It’s natural to want to set goals ahead of the new year – we’re all looking for a fresh start, a reset for the next 12 months. These endeavors can take a slew of different forms, such as working out more, earning a promotion at work or learning a new language. The list is endless.

But by February, many people fail to stick with those resolutions. According to Insideout Mastery, a personal development resource, nearly a quarter of those who’ve set a goal give up by the end of the first week, and 43% expect to quit by the second month of the year, which means many throw in the towel as early as January.

However, setting goals and tracking progress are essential for moving forward in all areas of your life, both personal and professional. Here are seven ways to establish objectives and actually achieve them in 2024.

1

Ask what you want to achieve.

Before setting goals, brainstorm exactly what you’re looking to accomplish next year. Keep goals organized in different buckets – like personal, professional, financial, physical and mental health, etc. – and break them down into smaller goals. That will help you track progress and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

2

Make sure goals are SMART.

“Develop better sleep habits” is a worthy objective, but it’s vague and easy to forget. Instead, just like on your annual performance review, make sure each of your goals is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. Therefore, a sleep goal may look like “get eight hours of sleep a night for the next month.” That gives you a target to work toward that you can then tweak as necessary.

3

Write them down.

It’s super easy to forget your goals if they aren’t recorded. Write or type them out, and keep them visible. Perhaps they’re in your day planner, or on sticky notes on your laptop, fridge or bathroom mirror, or you keep them in your phone for easy access. Decide what works for you, and develop a way to track progress, like using a journal with positive affirmations inside.

43%
The percentage of people who expect to give up on their new year’s resolutions by February. (Insideout Mastery)

4

Re-evaluate as needed.

As you work toward your objectives, you may learn things about yourself and the process that you weren’t initially expecting. Give yourself permission to adjust your goals as you find necessary (they aren’t written in stone, after all). If you need more time to accomplish a smaller goal, allow yourself the flexibility to adjust the timeframe.

5

Tell family and friends.

Letting trusted people know what you’re working toward not only invites encouragement and feedback, but also keeps you accountable. They may also want to join you in the goal-setting process, which will add a bit of camaraderie and mutual support.

6

Celebrate progress.

Find ways to reward yourself for a job well done, for positive reinforcement. If you achieve a goal, large or small, consider scheduling some well-deserved PTO, head to the spa or golf course, or just read a book or take a leisurely walk in nature. Give yourself time to take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back.

7

Be patient with yourself.

If you don’t hit your targets or forget about a goal, don’t despair. Tomorrow is another day. Pick yourself up, speak positively to yourself, re-evaluate the goal if necessary and start again. The timeline is determined by you, so give yourself permission to reset in a low-key, low-drama way.