As we tick over into a new year, many of us feel the instinctive pull for change – a desire to feel better, do better and make life feel more aligned to our values and goals. While this wave of motivation is in full force, it can quickly fade if you don’t have direction and a plan in place.
Thoughtfully planning out what it is you want to achieve and how you go about achieving it, can provide clarity and structure and ensure you stay on track.
As we look toward to the year ahead, now is the perfect time to set out a framework that supports lasting progress, not for the first few months, but throughout the whole year.
We explain how setting realistic goals can help you grow, stay motivated and create a year you can be proud of.
Reflecting on the past
Before we start to look forward, we must look back. Reflect on what you achieved in the past year – think about where you felt a sense of accomplishment as well as the areas that you may have fallen a little short and may need improvement for the year ahead.
Writing each of these down makes it easier, so you can avoid repeating the same patterns, especially for the things that didn’t go according to plan.
Next, you need to align your goals to what matters to you. What are your true values? Many goals are set based on what we think other people expect or what we think we should be doing. If you’re creating goals for these reasons, you are probably setting yourself up for failure.
Some considerations for values that are important to you could be health and well-being, career growth, family and relationships or financial stability.
Building the framework
Now, we’ve all heard about setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time- bound), but what about ‘systems’?
Author of Atomic Habits, James Clear, states that when we are not achieving our goals, or breaking certain habits, it may not be about the goals that are being set but the system we are using to achieve the goals.
Clear uses a framework called Four Laws of Behaviour Change, which set rules around achieving goals, or breaking bad habits. The four laws are as follows:
Law 1 – Make it obvious
Law 2 – Make it attractive
Law 3 – Make it easy
Law 4 – Make it satisfying
These laws are designed to create a simple, effective framework to keep you focused on your goals.
Implement and execute
Here are some examples of how you can use this system to create simple habits to achieve your goals.
Law 1: Make it obvious
- Design your environment so the cue for your habit is right in front of you
Example: Put your gym clothes on the bed the night before
Law 2: Make it attractive
- Pair habits with something you enjoy
Example: Only listen to your favourite podcast while walking
Law 3: Make it easy
- Reduce friction-make habits as convenient as possible
- Start small:
- Do 2 push-ups
- Meditate for 1 minute
LAW 4: Make it satisfying
- Reward yourself immediately after the habit
- Track habits so you feel progress
- Create a “don’t break the chain” streak
Cultivating small daily habits will keep you motivated. Fostering sustainable habits and seeing the gradual change each day will give you the dopamine hit you need to continue on your journey. When you start to feel overwhelmed, the process feels like a hard slog, and you are less likely to stick to it.
Remember, you don’t need to overhaul your life, it’s about creating small habits that are going to be more manageable to help you achieve big goals, whatever they may be.
Set yourself up for kicking goals
Setting goals for 2026 is an opportunity to shape your life intentionally rather than drifting through the year on autopilot, which we tend to do if we don’t carefully and thoughtfully plan ahead.
With reflection, clarity, systems, and flexibility, your goals can become powerful tools for transformation. Start early, stay curious, and give yourself permission to evolve along the way.
Here’s to a purposeful, aligned, and fulfilling 2026.
