Okay, I know that everyone and their grandma is talking about setting goals right now. But there’s just something about this time of year that gets me really motivated to get stuff done. And it’s honestly just a great time to look back over the past year, see what you’ve accomplished, and figure out what you want to do over the coming year.

Every year I set a lot of different goals. I won’t say that I’ve accomplished all of them. But over the years I’ve gotten a lot better at picking out goals that are attainable and creating actual plans to make sure that I achieve them. So I wanted to share some of the things that have really worked for me. Here are some simple tips.

Look at what you did last year

The best place to start when coming up with goals for the new year is to look at what you accomplished in the past year. Is there anything you really wanted to do but didn’t get to? Take a look at why you didn’t accomplish it and determine if you might be able to get past those barriers this year. If you did accomplish all of your major goals, then you can probably get even more ambitious in the coming year.

Example: Last year I set a goal to pay off all of my credit card debt. This was going well through the first part of the year. But later, I had the opportunity to buy a house. My debt was a lot smaller, but as we know there are a lot of expenses that go along with having a new home. So I wasn’t able to get them fully paid off. This year, though, I feel like I’ve already covered a lot of the main things I needed for my house. And I went over all of my bills and expenses and I’m really committed to paying it all off this year.

Don’t go too crazy

When setting goals, it’s great to push yourself. But you don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment. If you set a huge goal and within a month you decide that it’s unattainable, you might just quit altogether, rather than making actual progress in that area.

Example: I really want to improve my diet this year. However, it’s really hard to go from eating complete garbage to having a low-carb/vegan/paleo/whole 30/whatever other kind of strict diet plans are out there. So I’m starting small: no fast food. Then throughout the year I’ve set other small goals that can help me create habits that are actually attainable.

Break them down by month, week, etc.

We all love to put things off until the last minute. But that’s a really bad plan when it comes to yearly goals (and most other things, let’s be real…). If you put off goals that you should have been working on all year until December, then your likelihood of failing is great. It’s a much better idea to take your yearly goals and break them down into months, then weeks and maybe even days so that they stay top of mind.

Example: I’m going to be really focused on growing this blog and online brand this year. But that encompasses a lot of things. So I created a sort of outline that includes several different, smaller goals: starting an email newsletter, growing my social media channels, posting regularly, etc. I’ve written down more specific goals for each month in my planner. Then when I make my schedule for each month, I write down the things I need to do on each day that will help me achieve my goals for that month.

Listen to experts

No matter how motivated and driven you are, there are some goals you just can’t hope to accomplish without a little help. Taking a class, buying a book, or even just finding the right experts to follow online can be a huge help in keeping you motivated and giving you the right knowledge to succeed.

Example: I’ve been blogging, mainly on visually oriented topics, for years. But I’m still not a strong photographer. Getting better at taking photos has been on my goal list for years, and I have improved a bit on my own, just by experimenting with my camera, reading blog posts, etc. But there comes a point when you just need some real expert help. So last year, I signed up for a class that teaches the basics of DSLR photography, and this year, I’m actually going to take it and make it a real focus (pun intended).

Invest in the right stuff

Likewise, if you need any sort of equipment or supplies in order to achieve your goals, make sure you make the right investments. Don’t skimp on something that’s important if it’s actually going to hinder your efforts down the line. But be realistic – don’t go broke just so you can buy every top-of-the-line device that helps you prepare vegetables. If what you really want isn’t attainable with your current budget, then make this year’s goal to save for those items. Then focus on buying and using them later.

Example: Working out has never really been my friend. I started a plan last year that I’ve actually been able to stick to. But because I was working out basically in pajamas and Chuck Taylors, it wasn’t going as well as it could have. For Christmas I got some actual workout clothes and shoes that are comfortable and supportive and all that good stuff. It’s honestly amazing how much of a difference it makes. Plus, it’s motivating because I get to use all my cool new stuff when I work out. Win, win!

Make them public

Here’s the thing. We all get lazy and unmotivated sometimes. It’s great to have this burst of energy in the new year, but come mid-February we’ll probably all be curled up under heated blankets making excuses for why we don’t want to work out, or do whatever it is we set out to do this year. If we’re the only ones keeping ourselves accountable, then it can be easy to let our goals go whenever life gets hard. That’s why I’ve found it really helps to make your goals public in some way. You don’t have to plaster them all over social media if you don’t want to. In fact, it can actually be more effective to find one or two people to confide in and have them hold you accountable throughout the year.

Example: As you may have guessed, this post includes basically all of my goals for this year. I’m telling you, so I can’t go back on them. And I give you all permission to yell at me if I do. I have a few others that are more personal that I’ve told to friends/family members. But I think going public has really helped me stick to things over the years. Even if no one is specifically yelling at me to work, I feel the drive to do it because I stated that I would and it’s out there and I can’t take it back.

So that’s my plan for the year. I hope you find some of the tips helpful. And I’d love to hear all about your goals and your progress (we can even hold each other accountable!) So please leave me a comment or email me with updates! I’ll be sure to let you know how my list is going too