Goal Setting - Create real lasting change in your life.
Do you wonder sometimes if you are stuck in the movie Groundhog day?
You look at your to-do lists every week, and they look pretty much the same, your day to day is predictable and at the end of a year, you congratulate yourself for surviving… but a voice deep down niggles at you, questioning when are you are going to go for it.
We all have times in our like where survival is our only option.
Good news - Our brain is wired for survival (not happiness) so it loves these phases…. your brain knows how to keep you alive.
Bad news - Our brain is wired for survival so it is less energised by the idea of change and perceived risk and danger.
If you are feeling an urge to step out of your routine and make a change in your life, you need to own this decision and recognise that it will not just happen. Setting really solid goals is the most important step in making change happen….and yet, often, we
Side note before I get to the specifics of goal setting - If you want to make a change but have no idea what change is most important to you right now, start with this article first - Dare to Dream.
The New Year is a great time to set new goals so why do new years resolutions get such a bad reputation? Well, we are all guilty of 1) not setting any goals, 2) creating an outrageous long list, way out of reach, or my favourite, 3) setting goals and losing the page they are written on.
In my experience, here are the 4 pillars of creating goals that lead to long lasting change in your life:
The WHY needs to be powerful. So powerful that you can imagine it and you can feel it in your body. Focus on the really palpable change you want to make in your life. This pillar will automatically limit the number of goals you set so its a great way to prioritise.
Each goal needs to be realistic, among the full set of goals. Let’s get real - You are fooling no one setting an out-there goal. Set a realistic goal and know that you can always move it out, if you reach it too early. Better to hit your goal too soon, than never hit your whacky goal at all.
You need to be able to measure progress. Taking the wisdom from my days in analytics “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. For every goal, you need to have a tangible way to track your progress. Get creative!
Don’t forget to celebrate (& commiserate). You need to celebrate hitting wins along the way, to show your brain that you are safe and this stretch is actually becoming your comfort zone. When I say celebrate, I mean a physical cheer, tell someone, journal about it… get out of your head and celebrate! (And if things don’t go to plan, commiserate and keep moving, keep it light and breezy!)
Once you have created a draft of your goals, sit back and take a zoomed out look. Here are some helpful journaling questions to check your goals are inspiring, tangible and the level of stretch you need.
Ask yourself….
What is the smallest, most achievable step I can take today that moves me 1% closer to one of my goals?
What am I willing to give up (time, money, a habit) right now to signal to my brain that these goals are a serious priority?
Describe a day in your life one year from now, having achieved your top priority. What are you doing, smelling, hearing, and wearing?
Who or what is most likely to unknowingly challenge or undermine my commitment to this goal? (e.g., a family member's routine, a demanding boss, a specific social setting).
Most importantly, remember goal setting is not a one off exercise. To craft goals that create long lasting impact, you need to really commit. From my experience, there are a few key extras touches that drove accountability and have made my goals stick.
Goal Reviews - Once a month, once a week, whatever cadence works for you, rate yourself. Check in on how you are tracking against your goals. This can be a great time to celebrate, make any adjustments or maybe completely reset if you have fallen off the wagon.
“It's not how we fall. It's how we get back up again.” - Patrick Ness.
Visual Reminders - Make your goals impossible to avoid! Stick them on your wall, save them on your desktop or my personal favourite, save a reminder on your phone lock screen. Your brain responds to visual cues so your job is to make your goals memorable, and maybe even unavoidable.
“The most important thing is to remember the most important thing.” - Stephen Covney.
Say it out Loud - I shared my goals with people in my life who could support me. By saying it out loud, you are boosting your accountability and opening the door for a conversation/negotiation around the support you need to reach your goal.
As we all know, it really does take a village!
As you can see, setting goals that create long-lasting impact, it not straightforward but it really is important, if you want to make change in your life.
If you are fired up to approach goal setting differently in 2026, join an upcoming workshop to invest 60-minutes getting started on your first draft, in a supportive environment of goal setters.
