4 Best Practices for Setting Attainable Goals in the New Year

It’s almost the new year — what will 2022 bring for you professionally and personally? Take matters into your own hands this year to set attainable goals that you can achieve in the new year! 

Throw out resolutions and start creating real goals to help you develop better personal and professional habits with the concept of measurable steps.

Creating measurable steps gets you closer to achieving your goals by helping you track your progress and improvement. Seeing that success in real-time helps boost confidence and simplifies the job search as you set and achieve goals for the new year. 

In a survey by Statista, 1 in 5 responders said that pursuing a career ambition was one of their resolutions for 2021. Whether it is a lifetime career goal or a newfound area for improvement in your job, taking a few steps can turn your dreams into attainable goals for 2022.

Work within your lifestyle, budget, and interests with these tips to set attainable goals in the new year: 

Pick up a new career-relevant hobby

Look ahead at the job you want to land and set an attainable goal that helps you get closer to it. What skill can you sharpen or learn that would be helpful in that role? 

Think outside the box and think big when it comes to what you can do to benefit your career in 2022. For example, for those with an interest in art, a design certificate from Udemy or Grow With Google could boost your resume and help you create an attention-grabbing portfolio. Maybe learning a new language through Rosetta Stone or Babbel could help you connect with more customers, making you a better candidate for your dream job. 

It’s certainly not all work and no play when it comes to setting attainable goals for the new year.  Take some time to brainstorm how you can combine your personal and professional dreams to reap the benefits of your development. 

Working these new year goals into your life does not have to feel like work all the time. It can actually be a daily occurrence that you look forward to and gives you a new sense of motivation for your career. Dive deep into what new skill will set you apart as an employee as you set your first attainable goal for the new year. 

Bonus! Find ways to connect your hobbies to your career during an interview.

Make mental health a priority

Reaching your goals is a journey, not an overnight moment. When you set attainable goals in the new year, prioritize your mental health and avoid burnout by giving yourself enough time to relax between your work and development. 

Finding the balance between working towards your goals and allowing yourself to recharge is crucial to the process of achieving the goals you have set for yourself. Consider resources like Better Help that provide virtual access to mental health services that allow you to find great care in real-time when you need it most. 

Set an attainable goal of creating boundaries for the amount of time you put into achieving your career objectives. Time spent searching for jobs to apply for, rewriting a cover letter, and even working on your newfound hobby that’s helping develop both personally & professionally, should all be tracked and monitored to ensure you aren’t overworking yourself. 

Pick a hobby (or put more time into one you already have) to unwind while you step away from the new year goals you have set for 2022. We recommend putting more space in your schedule for personal growth with tools like Happify, an engaging app that helps you reduce stress and find positivity in all of life’s moments. This can help you incorporate your new hobby into your life to provide an outlet in your job search process or career development to create the balance you need for success. 

Burnt out from the job search? Explore 3 Mindful Ways to Negate Job Search Depression

Write lists of done instead of to-do

To-do lists can be intimidating for anyone with a long set of tasks ahead of them. Shift your mindset to create lists that create positivity, not negativity in your life when it comes to your new year goals.

While you may still need to create lists to manage your time efficiently, don’t get caught up in what you haven’t accomplished. Try creating a new list that reflects on your day and what you have achieved throughout the workday and in your personal life. Provide clarity for yourself by clearing your headspace at the end of the day and focusing on your progress. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done and get pumped for what you will accomplish tomorrow. 

Starting tomorrow’s to-do list by creating today’s what-I’ve-done list can help you stay motivated and energized as you set attainable goals in the new year and accomplish them. 

Check this out! Survive the holidays and the job hunt with these helpful tips.

Create one new healthy habit at a time

It takes time and focus to both create a new healthy habit or break a bad habit. If you try to undo everything you know and rearrange life in one go, it can be an overwhelming amount of change that causes you to do more harm than good to yourself. 

Set attainable new year goals for one habit at a time to create a slow but steady approach to success. Find habits that can help you both as a professional and in your personal life, such as a morning walk, meditation, or yoga through an app like Daily Yoga that provides both movement and focus to yourself before the workday has started. 

Rome wasn’t created in a day, and neither will your best self. Go into your personal and professional development knowing that these little steps are making a difference for the new year. Even for the busiest of us, something quick like 7 Minute Workout can fit into our schedule to make a big impact on who you’ll be in 2022.

As we get closer to January 1st, start taking time to think about what you want to accomplish in 2022 and how you will get there. 

Don’t let the pressure of New Year’s hinder your success in the new year by utilizing these 4 tips to set attainable goals in the new year. Find balance as you navigate growth both personally and professionally to go into 2022 ready to achieve your dreams. 

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Get serious about your 2022 resolutions with our favorite ways to set attainable goals in the new year: