Personal goals give you a sense of purpose.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and feel like you’re doing the same thing everyday. That’s why having personal goals is so vital to your long-term happiness and well-being. They give shape to your days and provide a much-needed sense of direction.
You can set personal goals around any aspect of your life. Maybe you want to be more organized. Or be more creative. Or maybe you want to strengthen your relationships.
If you’re looking for inspiration on what personal goals to pursue this year, we’ve got you covered. Below are some exciting new goals that can help make your life better, happier, and more meaningful.
How to achieve your personal goals
First, here are some pointers on how to go about your personal goals. Having a plan boosts your chances of successfully achieving your goal.
Write your goals down
The best way to commit to your goals is to write them down. Write them down in your planner and check in on them regularly.
Have a mix of short-term goals and dream goals
It’s also fun to have a mix of personal goals. Add some short-term goals (goals that can probably be accomplished in a month or so) and some dream goals (these are long-term goals that might take years to achieve).
Dream goals stir our imagination and give us something big to shoot for. Because dream goals are so big, they take a while to come to fruition. So it’s nice to throw in some short-term goals as well, like reading a book a month, so that we don’t get antsy, and we can see results right away.
Make your personal goals measurable
Measure your progress by making your goals quantifiable. So instead of setting a goal to “read more” make your goal “read a book a month.” This way, there’s no denying if you’re achieving your goal or not.
Ready to get started? Here are some fun and exciting personal goals to try this year.
Personal goals to feel happier
- Take a walk every day. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to go outside and take a walk. Strive to walk outside everyday for at least an hour. You’ll feel calmer, more present, and just plain good.
- Create a morning routine. Are your mornings stressful and chaotic? Then aim to create a morning routine that will give you a sense of peace and order. Maybe it’s waking up a half hour earlier. Or writing in your journal. Or just savoring a cup of coffee before the craziness of the day sets in.
- Do something with your hands. There’s something about working with our hands that gets out of our heads and into the present moment. Whether it’s coloring or doing pottery or gardening or cooking, try to do a hands-on activity everyday. You’ll boost your creativity and feel more mindful.
Personal goals to improve your health and well-being
- Get sunlight first thing in the morning. Good sleep hygiene actually starts in the morning. Make sure you get sunlight as soon as you wake up so that your body is primed for sleep later that night.
- Incorporate more fruit and veggies. If you’re trying to be more consistent about eating healthier, then make the goal easier by starting small. Incorporate a fruit or vegetable with your meals. An apple with breakfast. A side of broccoli with dinner. You won’t feel so overwhelmed and it will be easier to maintain in the long run.
Personal goals to get your life in order
- Create a “fun” budget. We all know we should budget, but it’s not exactly fun or exciting to be disciplined about our finances. Make the experience more positive by creating a budget for an experience or activity you’re excited about, like a dream vacation. Once you have fun doing that, you’ll be more excited to create budgets around other parts of your life.
- Become financially fluent. Become more financially empowered by doing your homework. Subscribe to personal finance newsletters. Check out books from the library. Listen to a personal finance podcast on your walks.
- Declutter your digital devices. Digital clutter can add up so delete duplicate photos on your phone. Unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t read. And organize the files and folders on your computer.
Personal goals to get outside your comfort zone
- Read a book outside of your favorite genre. If you’re already an avid reader, then challenge yourself to read books that are outside of your comfort zone. So if you’re a non-fiction fan, read more poetry. If you’re a sci-fi fan, read more memoirs and autobiographies. You just might discover a new-to-you genre that you love.
- Try one new recipe a month. Develop your culinary talents by cooking one new recipe a month. Bookmark recipes you like throughout the month and make a meal plan. By the end of the year you’ll have 12 new recipes in your repertoire.
- Take small risks. Stretch yourself and do something slightly out of your comfort zone every week. Sign up for a class. Start a conversation with a stranger. Speak up at meetings.
Personal goals to strengthen your relationships
- FaceTime a friend just because. Life gets busy but it’s important to give your friendships some TLC. So call or FaceTime your friends for no reason. Just call when you’re thinking of them. They’ll be so touched.
- Send more snail mail. Another great way to stay in touch with friends and loved ones is to send a handwritten card in the mail. Birthday cards, thank you letters, holiday cards, or just to say hello. And the best part? You don’t have to coordinate your schedules!
- Have lunch with a coworker. Having friends in the workplace makes us feel more connected and fulfilled. So strive to get to know your coworkers better. Invite them out to lunch. Go for a coffee break. Or take a walk outside.
- Create a “true north” vision board. Don’t forget to cultivate a relationship with yourself! Get to know yourself better by making a vision board every month or quarter. Have fun getting crafty and gather your favorite magazines, markers, and stickers. Cut out photos and words that speak to you. Place your vision board somewhere you can see it and gaze at it regularly to realign with your true north.
