How You Can Slay Your Goal Setting in 2023

By a Yoga Medicine® Contributor.

2023 is just the beginning! Every New Year people are ready to start working on their resolutions and have set their intentions for the next year. But more often than not, these resolutions are only worked on for a short period of time. People can be quick to give up because their goals are harder than they assumed. There are many reasons why this might be the case however, many fail to set realistic goals, check in with their progress and be flexible.

If you want to slay your goals in 2023, follow our recommendations below.

Set SMART Goals

• S – Specific: What do you want to accomplish? The S in SMART is like your mission statement and includes the five W’s; who, what, where, when, and why.
• M – Measurable: How will you measure the goal? This measurable aspect of the goal allows you to see progress or improvement over time. Setting deadlines is a good way to make sure your goals are measurable.
• A – Achievable: Is your goal attainable? Sometimes our goals can be very ambitious, and while that’s great, it’s not always realistic. Think about if the goal is doable and if you have the right resources available.
• R – Relevant: Does your goal align with the overarching goal you want to achieve? Think about how this goal is important to you and why it fits into your life.
• T – Timely: Can you accomplish this goal in a realistic timeframe? It’s important to put a time period on your goal. You can think about what should be achieved within the first quarter of the year to help you achieve this goal and halfway through the year as well.

Remember that having SMART goals gives you the framework to organize your time and set yourself up for success. By doing this you will be able to focus your attention on the priorities at hand and work towards achieving them.

Write Down Your Goals

Use a journal to write out your goals. It helps us to physically see our goals written down. Once you achieve your goals you can get the satisfaction of crossing them off your list. You can also use this journal to document your journey to reaching your goals. You can give progress updates, and write down any setbacks or any modifications to the goals you want to make. At the end of the year, you can look back at your goals and the logs you kept for each of them. This will give you the opportunity to reflect on what worked best for you when it came to achieving your goals and what you can do better next time.

Make this journal your “one-stop shop.” In addition to writing down your goals and logging your progress with each, write the definition of SMART goals in the front of your journal. Having this in a convenient spot in your journal allows you to take a look at it anytime you need to. This will be a great reference for you especially if you want to add or modify any goals throughout the year.

There are so many journals out there for you to choose from. Why not try one like this? There is plenty of space in the journal for you to do exactly what is outlined above.

Check Your Progress

Throughout the year you should check in with your goals. Why you might ask? The simple answer is so you can see your progress! This is where your journal will come in handy.

Start by writing out what you’ve already done to achieve this goal. For example, if your goal is to become a yoga instructor, write down how many of the requirements you’ve completed thus far.

Going through your goals and checking your progress will help you see if you’re on track to succeeding by the end of the year. If you aren’t currently on track with achieving your goals this is a great time to reflect on why that might be. This is an opportunity for you to see if you have any obstacles in your way and identify anything you might be struggling with.

After a time of reflection, remember your “why.” Why did you set these goals, to begin with? Are they still just as important to you now as they were at the beginning of the year? Answer those questions and move forward with a plan for the future. Come up with solutions to your struggles that are preventing you from accomplishing what you want, make deadlines, and celebrate milestones. Be sure to celebrate the successes you’ve had thus far and reward yourself.

Be Flexible

Life can get in the way of achieving your goals therefore it’s important to be flexible. Sometimes the unknown can cause us to be anxious and stressed especially when we aren’t in control and don’t know what to expect ahead. You might find it hard to get back on track after a setback, so why not find help?

There are many ways you can reduce stress, and get rid of that constant anxiety you may feel. Through our on-demand yoga classes you will be able to go through a series of therapeutic yoga poses that support not only your physical wellness but also your mental wellness. Our classes are designed to help you feel and live better. Take this opportunity to step away from the stressors in your life and tune into your breath and the stillness of your environment. As you go through your yoga session, your cortisol (the stress hormone) levels will slowly lower as the body and nervous system are going into a relaxed state. When you’re finished with your session you can now go back to reflecting on your goals with a clean slate and focused energy. You will be able to concentrate on how you can get back to where you want to be quite easily.

You can also look into various kinds of therapy and speak with a mental health professional about your feelings of anxiety, stress, or lack of motivation. Eventually, you will want to get back to working on achieving your goals. Not only that, you will feel a sense of relief when you get back into your routine and achieve your goals without any anxiety or stress. Prepare a plan within therapy to refocus and adjust your goals if needed and create a plan on how to move forward. Talking through your struggles when trying to achieve your goals with someone is a great way to brainstorm and get a new perspective on how you can move forward.

Follow this guide and achieve all of your 2023 goals. Be intentional with your goal setting and celebrate your wins. The journey of achieving goals isn’t always easy but in the end, your accomplishments will feel very rewarding. You are going to slay 2023 and your goals!