How to Set Goals for the New Year 2024

Productive Fish Team
2 min readDec 29, 2023

A New Year’s resolution is a promise you make to yourself in the new year to start doing something good or stop doing something bad. Going forward, in order for this goal to be achieved, it must resonate with you.

Illustration by Productive Fish

Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Before you dive into goal setting — tune in to a positive vibe. Your mood has a special influence on your goals, because as you name the boat, so shall it float. For better goal setting, take some time to think about the past year. A great way to do this is to have an end-of-year reflection. It’s like having a friendly conversation with yourself where you see what went well and what you want to improve.

List Your Goals

It’s time to write down your goals for the new year. Consider the areas of your life that need a boost or changes. Write down general goals you want to achieve. Maybe you want to improve your health, boost professional skills, or spend more time with your family. After that, identify 3–5 main goals in these areas to focus on. Which one will make the biggest positive changes in your life? Which ones excite you the most?

Make Them Specific

The New Year’s goals should be specific. To do so use the SMART method. And if your goal feels too big or complex, simplify it by breaking it down into more manageable mini-tasks. Take baby steps and watch your goals gradually become a reality.

Track Your Goals

Start by writing down your goals and putting them where you will see them every day. It can be on the fridge, next to your bed, or even a mirror in the bathroom. Here’s a little tip: change the place where you post these reminders every month. Why? When we see something in the same place every day, we start to overlook it. By changing the location, your goals simply stay fresh in your mind.

Celebrate Progress

Tracking your progress isn’t just about recording what you do; it’s about reminding yourself how far you’ve come. Every big goal is made up of many small victories. Recognizing your accomplishments, even the small ones, acts as a powerful motivator. For instance, did you manage to read every week this month? Celebrate it! Started exercising? Give yourself a little credit!

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Productive Fish Team

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