year
The new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and set some goals for the coming one. The above tips should help you work out how to set goals for the new year with confidence.
By following these simple tips – writing down your goals, being specific, making realistic goals, finding an accountability partner and so on – you can make the most of your time and set achievable goals for yourself that leave you excited and confident.
Setting and achieving personal goals is always rewarding, but it can be tough to nail them down. And even harder to stick to them without a plan. Save and refer back to this post to keep yourself on track to achieve your goals.
And don’t forget to have a Spring goal review later to review progress and update things as needed.
What are your thoughts on how to set goals for the new year? Share below.
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38 Comments
Fern
My goal this year is to be more creative. In the world of hustle, I’d like to slow down and be creative.
Chantal Looyen
This is such a great guide to help us set goals. Sitting down to make that list can be overwhelming – especially if you’ve just come off a busy year.
Alison
I love learning about goal setting and you’ve put some great ideas together here
tianna
Great tips for setting goals for the new year, I’ve learned over the last few years to set more realistic goal so that I don’t end up not meeting them
Susan Whited
It would be hard to get anywhere in life without setting the right goals. You hit the nail on the head with this post.
Debbie
Great tips and ideas to set goals for 2023 and in the future. I definitely like the idea to travel more. I’ve got some bucket list ideas to fulfill!
Heather
Great article! I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions, but I do establish goals for myself all year long. I’m not familiar with the SMART method, so I’m excited to learn something new today! What a realistic approach to goal setting!
thecuriousdig
Thanks for your comment. I think just the word ‘resolution’ makes people anxious! Realistic and measurable goals are more structured for success!
Tiffany
My favorite from this list is “Finding more time for you!” Goals can be great, but I agree that it’s equally important to make time for yourself. Also love the part about learning something new and making time for creativity. Love that! I’ve been really burnt out lately so I’m trying to focus on slowing down and not going overboard with goal planning! I switched to a life planner that is less about making to-do lists and more about doing what makes you happy and it has made a huge difference in not feeling so stressed out all the time. Thanks for sharing this post!
thecuriousdig
Thanks for taking the time to comment and so glad you got so much out of it. Got to remember to include things we actually will enjoy and stick to!
Lucie Palka
I’m a big goal-setter! I love your tips here! Writing them down is important. I usually have them pinned to my corkboard, but I also broadcast my goals on my blog, that way, It’s out there, and I feel it holds me accountable!
I love my flexible work arrangement, and you nailed one of my goals, which is to take my lunch hour and do something for myself every day, work out, walk, blog, etc.
Amanda Newbery
I really struggle with setting goals, I find it so daunting to think about! This is a timely read for me as I want to do a new moon goal setting session tonight. Thank you π
Whitney Stewart
Lots of great tips in here! Almost all of my New Years resolutions are one of these highlighted in this post. So this’ll be a great foundation to follow through on. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Dru Davis
Such a great blog! It’s just what needed to see going into the new year.
Stephanie
I found this article on setting goals at just the right time as I have already ignored my New Year’s goals! After reading this article I am feeling reenerized to make progress!
DeAnne Roye
Great tips!
Erin Clay
This is a great post. I love setting goals and watching them come to fruition. Thank you for sharing!
Pantea
What a fantastic article and I LOVE that you are recommending that people set goals instead of resolutions since goals are much more realistic. I appreciate that you’re recommending SMART goals!
Sabrina
This is so great, I definitely struggle every year with this so this post is so helpful!
Lizzy
Great Post. Love the detailed advice about goal setting. I love a good list that I can tick off so Smart goals are the way forward!
Michelle Latinovich
Working on my 2023 goals right now! Got my new “blogging” planner and sitting here starting at it. Thank you for these great tips…you have helped formulate some ideas for me moving forward!
Lauren
This is such a helpful post for discovering what you want to achieve and how to go about it in 2023. I will be thinking about what I want out of this next year over the next few days. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Fransic verso
Great things to conisder and we definitely need to find more time for us. I’m working on it right now and will consider the rest.
Danielle
I like your reminders of how important reflection and building habits are to setting goals. I think if we reflect before we proceed we can be more successful. Also when I choose goals that I can make into habits making change comes easier.
thecuriousdig
Yes it’s the path for success! Thanks for commenting.
Krystian | With Love, Me
I love this guide! Setting realistic goals is super important. I find I always get too general and it makes me stop working on my goals.
Debbie
I always love the start of a new year to set new goals and reflect on the previous year and accomplishments. Great tips and ideas for a fresh set of goals (and rewards.)
Deanna | Life By Deanna
I am big about rewards! I love to set smaller milestones and then reward myself as I go. Keeps you motivated π
Courtney McKinney-Whitaker
There’s something in the new year that makes most of us think about goal-setting, whether or not we make resolutions. Mine are mostly focused on getting a sense of routine and normalcy back after all the upheaval of the last few years.
thecuriousdig
Yes thatβs a really good approach. Thanks for your comment!
Victoria @ The Contented Reader
This is such a great post. Setting goals is something I really need to get better at β especially in the new year! Thanks for all the great tips.
thecuriousdig
Thank you! Hope it helps.
Katie
Great post! I prefer making goals over resolutions too! It somehow makes them feel more manageable and attainable.
Christine
There is nothing like a good, well-sought plan to keep you motivated throughout the year. Thanks for sharing all these great tips!
Amanda Brown
This is a great article on setting goals. There is a lot of really good information.
Molly | Transatlantic Notes
This was great to read through; setting goals takes a bit of effort and preparation and this was a great reminder of the points to consider. Thanks for these ideas!
Brooke
I am all for setting goals! Both big and small goals. They always help motivate me to achieve my goals. Thanks for all the great helpful tips. Will be saving this as I set my goals for the New Year!
thecuriousdig
Great to hear this, thanks for commenting!