Reaching your goals can feel impossible sometimes. You set ambitious targets, only to fall short when life gets in the way. But this year can be different! With focus, planning, and consistency, you can make serious progress on your major goals over the next 12 months.

Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

First things first – set S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. stands for:

• Specific – Be precise about what you want to accomplish.
• Measurable – Set defined metrics to track progress.
• Achievable – Make sure the goal is realistic.
• Relevant – Align goals with your overall objectives.
• Time-bound – Give yourself a deadline.

Crafting S.M.A.R.T. goals sets you up for success. A poor goal would be “Get in shape.” A better S.M.A.R.T. goal would be “Lose 15 pounds by running 3 times per week and tracking calories, by December 1st.”

Take time to write thoughtful, S.M.A.R.T. goals for your top 3-5 priorities this year.

Break Goals Down into Milestones

Major goals can seem overwhelming. Break them down into smaller milestones so they feel more manageable.

For example, if your goal is:

• Publish a book in 9 months

Your milestones could be:

• Month 1: Finish first draft of 5 chapters
• Month 2: Finish next 5 chapters
• Month 3: Finish remaining 5 chapters
• Month 4: Edit entire manuscript
• Month 5: Research agents and send query letters
• Month 6: Follow up with interested agents
• Month 7: Sign with an agent
• Month 8: Work with agent to polish manuscript
• Month 9: Agent submits to publishers

Seeing the incremental steps makes the path to achieving your big goal much clearer.

Schedule Your Priorities

Now that you’ve defined milestones, schedule time to work on them each week. Include these priorities in your calendar like any other appointment. That way you won’t keep pushing them off.

Block off a few hours each week to dedicate to your most important goal. Protect that time fiercely – don’t let non-essential meetings or tasks eat into it.

Scheduling your priorities into your week helps guarantee you’ll make consistent progress.

Remove Distractions and Get Organized

Setting aside focused time for your goals is crucial. But you also need to minimize distractions within that time to maximize your productivity.

Here are some tips to create an environment conducive to deep focus:

• Work offline: Temporarily disable wifi on your computer/phone to avoid online distractions.
• Use apps to block distracting websites: Apps like Freedom prevent you from accessing time-wasting sites.
• Find a quiet spot: Noise and interruptions break your flow – so find a quiet nook where you can work.
• Declutter your workspace: Clean surfaces help clear thinking.
• Have needed supplies on hand: Gather materials like notebooks and pens so you’re not searching mid-task.
• Use productivity music: Some people find music helps them focus. Find instrumental tracks or beats to play softly in the background.

Taking a few minutes to create an organized, distraction-free zone will really boost your efficiency.

Leverage Accountability Partners

Striving for big goals alone can be tough. Find an accountability partner to stay motivated.

Accountability partners:

• Check in on your progress
• Keep you focused when your commitment wavers
• Offer encouragement during setbacks
• Celebrate wins with you

Friends or colleagues committed to growth make ideal accountability partners. Meet or chat regularly to discuss your progress and next steps. Having someone invested in your success helps you stick to the plan.

Anticipate and Overcome Obstacles

No journey to achieving bold goals is seamless. Adversity and obstacles are guaranteed to pop up. The key is anticipating potential setbacks so you can proactively overcome them.

For each goal, brainstorm plausible obstacles. If your goal is advancing your career, some roadblocks could be:

• Struggling to find time for professional development
• Shyness about networking
• Not getting chosen for high-visibility projects

Once you’ve listed potential obstacles, make an action plan to tackle them if they arise. Using the example above:

• To make time, wake up 30 minutes earlier to read industry books or take online courses.
• To overcome shyness, practice talking points before networking events. Start conversations focused on the other person.
• To get onto projects, schedule regular check-ins with your manager. Come prepared with ideas and enthusiasm.

Thinking through hurdles now equips you to push past them.

Review and Adjust Regularly

Finally, build in regular reviews of your progress on goals. Mark monthly check-ins in your calendar. During these, assess if your process is working.

During reviews, ask yourself:

• Are my milestones still realistic? Do I need to adjust the timeline?
• Is my schedule still optimized, or is there room to increase focus time?
• Are there new obstacles impeding progress that I need to address?
• Am I remembering to celebrate small wins along the way?

Make any necessary tweaks to your plan. Changing course earlier rather than later keeps motivation high.

