Staying on track The importance of goal setting

By Michaela Pointon

Setting goals is all about starting and heading into another year on the right track.

Yes, when you reached the end of 2022, you could look back and be proud of all you accomplished. This moment of proud reflection however, needs to be just that – a moment –before turning your attention to the year ahead.

According to Health Navigator New Zealand, having a goal helps motivate you and gives you direction in general everyday life.

“You may have one goal or several and they may be short or long-term. Whatever you’re aiming to achieve, it’s never too late to start.”

They also suggest research shows setting goals and working towards them can contribute to your overall happiness. There are many different strategies to set goals. Start with deciding what your goals are by doing a self-journaling session or creating a vision board.

Writing down your goals and developing a plan on how you will achieve them is an important part of the goal setting process.

Health Navigator New Zealand says, “Writing your goals down helps clarify what you want to achieve and increases your chances of sticking to them”.

They also suggest that, “You may encounter setbacks on your journey towards achieving your goals. The key is to not give up.

“If you hit a roadblock or something isn’t working, you can always try a different approach or re-adjust some of the steps [if needed] in order to achieve your goal.”

SMART goals

Breaking down your goals into measurable stages will help you feel as if you can achieve them in a timely manner. Using the acronym SMART is one way to help stay on track. Goals which are achievable and realistic means you are more-likely to be self-motivated to strive for achievement throughout the year.

SMART goals are:

Specific

Make sure your goals are specific enough so you know exactly what you are working towards. Breaking this down can also help with feeling overwhelmed when wanting to set your mind to a task.

Measurable

Ensuring you have a plan on how you can measure your goals is important. Facing the dreaded feeling of not moving forward can be disheartening. Measuring your goals in steps means the outcome will feel possible.

Achievable

This is not to say you can’t ‘reach for the stars’ with your goals, but ask yourself if they are achievable within your current circumstances. What changes do you need to implement in your day-to-day life to ensure you stay on track?

Realistic

Similar to achievable here! You should travel but how much do you need to save? Want to eat healthier? You might need to buy less dinners out. Be realistic with yourself and know goals require consistent and realistic effort.

Timely

Putting a timeframe on your goals can help motivate you. If goals are set too far in the future, they may feel impossible to complete.

Or, if you don’t allow yourself enough time you may feel unaccomplished. Finding the right balance with time and goal setting is key here. Reviewing goals periodically means you keep revisiting and reflecting on your progress. Keep on track with your goals by being honest with yourself about what stage you’re at throughout the year.

All of the SMART goal strategies work together to ensure you’re well on your way to accomplishing your goals and dreams. Be realistic with yourself about how you will work towards them and you’ll be one step closer to them coming true before you know it.

Self-determination theory

Health Navigator New Zealand says, “Setting goals that draw on personal motivations produces greater confidence in our ability to change and greater sense of ownership over the process”.

Personalising your goals to suit your personal motivations is one way to ensure you pick the right goals and they ‘stick’.

“The importance of ownership for personal motivation is captured nicely in what is known as the self-determination theory of motivation.

“This place a high level of importance on doing what we find to be intrinsically motivating or working from what is inherently rewarding.”

Selecting goals which come from a place of personal value over external validation will also mean achieving your goal will feel that much more satisfying.

Throughout the year make sure to look after all aspects of your hauora wellbeing including mental and physical health. Goal setting should be a positive experience where you can take time to understand what you envision your year to look like. Setting goals in the New Year can be daunting and exciting. Looking ahead into the future can feel impossible but with small, consistent steps, you will be able to see change in your life. CT