How to set and achieve goals for 2021 - even if you’re feeling really unmotivated

How are your resolutions going? Did you even set any this year? 

Given the uncertainty we still find ourselves living in it can be hard to feel inspired and motivated right now. When I work with clients we start with how they want to feel, then we work backwards to find the simple diet and lifestyle changes they can make to help them achieve that aim.

A couple of weeks ago I was watching a ‘business goal setting masterclass’ I did with Vicky Shilling a few weeks ago. It’s free so go check it out if you want.

I realised this is pretty close to the approach I take with my 1:1 clients who want support to feel less stress / more energetic etc but just put a bit more succinctly but the ever so clever Vicky! So, to help inspire anyone who is wanting to make changes (and that’s important - don’t feel like you have to do this just because I’m suggesting it) I’ve taken what Vicky shared for business goal setting and applied to healthy habit goal setting and here you have my approach to seeing - and more importantly sticking to healthy habits or goals in 2021.

1. Set an intention for the year - how do you want to feel? What do you want to be different about your life in 12-months time and why - what difference would it make to you/your loved ones?

I always start with asking clients about the long-term goal, start with the long-term goal, the bigger picture, the life you want to have, how you want to feel in your body and most importantly WHY. This is your intention and it should be your motivation to keep going when times are hard. You might want to write it down, record a video message to yourself or even create a vision board to illustrate your intention if that feels helpful to you. Keep your intention visible every day to help keep you motivated and focused.

2. Create measurable goals - what will make you feel that way - what specific goals could take you towards living the life you want?

Now is the time to get specific, what things would need to change to help you reach your intention? Try to be realistic and stick to things within your control - all our lives would be easier if the coronavirus disappeared but you can’t control that so don’t spend time and energy on it! Be specific with your goals and make them time-bound and measurable too.

Start with just a couple of goals which will take you towards your intention, don’t feel like you have to - or would be able to fix everything at once. Overwhelming yourself with too many goals is more likely to mean you do nothing!

3. Create actions to help achieve your goals

This is the harder part, once you’ve identified your goals you need to decide the actions you can take which may help you achieve those goals and take you closer to your intentions. Again start small, simple and with just a few actions. Researching what might help is a start or working with a professional can give you the personalised guidance you need, not to mention the accountability and support to achieve those actions.

Make these actions happen by making them an easy part of your everyday life. If something takes too much time or is too complicated, it’s less likely to happen. Some people like to have a tracker to literally tick off what they’re doing every day, others put actions into their diary to give them more significance in their day or tag a new habit with an old habit which is already part of a daily routine.

4. Check back and find accountability

It’s all well and good setting intentions and goals but if you never check back in with yourself how will you know what you’ve achieved and more importantly if you’re any closer to your overall intention? Set a time in your diary to review your intentions and goals, maybe with a friend or family member for some accountability and make the time to review what actions you have tried, what worked and what didn’t work and what you could maybe try instead.

I hope this is helpful to get you thinking about goal setting in a different way. But I also know that making changes can feel overwhelming so if you’re still struggling why not set up a 1:1 call with me and I can help you with your goals and the actions to create those changes. I can also provide a regular check-in and accountability buddy to keep you motivated and on-track. Just imagine how different you could feel in 12-months time?