And just like that, we are a third of the way through another year. 2024 presented a few challenges, to say the least. But here’s the thing—what doesn’t have a place in 2024 is staying with me. 2025 is the year of progression, glow-up, and life-changing transformation. A journey of self-development.
How am I changing things in 2025? Other than slowly? Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I have set 2025 Aims and Objectives this year. I am focused on the key life areas I want to change. I’m not going to list my aims, don’t worry. This is all about how to achieve the year you want. We might be a chapter down, but you can start over anytime during the year. Nobody is required to wait for Monday, the first of the month, or a New Year. Tomorrow can be the first day of the rest of your life, as can tonight. For me, I wanted it to be New Year’s, but life sometimes means you still have things to deal with.
As you have likely guessed, the first part of my year hasn’t gone 100% to plan, and I didn’t achieve anything I really set out to do, but I started making very small sets. So, instead of New Year’s Resolutions, choose Aims and Objectives. Aim (e.g.) lose weight (isn’t this everyone’s aim). Now, how will you achieve it? It is true what they say: nobody is coming to do it for you; you have a choice every single day. Weight loss basics: Eat less, move more, so break it down. How are you going to eat less? What lifestyle changes can you make? Move more? What are you going to do, walk? Join a fitness class? Hire a personal trainer? How does your week look? What days are you going to attend these sessions? If it’s walking, what do you do if it’s raining? When you are serious about your goals, breaking everything down and working out each scenario means you don’t take the easy way out when there are any curveballs. Always remember you are working on this for a reason. I have used weight loss as it’s a popular goal for people, not because anyone needs to lose weight, it’s a personal choice and should never be influenced by anyone else. It could be achieving a first or distinction, completing a house, or saving for a house; there are so many dreams you can want to achieve. And you can!! I believe you can, and I am working on mine. So even if you see this post in July, with less than half a year to go, write down what you want to achieve, break down how, and remember, consider the challenges and how you intend to overcome them.
How to achieve your A&O’s:
- Break everything down & have a plan
- What do you want to achieve
- How are you going to achieve it
- What will you do daily, weekly, and monthly to make progress?
- Why – this is really important; why do you want to achieve it? What is your motivation? When you are not feeling like it, you need to remember your why.
- What challenges could mean you can’t achieve your goals
- Timeframe and be realistic
- Take your aims & consider how long it will take. Dreams aren’t achieved overnight – what looks like instant success is often the result of years, even decades, of effort, education, and dedication.
- Then, what do you have to do to maintain it (may only apply sometimes)
- Consider your motivators
- Are they strong enough? If you are trying to achieve a goal for others rather than yourself, your motives might not be enough to achieve your goals. My motives are deeply aligned with who I want to be and the life I want to live.
- Does your long-term life align with a potentially short-term goal?
- Does what you want to align with what you are working towards?
- Making a lifestyle change is more beneficial than making temporary changes to achieve your goals, but it will result in your defaulting.
- Accountability
- How will you track and keep yourself on track?
- If you are serious, consider how you can track your goals. How to make the days count, I have set milestones with dates, allowing me to see if I am progressing. I consider my goals every week and what is on my to-do list to achieve them.
- The foundation of achieving goals lies in your routine & discipline
- What obstacles do you foresee?
- How will you overcome them?
- What will you set once you achieve their goals? What is next? Achieving these goals is only the beginning
- Be selfish
- Achieving any goal is difficult, and there are times when you have to put yourself and your goal first.
- What you are trying to achieve may require a solo journey, so be prepared to put yourself first.
- Progress
- Always remember that small progress is better than no progress, but you have to make progress to achieve anything and everything.
- Consider your end goal & what you will do
- What happens when you achieve your goal?
- Do you have a house, experiences, education, or body goal?
- And how do you celebrate? All achievements deserve celebration.
It is all about starting and progress, making most days count and allowing yourself a day off. Your goals are a commitment to yourself and the future you want. As harsh as it is, nobody is coming or creating the world you want. I think Mel Robbin’s said it, and she is right. Only you can do it. I promise you will see progress, break it down, stay accountable, and trust in the process. Every day, your choices lay the foundation of the life you want to live.
Remember, some days will feel slower than others, but change happens in the moments of persistence, those small, quiet steps that build successful progress, just as the days you power through when you experience setbacks. This year is yours. Start where you are, trust in your ability to grow, and take every step with intention.
What is the one Aim you will commit to today to shape the future you desire? Write it down, break it down and take the first meaningful step.
You have got this.