NEED HELP SETTING YOUR NEW YEAR’S GOALS?

Seven Tips for Setting Goals

Hello 2026! Every year, it’s the same deal: make resolutions, plan goals, and/or find a word to define your mindset for the next twelve months. The beginning of a new year is also a defining time to make a change. A time to acknowledge and be self-aware of what we need for self-improvement. 

If you need help setting your new year’s goals, you’re not alone.

In December, I didn’t reach a few of my goals. It wasn’t from a lack of trying—getting an agent is partly out of my control— but I realized I had been so hopeful and working toward the one thing I really wanted that I neglected to acknowledge the good things I did with my time. The things that make me happy: I published two books, I discovered metal-stamping, and I’m succeeding on my fitness journey.

To bring in the new year, I decided to reflect on the small victories, and I opened a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut to acknowledge my accomplishments. I was saving the bottle for a special time when signing with an agent or landing a publishing contract was worthy of raising a glass. The bottle was gifted to me years ago, and I couldn’t bring myself to open it without a reason. A validated reason, one that could be life changing. If I had kept it, it would soon expire, and then I’d miss out on the luxury of enjoying such a fine bottle. 

If you have good intentions to create new goals or to use your word to define the year, planning and writing it down is a good start to make change. Acknowledging what you want helps create a positive mindset. 

You’ve heard of SMART goals, right? Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. 

Be specific about what you want to achieve. 

​If you need help to set your goals, here are some tips for successful goal setting:

Get an Agenda

There’s nothing that sparks my creativity more than having new stationery. Pretty pens, pencils, and paper with designs and colourful sticky notes bring joy to the page and the mind. Reading it daily reminds you of the path you’re on. 

Further reading on the benefits of agendas, click here.

​Write it down.

Whether you use an agenda or a desk calendar, write down your task. It’s why to-do lists work. You write it down, check it off when it’s complete, and there’s a feeling of accomplishment. 

It also makes you accountable for your actions. For example, if you need to write a novel by a certain date, work backwards on a calendar, so you know how many words you need to write daily to achieve the goal.

Track your progress

At the end of the day, make sure you’re accomplishing your goal at a pace that works for you. It’s easy to keep adding to the to-dos, but if it’s hard to change a schedule or the amount of work is too much, adjust the goal. It’s better to have a smaller goal and tick it off your list than stress and not accomplish anything.

Good attitude

Making realistic goals is key. As an author, I’ve had ups and downs, but what I’ve learned is that you can’t control other people’s opinions and decisions. Getting an agent or a publishing contract is hard. Selling a manuscript can take months or years, and even if it gets picked up, there’s no guarantee how well it might do when it's published. It’s always the unknown, and as much as one can work toward the goal, it’s all about timing and a little luck. So, when rejection becomes common, the one thing you don’t have to lose is attitude. Staying positive will help motivate you to keep on going and maybe try something new.

You’re not alone

Surround yourself with people who are rooting for you. It might be one person, or five. It doesn’t matter. Having a cheerleader in your life who wants to hear the good and the bad will keep you going. 

Let’s face it, writing is a lonely profession, so keeping in touch with those who are supportive and who are cheering for you even when you’re losing hope.

Find a hobby

Creative people love dreaming up new ideas. When a story isn’t coming together, doing something else for distraction when you're disappointed or unfocused helps. It will help motivate and can even trigger new ideas. Do you ever go for a walk, and something will pop into your mind you weren’t even thinking about? When you’re stuck on ideas and allow yourself to relax, it gives you the time to think without effort.

Reward

You don’t have to buy something or toast a beverage to acknowledge your accomplishment; taking a moment to reflect on your goal brings a sense of pride. Enjoy a cup of tea, call a friend, or read a new story. Do whatever brings you happiness in your day.

Let’s move into the new year with hope, positive thinking and hard work to reach those goals. 

Acknowledge your accomplishments and celebrate the small victories. 

It’s the perfect time.

* Opinions are my own