We’re just over 2 weeks into 2022 – how are those new years goals coming along?

Many of us (most of us in fact) always start the year with all the best intentions – gonna eat more healthily, lose 30lbs, stop smoking and hit the gym 12 times a week.

But then that quickly drops away and it’s back to the same old, same old. New year, same you.

If you’ve set some goals for 2022 but have yet to get yourself moving towards them – let me help.

Here are 6 tips for setting goals that will help you achieve amazing results.

Pick a Goal that Motivates You

It may sound silly, but you have to be motivated to achieve the goal you set.

A goal to “lose weight” isn’t motivating, that’s not going to get you jumping out of bed in the morning.

But if your goal was to “lose 10lbs and fit into my dress from 5 years ago”, then that is definitely something that will motivate you.

It’s a subtle but important difference – attach some real meaning and emotion to your goal and it will make it a lot easier to achieve.

S.M.A.R.T Goals

SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Reasonable, Time-specific.

The key to your goal is making it smart. To put it simply make sure it’s clear what you want to achieve, that you know how to measure progress, it’s realistic and put a time frame on it.

To use weight loss as our example again – “lose weight” isn’t SMART.

The SMART example of this would be – “lose 10lbs of body fat in the next 12 weeks”.

That ticks all the boxes – you have a specific goal, you can measure your progress, it’s achievable and reasonable with the time limit you set.

Setting unrealistic or unachievable goals will only set you back. It’s tempting to go big, but that’s the opposite of what you want to do.

This brings us to the next tip…

Start Small

Stop trying to lose 30lbs in a week or month.

Start with something small like drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and let your success build motivation for bigger and better goals.

The problem with big lofty goals is they are hard to achieve. When you put everything into these goals it’s very easy to get derailed at the first obstacle. All of your work and effort can seem for nothing when your progress isn’t as quick as you’d hoped.

When you start small you give yourself the biggest chance at long term success. A small goal is much easier to achieve, when you do achieve it, you naturally look for the next bigger and better goal. This domino effect leads to long term success and fewer slip-ups.

Write Your Goals Down

A goal in your mind is nothing compared to a goal on paper.

Write it down and make it real and keep yourself focused.

I like to write my goals on sticky notes and keep them around the house – the bathroom mirror, the fridge, on the front door.

Place your goal wherever you’re likely to see it often and this will keep it front of mind.

Plan Your Goals

A goal without a plan is nothing more than a dream. Sit down and figure out exactly what you need to do to achieve your goal and then get to work.

The simplest way to do this is to start with the end result you want and work backwards.

What milestones do you need to hit to reach your goal? What daily tasks do you need to perform to reach those milestones?

That’s your plan.

Doing this gives you a roadmap but also makes your goals more attainable.

The focus is no longer about losing 10lbs.

It’s about eating 3 servings of fruit & veg, walking 20 mins and drinking 2 litres of water a day.

Also – if you are trying to lose weight and need some help figuring out how many calories you need, check out my free calculator here.

These are much more manageable.

Stick With It

Goals are always progressing and evolving, so stick with the process.

Don’t set it and forget it.

Remind yourself of your goal often and check in regularly with your progress and tweak the plan as needed.

No matter how good your plan is – you’ll still need to make revisions and tweaks along the way.

So don’t give up, stay focused and always be prepared to pivot!