I love setting New Year’s resolutions! I think it’s a great way to set goals for the year and make improvements to yourself. However, there are some things people do wrong that cause them to get off track with their goals a few weeks into January. It happens every year! 

Why are we trying to be perfect in an imperfect world? We should focus on setting goals that work for us. In this episode, I share how to follow through on New Year’s Resolutions and advice on setting realistic goals you’ll accomplish.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How I follow through on New Year’s Resolutions
• Advice to set realistic goals
• Should you share your goals?
• Short-term vs. long-term goals
• Examples of New Year’s Resolutions

Following Through on Goals

I learned how to follow through on goals in 2013 when I was taking my Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. I failed twice before and I decided my New Year’s resolution would be to pass this test. I finally did, and it made me feel so amazing that I set a goal and made it happen. The feeling of accomplishment was almost addicting! I wanted to continue making goals for myself and working to achieve them. That’s why I continued my education and earned a few nutrition certifications, and am studying for one now.

Reflecting on 2023

It’s so disheartening and frustrating to not achieve a goal. You start so motivated and ready to get it done, but something happens where you don’t achieve it. I recommend that clients use this time to reflect on their year. Here are some questions to ponder:

• What did you learn or accomplish in 2023?
• What did you like?
• What didn’t you like?
• What do you want to create or achieve in 2024?

Reflecting on the year gives you the chance to imagine what the year could look like for you. If you want something to change from the previous year, you can make it happen. The next year hasn’t started yet! It’s up to you how the year will go.

Setting Realistic Goals

There’s no point in having a goal that doesn’t align with your mindset, lifestyle, and physical and financial capabilities. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. My New Year’s resolution in 2017 was to pay off my student loans. At that point, we didn’t have any children and were in a financial position to put money aside to finish the loan payments. This wouldn’t have been a realistic goal if I was right out of graduate school and pregnant. My lifestyle and financial capabilities wouldn’t have aligned with this goal.

Another example is my New Year’s Resolution for this year. I wanted to rebrand my business to provide more value to my audience. Last year, I was constantly hustling but feeling like I was getting nowhere. I was working on building my business but wasn’t able to share much value because of time restraints. In 2023, I collaborated with amazing people like Duo Collective, web designers, and other assistants to get the rebrand done. I decided to hand over parts of my business to experts, and they helped make the rebrand happen. 

Think about how realistic your goals will be in the upcoming year. Share your goals with the people who will support you.

The years go by so fast. Stopping to reflect at the end of one forces you to slow down and consider all you’ve accomplished. You’ll be amazed to see how much you did in a single year when you sit down and think about it. 

Jumpstart your new year by checking out my math and wellness services! 

If you liked this episode, check out…

Episode 2: Why I Left My NASA Engineering Job

Episode 12: The Ultimate Guide to Meal Prepping Without the Overwhelm