Goal setting for 2025
January…the new you?
The importance of goal setting for personal development.
Hi, I’m Christine. Welcome to my first blog of 2025! I hope it’s been a positive and healthy start to the new year.
Let’s take a look at the psychology behind setting goals.
We’re getting close to the end of January already! Have you made a new years resolution? Or set yourself a new goal or challenge? For many of us, January is full of the promise of becoming healthier, fitter, more organised, wealthier, happier…the list goes on. But what is the reality of achieving this? Are we setting ourselves up for failure? And how can we set goals and make promises that we can actually stick to?
I have never made a new years resolution in the past for the simple reason that I know I won’t stick to it. But what happens if you do set yourself a goal or a personal challenge? Are you setting yourself up for failure? Or is it a good thing to challenge yourself?
Well this year I’ve gone for it! I have made a few ‘firsts’ (call this a new years resolution if you must!) For the first time I have started a journal where I’m documenting my focus for the year ahead and how I’m feeling about my mental health and well-being. For the first time I have decided to not drink alcohol for the whole of January, with the aim of being more mindful of my alcohol intake in the future. For the first time I have a set of goals for the year ahead. But how will I make sure I stick to them? And does it matter if I don’t?
Here’s the psychology behind goal setting…
Setting goals is essential for self-motivation. The more effectively we plan our goals, the more likely we are to succeed. There is plenty of research that shows us that the more time and thought we invest into setting goals, the more successful we will be at achieving them! Setting yourself a goal actually influences your mind, it’s like turning on a switch that helps you make better decisions.
Edwin Locke created a theory in 1968 called “The goal setting theory”. Based on his theory, here’s what you should consider when planning your goals…
Difficulty of your goal - challenge yourself! An easy goal that’s too comfortable is not productive. The tougher your goal, the more motivated you’ll be, and you’ll feel more satisfied when you achieve it.
Be specific - when you set yourself a plan, be very clear to yourself about what you want the outcome to be, you need to target the area of your life you want to improve. The more specific this vision, the more intension you’ll put into it. Face it head on!
‘Reward reminders’ - seek out motivational speeches or quotes, people who inspire you, surround yourself with positive reminders of why you’re striving to reach your goal. Focus on the end result.
Goal efficacy - Edwin Locke said we often set goals that only offer temporary excitement…for goals to work they need to run a bit deeper than that. In others words, don’t look for instant gratification, look at the bigger picture, look towards long term success! We need to focus on rewards that aren’t necessarily the easiest, but ones that will give us long term satisfaction.
I’ve researched lots of interesting studies on this subject, and to answer my own question ‘does it matter if I don’t stick to my goals?’ yes it does! I want to improve. I want to have a focus. I want to make better decisions. I strongly believe in the power of goal setting.
Make a start by picking up a pen and writing down some priorities for the year ahead. Make your ideas clear and be specific. If you want to become fitter, don’t just write ‘get fit’ as your goal. Write down why you want to get fit, how will you do it? What needs to change in order to do it? What’s going to happen between now, and the end goal to make sure you get there?
What do you think? Are you going to go for it too?
Go on….you know you can!
Christine x
“Set the kind of goals that will make something of you to achieve them” (Jim Rohn)