Need some help kicking off the New Year right? Here are our five tips on how to plan for a successful new year.

 

1. Start off organized. Probably the most difficult step is getting organized to take on a new year. Whether it’s downloading an app or enrolling in a program to lose weight to developing a clear financial plan to help you save money, getting organized to help you reach your goals is essential.  

 

2. Set realistic goals. Too often we start the year off having established goals we want to meet that are far from realistic. Then partway through the year, we abandon these goals when we realize we’ve raised the bar too high. No matter what goal you are trying to reach, make it realistic. Take into consideration time, expenses, dedication, and physical aspects associated with the goal.

 

3. Remember those goals daily. Write the goals down somewhere you will see them daily or set a reminder on your calendar once a week that will force you to glance at your goals and keep you on track.

 

4. Be flexible. Things happen in life that are unexpected and can easily derail your path towards achieving goals. Rather than completely toss these goals out the window, think about what needs to be done to reach them despite a new obstacle. Learning to be flexible and adapt to challenges will not only help you feel accomplished when you do still achieve your goal but it also encourages creative thinking and problem solving that helps you in all aspects of life.

 

5. One for you, one for me. Success doesn’t necessarily just mean accomplishing something that benefits you. Consider a “one for you, one for me” goal planning system. Set a goal you would like to achieve for yourself personally and then alongside that one, set a goal you would like to help someone else achieve. This could be volunteering your time or simply collaborating with a friend to help each other in the New Year.