Staying flexible allows you to respond effectively when life throws curveballs. With regular recalibration, you can achieve this year’s big goals.

Using This Advice to Reach Your Goals

Follow the strategies above to make this time different. With S.M.A.R.T. goals, focused time, accountability, and adaptability, your top priorities are within reach.

Here are some final tips to drive progress on your aspirations:

Leverage motivation rituals. Have a routine that gets you fired up to work on your goals each day. Listen to an inspirational podcast on your commute, or look at vision boards over morning coffee.

Set reminders to celebrate wins. Recognizing progress is energizing. Log celebrating in your calendar as much as the tactical work.

Find intrinsic motivators. Connect your goals to your values – why they matter, not just the concrete result. The deeper purpose will pull you through hard times.

Replace the inner critic with kindness. Don’t beat yourself up over missteps. Talk to yourself with compassion.

Enlist others to amplify your commitment. Share your dreams and intended milestones with family and friends. Having cheerleaders helps you go the distance.

You are capable of achieving great things this year. With smart planning, resolute focus, and belief in yourself, your goals will move from dreams into reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we set goals but then fail to achieve them?

There are a few common reasons we set goals but fall short:

• Goals are too vague or broad rather than specific. This makes it hard to take tangible steps.
• We lack an actionable plan on how to reach the goal. Without defined milestones and tasks, it’s easy to procrastinate.
• Life throws surprises and obstacles. If we haven’t prepared for potential setbacks, they can derail progress.
• We don’t build in accountability. Without sharing goals and regular check-ins, it’s easy to lose motivation.
• Goals conflict with each other. If we set competing goals, we spin our wheels.
• Deep down, the goal isn’t connected to our inner motivations. Chasing something not aligned to values is draining.

With more S.M.A.R.T. planning and preparation, we can overcome these pitfalls.

How can I stay motivated when progress seems slow?

When chasing big goals, progress can feel painfully slow at times. Here are some ways to stay motivated when the finish line seems far away:

• Celebrate small wins rather than focusing only on the endpoint. Recognize each milestone and achievement.
• Find an accountability partner to keep you focused when motivation lags. Talk through challenges and next steps.
• Revisit why the goal matters to your values and purpose. Connect to your “why” during hard times.
• Measure quantitative progress, like tracking stats and metrics. Visual signs of progress keep you going.
• Take a break rather than pushing harder. Walk away for a day to rest and renew motivation.
• Focus on how far you’ve come rather than how far there still is to go. Remember every step forward counts.

How do I choose just one or two goals to focus on?

Narrowing down to one or two big goals for the year is really hard! It means letting go of other aspirations for now. Use the following filter to hone in on top priorities:

Impact – Which goals will create the biggest positive ripples in your life and career when achieved?

Timelines – Which goals are must-do’s for this calendar year? What can wait?

Interests – Which align with your passions? What will excite you out of bed each day?

Capabilities – Which play to your strengths and assets you can leverage?

Values – Which most align with your core values and sense of meaning?

Run each potential goal through this filter, and the one or two that bubble up will be your north stars this year. The others can go on next year’s list!

How do I stay focused when it’s tempting to multitask?

Humans are often tempted to multitask. But focus is crucial to achieving goals. When you catch yourself wanting to do too many things at once:

• Consciously choose the single most important task in that moment. Pause lesser priorities.
• Set a timer for a short burst of completely focused time – like 25 minutes. Challenge yourself to stick to the one task for that period.
• Remove or minimize distractions in your environment before an intense work session.
• For big projects, break work into smaller, clearly defined tasks. Switching between smaller tasks feels less jarring than jumping between huge goals.
• Write down all the items floating around your brain. Getting them out of your head and onto paper can clear mental clutter.
• Reflect on your tendencies that drive multitasking, like fear of failure or compulsion to perfect. Address the root cause.

With practice, focusing on one goal at a time will feel more natural. You’ll get more done.

In Conclusion

This is the year your big goals shift from dreams into reality! Define S.M.A.R.T. objectives, break them into doable milestones, schedule focused time, remove distractions, enlist support, anticipate obstacles, and regularly review progress. With concerted effort and belief in yourself, you can achieve the targets that will elevate your life and work to new levels. Now get out there, focus, and make it happen!

Favorite